ProJazz.net

Ellis in Wonderland is the debut album by jazz guitarist Herb Ellis, accompanied by the Oscar Peterson trio, trumpeter Harry “Sweets” Edison, and saxophonists Charlie Mariano and Jimmy Giuffre.

Reception.

The AllMusic review by Ken Dryden awarded the album 4 stars and stated:”In the midst of his tenure with the Oscar Peterson Trio, Herb Ellis had the chance to turn the tables on his boss and employ him as a sideman, though the keyboard virtuoso strangely reigns in his chops and pretty much stays in the background. This pair of sessions was first issued on a Norgran LP and finally reissued as a Verve CD in early 2006. … This early album by Herb Ellis is well worth acquiring.”

Track listing:
“Sweetheart Blues” (Herb Ellis) – 4:46
“Somebody Loves Me” (Buddy DeSylva, George Gershwin, Ballard MacDonald) – 4:55
“It Could Happen to You” (Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen) – 3:47
“Pogo” (Ellis) – 4:45
“Detour Ahead” (Lou Carter, Ellis, Johnny Frigo) – 4:03
“Ellis in Wonderland” (Ellis) – 3:52
“Have You Met Miss Jones?” (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) – 6:20
“A Simple Tune” (Jimmy Giuffre) – 4:11

Personnel:
Herb Ellis – guitar
Jimmy Giuffre – baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, clarinet
Harry “Sweets” Edison – trumpet
Charlie Mariano – alto saxophone
Oscar Peterson – piano
Ray Brown – bass
Alvin Stoller – drums

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Released: 1956
Recorded: December 28, 1955, January 3, 1956
Length: 48:45
Label: Norgran
Producer: Ken Druker