Jim Hall: Jim Hall & Basses
The play list has ten originals composed by the participants and three standards. Given the nature of the instruments, much of the session can be classified as chamber jazz, with a lived in feeling, especially on the "Abstract" quartet. Brightness breaks through on "Bent Blue" where Hall goes electric, but not so loud that one misses McBride's happy, bouncing bass. Hall plays rhythm while Charlie Haden wanders around the melody line on "Don't Explain" then turns up the amps as he and Haden reverse rolls. Colley's approach to "Besame Mucho" is to allow a lot of breathing space creating a contrast with Hall's medium tempo pace.
The virtuosity present on this album is so great as to be awesome. But as mesmerizing as it is, from time to time one wishes that there were a little more instrumental variety present, such as a piano or a horn. But one can't get greedy and must take genius where one finds it. Recommended, of course.
Track Listing
End The Beguine!; Bent Blue; Abstract 1; Al The Things You Are; Abstract 2; Sam Jones; Don
Personnel
Jim Hall
Album information
Title: Jim Hall & Basses | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Telarc Records