Jazz Articles about Jim Hall

Jim Hall / Bill Frisell: Hemispheres

by John Kelman
February 10, 2009

The magic that occurs when student meets teacher on equal footing years down the road is rare enough. With Jim Hall--one of the most influential guitarists of the past half century--his spare approach, a reference point for younger guitar icons including John Abercrombie, John Scofield and Pat Metheny, has resulted in more magic than most. Hall and Metheny met successfully on Jim Hall & Pat Metheny (Telarc, 1999) and, while the elder guitarist also met briefly with Bill Frisell on ...

Jim Hall / Bill Frisell: Hemispheres

by Eyal Hareuveni
February 2, 2009

The first and lasting impression of this full-length collaboration between master and genre-bending guitarists Jim Hall and Bill Frisell is one of relaxed intimacy and indeed, this no-frills approach is one of the strengths of this project. Great affinity between great musician focused on creating music, who have the time and space to establish such rapport, and then share their creative process is the corner stone of fan-friendly label ArtistShare. The result is a much more satisfactory and successful process ...

Jim Hall / Bill Frisell: Hemispheres

by Lyn Horton
January 14, 2009

Supported by the fan-funded alternative ArtistShare label, the two-disc release Hemispheres is collaboration between guitarists Jim Hall and Bill Frisell, joined by bassist Scott Colley and drummer Joey Barron on disc two. The recording documents how projects evolve when artists pull together without a plan necessarily to create unique product: a perfect recipe for invention.

It goes without saying that Hall and Frisell are masters of their instruments. Each has a specific direction and distinguishing channel in which to thrive. ...

Jim Hall / Bill Frisell: Hemispheres

by Mark F. Turner
December 31, 2008

Hemispheres is a wonderful collaboration between two esteemed veteran guitarists, Jim Hall and Bill Frisell. Though each has travelled different yet celebrated paths, this is their first full length (double CD) release together. Hall's masterful playing, tempered by a smooth rotund tone, has been appreciated since the 1950s in performances with such names as Chico Hamilton, Ella Fitzgerald and later collaborations with Pat Metheny and Greg Osby. Frisell (a former student of Hall) is considered to be ...

Jim Hall - Enrico Pieranunzi: Duologues

by AAJ Italy Staff
February 5, 2006

La collaborazione fra Jim Hall e Enrico Pieranunzi risale agli anni ottanta quando ebbero occasione di suonare in duo a Roma per diverse serate. Chi ricorda quelle magiche notti era già ben preparato agli ottimi risultati che la loro collaborazione era in grado di offrire e questa incisione effettuata a Milano a metà settembre del 2004 non può che confermare e semmai aggiungere ulteriori elementi di gratificazione. Jim Hall ha da tempo superato la soglia dei settant'anni ma rimane assolutamente ...

Jim Hall / Geoffrey Keezer: Free Association

by Dan McClenaghan
January 18, 2006

Free Association, the latest ArtistShare release from veteran guitarist Jim Hall--paired with a relative newcomer, pianist Geoffrey Keezer--offers music in a pure state. The duo creates a timeless, genre-less sound, a combination of virtuosic beauty and fluid give-and-take combined with a deft use of space.Jim Hall has collaborated on records with drummer Chico Hamilton, alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, and tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, all legends. A legend himself now, the guitarist has also explored the duo setting with ...

Jim Hall / Geoffrey Keezer: Free Association

by Jerry D'Souza
January 17, 2006

Guitarist Jim Hall and pianist Geoffrey Keezer continue their association, which began in the nineties, with Free Association, a record that testifies to the intuitive interplay that they have developed over time. The music is at once stimulating and tantalizing as the two weave webs of intricate design. As always, Hall speaks an elegant language that's ornate without being overbearing, his notes singing his craftsmanship. Keezer also has that lyrical edge and an intuition that keeps his explorations focused and ...