To my mind Jim
Hall was the gentle giant of jazz guitar.
His tone was quiet and soft and lulled you into the false belief that he
wasn’t really doing very much until you tried to copy his runs, licks and
chording. It was then you realised that this was no ordinary player and any
complacency on your part was immediately replaced by feelings of inadequacy and
awe. From his insistent rhythmic accompaniment
with Jimmy Giuffre and Bob Brookmeyer, his exciting duets with Jimmy Raney and
his superb album with the wonderful Carl Perkins on piano, to his tasteful solo
performances, Hall has left an unequalled legacy of excellence. My particular
favourite performances are his solo on “Deep in a Dream” on the aforementioned
album and his playing throughout “In the Wee Small Hours” with Gerry Mulligan.
I caught him once in London and came away spellbound and inspired in the same
way I would have been if he had been Django Reinhardt or Charlie Christian.
High praise indeed but totally deserved.
The news of his death has shocked and saddened me immeasurably.
Jim Douglas
10/12/2013.
1 comment :
That Mulligan album "Night Lights" from which "Wee Small Hours" comes from is something else. Mulligan, Farmer, Brookmeyer, Bill Crow, Dave Bailey - and of course Jim Hall. I like Jim's solo on "Festive Minor".
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