Herb Ellis

[AcornHouse]

On one of my jazz guitar DVDs, double of It Might As Well Be Spring going right into Things Ain’t What They Used To Be with Herb Ellis and Dave Maslow from 1981. Herb is, of course, superb and delivers a blistering solo in the second number. Maslow suffers from, what I call, O.H.S.S., or Overly Hammy Sideman Syndrome; a condition whereby a musician of minor repute playing with a far more famous frontman feels the need to move about and over emote in a desperate need to be noticed. You see it a lot in gala concerts with a lot of famous stars backed by less known players. The stars, like Herb here, do what they do best, without a lot of overblown histrionics. The lesser player acts like every note they play hits their soul. Maslow does a fine job backing Herb (although his soloing left a bit to be desired), but it seems that this is his major claim to fame, as far as Google can show.

Best to focus on Herb Ellis. Note, in the close ups you can see some heavy checking in his guitar. Undoubtedly his 1953 ES-175.

 

[Uke]

On one of my jazz guitar DVDs, double of It Might As Well Be Spring going right into Things Ain’t What They Used To Be with Herb Ellis and Dave Maslow from 1981. Herb is, of course, superb and delivers a blistering solo in the second number. Maslow suffers from, what I call, O.H.S.S., or Overly Hammy Sideman Syndrome; a condition whereby a musician of minor repute playing with a far more famous frontman feels the need to move about and over emote in a desperate need to be noticed. You see it a lot in gala concerts with a lot of famous stars backed by less known players. The stars, like Herb here, does what they do best, without a lot of overblown histrionics. The lesser player acts like every note they play hits their soul. Maslow does a fine job backing Herb (although his soloing left a bit to be desired), but it seems that this is his major claim to fame, as far as Google can show.

Best to focus on Herb Ellis. Note, in the close ups you can see some heavy checking in his guitar. Undoubtedly his 1953 ES-175.

Nice Sunday afternoon viewing! Thanks. (and yes, Maslow aint' no Ron Carter).

 

[walrus]

Great playing! I've seen this video before but I always thought Ellis was pretty old in this clip. But if it's from 1981, he's only 60 years old!

walrus

 

[shihan]

Yeah, Herbie plays his butt off. Very nice!
I think you guys are being a little hard on the bass player. He supports a Herb well on both tunes. His solo, while maybe a bit showy, didn’t suck. I bob my head occasionally when I play too…
Thanks for posting that.

 

[GGJaguar]

Love Herb Ellis (and Barney Kessel)!

 

[AcornHouse]

Love Herb Ellis (and Barney Kessel)!

From the same DVD. They certainly did a lot of gigs together around this time from what I found on YouTube.

 

[Bernie]

Herb Ellis was a musician that I heard of, but didn't know much about. Interesting video, nice playing. Thanks for posting it.
Didn't hear/see much of what you're saying about double bass player's flaws though (playing as a duet requires a consistent act from both musicians, and he is there I found). Maybe I would if I had heard it more often (?), but I liked it all this way...

Other video with Barney Kessel seems great too (only heard a few bars yet). Many thanks.

 

[Bernie]

What's that strange device Herb Ellis has on his guitar 1st fret or even (nearly)nut's place, that I don't remember seeing anywhere else before ? (could it be a capo meant to not hide the yes beautiful block inlay on 1st fret ? )

 

[GGJaguar]

It's a string mute.

 

[Teleguy61]

Love Herb Ellis (and Barney Kessel)!

I got to see them in 1979-80, in a club in Montreal, up close.
Good show.
Saw Jim Hall there also, who was wonderful.

 

[shihan]

What's that strange device Herb Ellis has on his guitar 1st fret or even (nearly)nut's place, that I don't remember seeing anywhere else before ? (could it be a capo meant to not hide the yes beautiful block inlay on 1st fret ? )

It is a device that eliminates vibrations from any string not being plucked. It has the disadvantage of making the first fret unusable.
H.E. had that device on his guitar every time I saw him play, but I can’t recall ever seeing anyone else use one.

 

[Bernie]

Thanks Shihan (and GGJag). Definitely strange, and the explanation is clear. Didn't know such thing even existed...What better place to learn still than LTG )

 

[Minnesota Flats]

Saw Herb Ellis and Joe Pass live at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco many years ago. Just the two of them sitting on over-stuffed easy chairs + drummer with minimal kit and upright bass (playing, not being sat upon). Fantastic show. Felt like I was sitting in their living room of an evening: totally relaxed and unpretentious stage presence they had. An utterly-memorable performance by two master improvisors. Rock-solid but unobtrusive rhythm section.

 

[Uke]

Don't think I've ever noticed how he is picking almost over the top of the fretboard. Is that unusual?

 

[Teleguy61]

Don't think I've ever noticed how he is picking almost over the top of the fretboard. Is that unusual?

He was a classic Charlie Christian style player, downstrokes only, up near the neck.