New Ideas (album)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
Down Beat	[3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz	[4]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[5]

Down Beat magazine critic Pete Welding said in his five star review of February 15, 1962: "This collection I find brilliant in every respect. Ellis' compelling music warrants complete attention if only for the freshness, ingenuity, and striking originality of its conception."

The Allmusic site awarded the album 4 stars stating "Don Ellis experiments with time, new chord structures, and free improvisation... Even over 40 years later, his thoughtful musical experiments of the early '60s are often quite fascinating to hear".[2]

The Penguin Guide to Jazz said "Challenging, provocative music sympathetically recorded by Rudy Van Gelder. The band is on the case from start to finish, with a particular word of praise for Francis, who has a demanding role".[4]

All compositions by Don Ellis

1. "Natural H." - 4:33
2. "Despair to Hope" - 4:19
3. "Uh-Huh" - 8:15
4. "Four and Three" - 5:05
5. "Imitation" - 7:57
6. "Solo" - 2:17
7. "Cock and Bull" - 7:06
8. "Tragedy" - 5:12

• Don Ellis - trumpet, piano (8)
• Al Francis - vibraphone (tracks 1-5, 7 & 8)
• Jaki Byard - piano (tracks 1-5, 7 & 8)
• Ron Carter - bass (tracks 1-5, 7 & 8)
• Charlie Persip - drums (tracks 1-5, 7 & 8)