Jazz guitarist Herb Ellis dies

LOS ANGELES - HERB Ellis, the critically acclaimed jazz guitarist who played with such luminaries as Ella Fitzgerald and was once a member of the celebrated Oscar Peterson Trio, has died. He was 88.

Mitch Ellis, the musician's son, told The New York Times and Los Angeles Times that his father died Sunday of complications associated with Alzheimer's disease at his Los Angeles home.

Ellis, born in 1921 in Farmersville, Texas, was regarded as one of the finest jazz guitar soloists, mixing bebop with country twang in a career that spanned six decades.

He attracted the most notoriety performing with pianist Peterson and bassist Ray Brown in the Oscar Peterson Trio from 1953 to 1958. -- AP