RIP Jim Hall

CalebFSU

I just heard this a few minutes ago, but Another great one has gone beyond. RIP Jim Hall!

Michael Bauer

Now that's sad news. I have more Jim Hall recordings than any other jazz guitarist other than Django. he was the epitome of taste.

Bob Holo

Wow.... that's a big loss.

A bit of him for you while you ponder it.

MichaelHorowitz

So sad to hear this. I loved Hall's duets with Bill Evans and The Bridge with Sonny Rollins is one of the best jazz records of that era.

noodlenot

indeed. my funny valentine (with bill) brings me to tears every time.

Jon

Jim Hall is the single biggest influence on my guitar playing (not that you'd know it these days). I studied his playing almost exclusively for a ten year period while I was in and around university. The album Jim Hall Live from 1975 is one of the most underrated masterpieces in Jazz history.

He also had great respect for Django (He named his dog after him too), and when asked about him in an interview, the first thing he mentioned was Django's skill as an accompanist, demonstrating his understanding of the depth of musicianship that Django had aside from simple popular notions of his technical virtuosity. Jim Hall had that same skill to the same degree - a very rare thing indeed.

Jon

Jazzaferri

He had a wonderful innings here on earth

Bones

Very sad indeed. What a loss.

AmundLauritzen

Jim Hall has always been a guitarist I consider to be just about perfect. One could argue that he could not play as fast as many other guitarists, but his style of playing and the way he played makes a complete package. When you listen to him play a piece, there is always a coherent thought from start to finish. I have never heard him play a solo where it sounded like he was rambling, or blindly searching for something.
He created for himself a unique style and adopted influences from what he heard, always evolving as a player.

As many other do, I consider his work with duo Bill Evans to be his best, and there is also the "Concierto" album which is a monumental recording featuring Chet Baker and Paul Desmond!!! He also played duos with Michel Petrucciani, whose playing I admire a lot.

I was truly saddened to hear of his passing. Several of the great guitarists have passed away these last years. Joe Beck in 2008, and Herb Ellis in 2010 to mention a few.

Jim Hall the guitar player is just one aspect. He was also a brilliant composer. I really like his blues "Careful" which is based on diminished scale harmony:


And he wrote a super sweet tune, "Whistle Stop" dedicated to Gary Larson, the creator of "The Far Side":



The jazz guitar world has lost an innovator, musician, composer and guitarist of the highest order. But like Django, he has left a legacy of records for us to enjoy listening to and learning from.