Jim Hall
A Thinking Man's Jazz Guitarist
A player who’s been at the leading edge of jazz guitar yet is in many ways a standard bearer. Schooled in composition Jim Hall has created several
ensemble recordings centered on his elaborate arrangements. Inventive and even playful at times he always remains tasteful. Jim Hall is a thinking man’s
jazz guitarist. His sound is soft and mellow but his music is neither tentative or retiring. His improvisation has a horn like quality and a fluidity that is difficult
to describe. Even though Mr. Hall has made some wonderful recordings based upon carefully crafted arrangements that is not to say that his solos lack
spontaneity. Variety, also, is a Jim Hall trait.
Jim Hall has recorded many times with a number of noted musicians and seems to enjoy the camaraderie of these projects but never tries to keep all of the glory for himself. Instead he seems to bring out the best in others while making his contributions from a deep fund of experience and talent. Duet recordings with Art Farmer, Bill Evans, Pat Metheny and many others exist and all of them are unique and beautiful.
In my opinion some of his best work was on his 1976 album "Commitment". Using Art Farmer on Flugelhorn, Ron Carter on Bass and Tommy Flanagan on Piano he turned out a fine masterpiece. If I was sentenced to be stranded on a Desert Isle with but one song to listen to, it would be the tune "Walk Soft" from this album. “Jim Hall Live!” was another great recording featuring him in a Guitar, Bass and Drum trio. After many years out of print I am pleased to note that both of these masterpieces, as well as most of Jim Hall's back catalog, is available on CD.
On most of his recordings Hall plays a D’Aquisto electric archtop, sometimes with chorusing. Occasionally he treats his listeners to the punchy sound of his D’Aquisto acoustic. In recent years a Jim Hall model has been available from Sadowsky Guitars. This is based upon the D'Aquisto that he has used for years and makes a legendary guitar design available to a new generation of guitarists that came along too late to be able to buy a D'Aquisto directly from the luthier.
Here's a You Tube link the Jim Hall in concert playing Sonny Rollins' St. Thomas.
