Jim Hall Music

"All Across the City" released on Concord Records in 1989 is a very fine recording. Jim Hall who is known collectively as the "Godfather of Modern Jazz Guitar" really plays great jazz guitar. His subtle sense of swing, harmony, and melody have made him a legend. You can hear his influence in other jazz guitar masters like Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, and John Abercrombie. You can probably even hear it in my own playing! Who knows!

I'm not going to talk too much about the music because the music can speak for itself, but let me add that this is a beautiful album. Every tune is just a world of its own. On a special note, Gil Goldstein gives a remarkable performance. His presence on this album gives it a very special feeling.

Pick this album up if you're into jazz guitar and more importantly are a fan of Jim Hall.

Hall's small handful of Concord albums in the 1980s were sort of studio extensions of the sound and approach found on the great trio record "Jim Hall Live!" album from 1975. This, the final Concord session, adds keyboards to the trio sound, but otherwise the record is another mix of standards and originals played in his inimitable style. The 90s saw Hall mix things up with a new concept or unusual grouping of musicians on almost every release; it wasn't until 2004's Magic Meeting that he cut another record with a standard rhythm section where he didn't share the spotlight with a horn player or more elaborate orchestration. Hall usually succeeds on at least a few cuts no matter what his concept or context, but the Concord records are easy recommendations for those who want more of his earlier sound and style that influenced many, many players from the famous to the weekend warriors.

Trivia time: Anyone notice that the cover of this 1989 release is similar to the cover of John Scofield's 1989 "Flat Out", with the difference being that Scofield's cover is shot at night and Sco's rooftop backdrop is grittier and more "urban" feeling (a bit of graffiti on the low concrete ledge is all you see behind Sco, whereas Hall sits in an elegant rooftop garden). I've always wondered if Sco was paying a little tribute, though it could easily be a coincidence or even Hall tipping his hat to John.

Cool jazz at its best. Hall's clean tone and Carter's wood bass softly knit up song by song. Each note is very carefully played. I found one of the most beautiful harmony of string instruments in this CD.

I love the music on this album. The sound is so warm and inviting, I always want to turn up the volume and immerse myself completely in the music. But unfortunately if I do that I hear the noisy hiss, especially anytime the guitar's playing. I don't mind the background noise (glasses jingling, etc.) from the club, to me that just adds atmosphere. But the noisy hiss on the guitar is a bummer.
Anyway, that's just a nitpick. The album is great, I'm very glad to own it. I just listen to it with the volume at moderate level or else with the treble turned down or else with the volume cranked but listening to it from the next room.
Still, if one of these days someone found a way to rerelease this album with a cleaned-up sound, I'd be very grateful!

Conversations between two jazz giants. Two string instruments make an amazing harmony, and sounds like one instrument. Two sounds completely melt together. Smoking jazz night in a club.

i found (alone together) a fantastic piece of duo jazz, an inspiration to would be guitarists on how to comp and play single line solos and make the grooves sound full and succinct.as a guitarist myself im always interested in hearing really good players, and these two are two of the best at what they do.

Giants of modern jazz, Jim Hall and Ron Carter's duo. This CD gives you an idea of how to play the guitar for rythm section and how to play the bass for lead section. Sounds of the two string instruments melt together and create a soft and beautiful harmony. Excellent CD. 'Click' 'click'

Cool jazz at its best. Hall's clean tone and Carter's wood bass softly knit up song by song. Each note is very carefully played. I found one of the most beautiful harmony of string instruments in this CD.

I love the music on this album. The sound is so warm and inviting, I always want to turn up the volume and immerse myself completely in the music. But unfortunately if I do that I hear the noisy hiss, especially anytime the guitar's playing. I don't mind the background noise (glasses jingling, etc.) from the club, to me that just adds atmosphere. But the noisy hiss on the guitar is a bummer.
Anyway, that's just a nitpick. The album is great, I'm very glad to own it. I just listen to it with the volume at moderate level or else with the treble turned down or else with the volume cranked but listening to it from the next room.
Still, if one of these days someone found a way to rerelease this album with a cleaned-up sound, I'd be very grateful!

Conversations between two jazz giants. Two string instruments make an amazing harmony, and sounds like one instrument. Two sounds completely melt together. Smoking jazz night in a club.

i found (alone together) a fantastic piece of duo jazz, an inspiration to would be guitarists on how to comp and play single line solos and make the grooves sound full and succinct.as a guitarist myself im always interested in hearing really good players, and these two are two of the best at what they do.

Giants of modern jazz, Jim Hall and Ron Carter's duo. This CD gives you an idea of how to play the guitar for rythm section and how to play the bass for lead section. Sounds of the two string instruments melt together and create a soft and beautiful harmony. Excellent CD. 'Click' 'click'

Cool jazz at its best. Hall's clean tone and Carter's wood bass softly knit up song by song. Each note is very carefully played. I found one of the most beautiful harmony of string instruments in this CD.

I love the music on this album. The sound is so warm and inviting, I always want to turn up the volume and immerse myself completely in the music. But unfortunately if I do that I hear the noisy hiss, especially anytime the guitar's playing. I don't mind the background noise (glasses jingling, etc.) from the club, to me that just adds atmosphere. But the noisy hiss on the guitar is a bummer.
Anyway, that's just a nitpick. The album is great, I'm very glad to own it. I just listen to it with the volume at moderate level or else with the treble turned down or else with the volume cranked but listening to it from the next room.
Still, if one of these days someone found a way to rerelease this album with a cleaned-up sound, I'd be very grateful!

Conversations between two jazz giants. Two string instruments make an amazing harmony, and sounds like one instrument. Two sounds completely melt together. Smoking jazz night in a club.

i found (alone together) a fantastic piece of duo jazz, an inspiration to would be guitarists on how to comp and play single line solos and make the grooves sound full and succinct.as a guitarist myself im always interested in hearing really good players, and these two are two of the best at what they do.

Giants of modern jazz, Jim Hall and Ron Carter's duo. This CD gives you an idea of how to play the guitar for rythm section and how to play the bass for lead section. Sounds of the two string instruments melt together and create a soft and beautiful harmony. Excellent CD. 'Click' 'click'

Cool jazz at its best. Hall's clean tone and Carter's wood bass softly knit up song by song. Each note is very carefully played. I found one of the most beautiful harmony of string instruments in this CD.

I love the music on this album. The sound is so warm and inviting, I always want to turn up the volume and immerse myself completely in the music. But unfortunately if I do that I hear the noisy hiss, especially anytime the guitar's playing. I don't mind the background noise (glasses jingling, etc.) from the club, to me that just adds atmosphere. But the noisy hiss on the guitar is a bummer.
Anyway, that's just a nitpick. The album is great, I'm very glad to own it. I just listen to it with the volume at moderate level or else with the treble turned down or else with the volume cranked but listening to it from the next room.
Still, if one of these days someone found a way to rerelease this album with a cleaned-up sound, I'd be very grateful!

Conversations between two jazz giants. Two string instruments make an amazing harmony, and sounds like one instrument. Two sounds completely melt together. Smoking jazz night in a club.

i found (alone together) a fantastic piece of duo jazz, an inspiration to would be guitarists on how to comp and play single line solos and make the grooves sound full and succinct.as a guitarist myself im always interested in hearing really good players, and these two are two of the best at what they do.

Giants of modern jazz, Jim Hall and Ron Carter's duo. This CD gives you an idea of how to play the guitar for rythm section and how to play the bass for lead section. Sounds of the two string instruments melt together and create a soft and beautiful harmony. Excellent CD. 'Click' 'click'

it is wonderful music. thank you very much. i really love it!

This CD is a pot-porri collection of older Bandleader recordings that have been combined together. Sadly many of these recordings are out of print, so the listener has a limited opportunty to hear these bands here. Since most of these recordings are from records and CD from the late 80s and early 90s the size and diversity of the bands are greater than what remains today in the British army. That being said, I still don't like collections, preferring the original myself. But at least the bands are identified, and the selection of music is pretty good. A nice mix of concert music and marches, with some percussian and corps of drum music thrown in. This CD should deffinitely give the listener a good impression of what was the size and diversity of British military bands.