Herb Ellis

Mitchell Herbert (Herb) Ellis (born August 4, 1921) is an American jazz guitarist.

He became prominent after performing with the Oscar Peterson Trio from 1953 to

Mitchell Herbert (Herb) Ellis (born August 4, 1921) is an American jazz guitarist.

He became prominent after performing with the Oscar Peterson Trio from 1953 to 1958. He was a somewhat controversial member of the trio because he was the only white person in the group in a time where racism was still very much widespread. Before that he had worked with Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra, Jimmy Dorsey, and Soft Winds. He toured with Jazz at the Philharmonic while he was with the Peterson Trio. Since leaving the Trio he has toured and recorded with a wide range of musicians, and also recorded his own sessions. He toured with Charlie Byrd and Barney Kessel as the Great Guitars. He also spent time with the Steve Allen show. The show featured plenty of jazz played by Allen and members of the show's band, the Donn Trenner Orchestra, which included such virtuoso musicians as guitarist Herb Ellis and flamboyantly comedic, yet tragic, hipster trombonist Frank Rosolino. He was an early champion of jazz guitarist Emily Remler and played on a tribute album to her.