One of the most influential guitarists of all time, Jim Hall created the now imitated “cool” sound of using silence and quietude as dynamics in a song. Throughout his long career, he performed on scores of classic albums with artists ranging from Chico Hamilton to Sonny Rollins to Pat Metheny. This four cd set puts together his earliest albums, some of them out of print for too long a time. Savor this set!
His 1957 debut with Red Mitchell/b and Carl Perkins/dr includes the gorgeous quietude of “This Is Always”, “Thanks For The Memory” and “Deep In A Dream” while giving some swing to “9:20 Special”. A pair of albums with like-minded pianist Bill Evans are simply legendary, with the pair creating impressions on “Turn Out The Stars” and “My Funny Valentine”.. A unique one off with tenor saxist Zoot Sims and bopping guitarist Jim Rainey (along with Osie Johnson/dr and Steve Swallow/b) bring out the best in everyone on “Move It” and “Across The City” ,. In 1962, Hall joins with Billy Taylor/p, Bob Cranshaw/b and Walter Perkins/dr for the classic “Impromptu”, “Capricious” and “Paraphrase”. Hall and Raney team up with valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer, Bill Crow/b and Osie Johnson/dr for mellow and subdued originals like “Rainey Day” and “Street Swingers”. Pianist John Lewis creates some jazz abstractions with Hall in a Third Stream collaboration with Gunther Schuller. Outside specialists Ornette Coleman/as and Eric Dolphy/wwindsalso join in for a creative “Variant on a Theme of Thelonious Monk” and Hall’s own ‘Piece For Guitar and Strings”.
The amazing thing about Hall is that he was able to shine in such a wide gamut of environments, ranging here from intimate duets to large orchestras. His expanse of styles is a testimony as to how attractive his gentle tone was to so many sets of ears. Give this a listen.