RIP Herb

NSJ · #1 03-28-2010, 05:54 PM

I just heard on another board that Herb Ellis passed away last night at the age of 88. I do not of yet have independent confirmation of this, but I don't doubt the veracity of that claim, unfortunately.

Dystonian_Mode · #2 03-28-2010, 09:20 PM

I don't see any evidence of this claim anywhere.

mr. beaumont · #3 03-29-2010, 09:04 AM

there's been some talk on a few boards, DS, but i haven't seen anything official.

if it is true, let's hope it was as they said, "peacefully in his sleep."

another reason we gotta appreciate these cats while they're still around!

markerhodes · #4 03-29-2010, 09:50 AM

I love Herb. I think he's taught me more about jazz than any other single player. (This is not to say that he is the best--I'm not saying that--but that he shared his knowledge with other players in a way I found especially helpful, and continue to use.)

jeffroi · #5 03-29-2010, 01:12 PM

they already udpated the wiki ...

Herb Ellis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

wizard3739 · #6 03-29-2010, 01:49 PM

He will be missed, Rest In Peace, Herb.

wiz

Mash Hawkeye · #7 03-29-2010, 02:21 PM

I haven't seen any confirmation of this yet. There are claims in some forums, but no actual obit or news items...

Herb Ellis -- R.I.P. - Jazz Bulletin Board

Herb Ellis | Facebook

RIP Mitchell Herbert Ellis.

Dystonian_Mode · #8 03-29-2010, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffroi

they already udpated the wiki ...

Herb Ellis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Well, it's been re-updated and according to wiki, he's not yet deceased. Pretty sad individual that would report a hoax (assuming this is a hoax).

Edit:I mean to say start a hoax (as being sad) as opposed to just reporting something they read.

JimBobWay · #9 03-29-2010, 08:24 PM

Unfortunately, it's true:Post Mortem - Obituaries from The Washington Post A true great, whose playing and influence will live on.

Dystonian_Mode · #10 03-29-2010, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimBobWay

Unfortunately, it's true:Post Mortem - Obituaries from The Washington Post A true great, whose playing and influence will live on.

That's too bad, my apologies then.

R.I.P Herb Ellis.

Truly one of the great...

abdke99 · #11 03-30-2010, 11:37 AM

R.I.P Herb Elis

Tom Karol · #12 03-30-2010, 05:25 PM

I've been listening to Herb Ellis - mostly in duet contexts - for a long time. But I only recently realized how much his phrasing has profoundly influenced my own. He will be greatly missed.

Hugh · #13 03-31-2010, 01:41 AM

Sadly another one gone

What a great influence on tens of thousands of guitarists for sure.
He'll be greatly missed by us all.
Never ever got to see him live but I was fortunate enough to catch the great Joe Pass a few years before his passing

And what an influence he was too.
Hugh.

princeplanet · #14 03-31-2010, 02:32 AM

One of the all time greats, for sure. Respect.

RIP.

gillkyboy45 · #15 03-31-2010, 05:55 AM

thanks for all the great music and words of wisdom. RIP Herb.

Jazzyteach65 · #16 03-31-2010, 09:39 AM

I just heard the news. This man had a TREMENDOUS influence on my playing. He and I went to the same college (in Herb's day, UNT had no guitar program, he studied bass) and we were from the same town

SamBooka · #17 03-31-2010, 10:06 AM

What else can you say?

Meggy · #18 03-31-2010, 10:18 AM

Sad news indeed. A undoubted great of jazz guitar, and one of "that generation" of jazz guitarists (Kessel, Pass et al.) that changed the way we view what is possible on the guitar.

Jake Hanlon · #19 03-31-2010, 10:38 AM

I grew up listening to Herb Ellis because my family always played OScar Petterson records in the house.

A heavy blow to be honest I'm upset about it. He has been ill for quiet sometime, and with such a horrible illness in the end it must have been a relief for it to be over in some ways. However it doesn't cushion the blow any I'm sure for those who loved him as a person.

I never met him or saw him perform live. But his music makes him Immortal, and that at least gives me some comfort.

As time marches forward I'm dreading the news reports about Jim Hall, BB King, Sonny Rollins, Kenny Wheeler, Wayne Shorter etc etc etc. All those Musicians who influenced me so greatly.

RIP Herb Ellis.

derek · #20 03-31-2010, 11:12 AM

Frankly, it is a relief. Herb has been suffering from Alzheimer's for a decade. I know he was at home for a large chunk of that time. I don't know if his wife ever had him institutionalized or not. The Herb we all love and admire has been gone for a while.

A horrible disease that is so hard on families. RIP Herb, and thanks for such an extensive legacy of music.

Scrybe · #21 03-31-2010, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake Hanlon

As time marches forward I'm dreading the news reports about Jim Hall, BB King, Sonny Rollins, Kenny Wheeler, Wayne Shorter etc etc etc. All those Musicians who influenced me so greatly.

RIP Herb Ellis.

Add Herbie Hancock, Pat Martino, and a few others, and you've just named my entire list of people I absolutely still have to see perform live before it's too late.

Trying to plan a trip to Italy this summer against the odds to catch Sonny - him and Hall are my major inspirations for wanting to play jazz out of the current players.

RIP Herb, the world just got a little quieter.

Jazzyteach65 · #22 03-31-2010, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake Hanlon

I grew up listening to Herb Ellis because my family always played OScar Petterson records in the house.

A heavy blow to be honest I'm upset about it. He has been ill for quiet sometime, and with such a horrible illness in the end it must have been a relief for it to be over in some ways. However it doesn't cushion the blow any I'm sure for those who loved him as a person.

I never met him or saw him perform live. But his music makes him Immortal, and that at least gives me some comfort.

As time marches forward I'm dreading the news reports about Jim Hall, BB King, Sonny Rollins, Kenny Wheeler, Wayne Shorter etc etc etc. All those Musicians who influenced me so greatly.

RIP Herb Ellis.

You know he went to UNT too

Gambrosius1984 · #23 03-31-2010, 12:58 PM

RIP Herb. He was a giant and will be missed. As people have already been posting, we can not let any opportunity slip by to see the living legends that are still active. Add Kenny Burrell, who lives in southern CA near me, to that list of must see. I am dreading news about another inactive giant like Herb, the great Johnny Smith. He is getting on in years and we just all need to take time to appreciate all these legends presence while they are still on this earth. We can all take comfort that Herb is once again in the best company and will keep on swingin'.

randyc · #24 03-31-2010, 01:29 PM

Goodby, goodby but never forgotten -

Jake Hanlon · #25 03-31-2010, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzyteach65

You know he went to UNT too

yup

ingeneri · #26 03-31-2010, 03:14 PM

I got to see Herb Ellis live around 1994-95 at Fat Tuesdays in New York. It was a weekday and the place was practically empty (criminal). I sat so close to the stage I could have spilled my drink on him. Ellis ran a great informal show with his trio, perfectly demonstrating the capacity for true communication and community that we jazz fans all know as the gold standard for live performance. One of my biggest regrets is being too intimidated to talk to the guy.

That night remains very much the performance model for me as a musician, and I'm deeply influenced by his comping with Oscar.

Sad day, but, given his illeness, probably more of an escape in the end.

Squint · #27 03-31-2010, 07:53 PM

Jazzyteach65 · #28 03-31-2010, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ingeneri

I got to see Herb Ellis live around 1994-95 at Fat Tuesdays in New York. It was a weekday and the place was practically empty (criminal). I sat so close to the stage I could have spilled my drink on him. Ellis ran a great informal show with his trio, perfectly demonstrating the capacity for true communication and community that we jazz fans all know as the gold standard for live performance. One of my biggest regrets is being too intimidated to talk to the guy.

That night remains very much the performance model for me as a musician, and I'm deeply influenced by his comping with Oscar.

Sad day, but, given his illeness, probably more of an escape in the end.

actually have a friend who saw him at Fat Tuesday's, and inbetween sets he talked to him. I've heard he was very personable and willing to talk about his gear and technique

markerhodes · #29 04-01-2010, 09:59 AM

His technique is distilled in his three books--Swing Blues, Rhythm Shapes, and All The Shapes You Are. You hear him play and learn how he played (-chord shapes, fingerings). Great stuff.

TommyD · #30 04-02-2010, 07:09 PM

Bye for a while, Herb. See you later. Thanks for signing my guitar! I think of you every day when I play it.
Tommy/