RIP JIm Hall

[Alyn_Shipton]

It appears that the redoubtable Mr Hall died earlier today.

[MarkG]

Sad news. And still actively recording until recently.

[DracoM]

Wonderful, elegant guitar man.

[Paul Campbell]

Sad news indeed. I very much liked his work with Bill Evans.

[Serial_Apologist]

Definitely one of those less-is-more people one hopefully matures long enough to appreciate more, in time.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

another sadness among many [it must be xmas eh] ...Jim Hall did remarkable work all his life , the Evans album is special, as is The Bridge with St Sonny; but who will ever forget this:

[Serial_Apologist]

"The Bridge" - yes, that's the one I'll play in tribute, later on.

I once put Lol Coxhill up for a night, after a local gig. We were both pretty drunk - otherwise I would never have attempted "Sophisticated Lady" at the piano, in front of the great man. "How does the bridge go", Lol said afterwards, maybe thinking of joining in. "I can't remember now", I said, thinking he meant the Rollins tune. All Lol said was, "Oh".

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Lovely player. My fav after Wes.

I always liked Jim Hall's line that "I was so broke in the 60s that when Berklee started awarding "Jim Hall student guitar scholarships", I thought of applying myself!"

BN.

The early trio album with Red Mitchell and Carl Perkins is a gem. This morning oddly I listened to the John Lewis/Dolphy album...forgot Hall was on that. Tres taste.

[burning dog]

He will be much missed. The Bridge is a classic of course, but I'm also very fond of his work with Paul Desmond.

[Tenor Freak]

Look around jazz guitar forums and you will find that Jim Hall was a demigod to them. He was one of my favourite players on guitar (hence my request to JRR last year from the Power of Three gig). Whether with Sonny, Evans the Keys or Jimmy G, he's superb. I like his work with Paul Desmond too...

[Ian Thumwood]

I was sad to read about Jim Hall. For me, he was one of the few musicians from 1950's who has managed to remain contemporary such as Wayne Shorter, Sonny Rollins and Lee Konitz. Jim Hall was a great improvisor and streets ahead of his contemporaries. Alot of jazz guitar from that era such as Barney Kessel, Doug Ramey and Tal Farlow leaves me cold - don't even mention Charlie Byrd!! Jim Hall excelled them all. I'm more familiar with his trio album from the mid 50's with Red Mitchell called "Jazz guitar" which I bought for my Dad about 20 years ago for a Christmas present. After liking this so much, he bought "All across the city" which he didn't like so much but which staggered me as being so up to date. The earlier album is now available cheaply from Avid along with some other recordings from the same era. More recently I've been listening to Sonny Rollin's "The Bridge" which features Hall and is probably one of the best jazz groups ever to be denied the chance to make a second album. Criminal, in my opinion!!

I think it is worth while mentioning his influence on someone like Bill Frisell and I would like to throw my hat in the ring and mention his work on Greg Osby's "Invisable hand" which also featured Andrew Hill. This is a brilliant record and serves as a template for "great jazz." Some of the best Jim Hall I've heard has been with the great Tom Harrell although I've never been able to track down any of their records together. This seems a match made in heaven and would get the nod for me over the stuff with Paul Desmond who you have to really listen to in order to appreciate and can come across as a bit twee if you aren't paying attention. Harrell is a terrific player.

[Serial_Apologist]

I've just remembered that Hall was in on the sessions Herbie Hancock recruited here and in America for "Blow Up". The opening of the first track on the album has a short burst of very rock guitar - not at all what one might assume from JH, but I can't think they'd have nabbed Jeff Beck, also on-set with The Yardbirds, who did one track. Past research has drawn a blank on who it might be - I always regret never asking Ian Carr, who was also around for the sessions and was always a mine of info for such fan-gossip. (Just to prolong the diversion, Skid's on one track btw. Wonder if there survive any outtakes? )

[cloughie]

Jim Hall indeed a sad loss.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Jim Hall indeed a sad loss.

There is a hour long Library of Congress interview with Jim Hall on Youtube. A guy with a LOT of integrity.....not just in music.

BN.

[Alyn_Shipton]

BN maybe your C60 collection includes the interview I did with Jim on the occasion of his double bill at the Barbican in 1998 (or maybe 99) with Martial Solal, (concert went out in Jazz Notes) and also his contribution to the 3 part Mulligan series I did for Jazz File in 2004 or thereabouts. A lovely interviewee.