Jim Hall

The Jim Hall Trio, on this occasion, finds the guitarist joined by two veterans, bassist Steve LaSpina (a veteran of many of Hall's sessions) and drummer Akira Tana. Hall, as usual, solos in his unique economical style and leaves plenty of breathing room for the music. "Skylark" is initiated with a very sparse yet lyrical Hall solo before LaSpina and Tana eventually join him; he takes a similar approach to "Poor Butterfly," but he remains unaccompanied throughout this masterful performance. A time tested standard like "All the Things You Are" is given a facelift with the leader's roller coaster arrangement, which is full of sudden turns…

Jim Hall recorded this trio session with expatriate bassist Jimmy Woode and one of Europe's top drummers, Daniel Humair, during a 1969 visit to Berlin. At first "Up, Up and Away," a Jimmy Webb composition that turned into a huge hit for the pop group the Fifth Dimension, might seem like an unlikely jazz vehicle, but it soars to new heights with the trio's inventive approach…

This lyrical, introverted, and sometimes exquisite set of duets by guitarist Jim Hall and bassist Red Mitchell was originally made for John Snyder's Artist House label and later reissued on CD by MHS. Hall and Mitchell always had big ears, and although the music is at a low volume and the duo stretches out on a bit on their four originals, the Mexican folk song "Blue Dove" and "Fly Me to the Moon," there are no sleepy moments.

Jim Hall has long exhibited a sense of adventure in his playing, which has intensified as his career has progressed. His duo meeting with Enrico Pieranunzi (a kindred spirit and one of the most in-demand jazz pianists in Europe) consists of original compositions and inventive duo improvisations (three of them are titled "Duologue" by number), which greatly contrast from one another, along with the extended improvisation "Our Valentines," which seems to briefly hint at "My Funny Valentine" as its inspiration. The compositions are as compelling as the improvisations. "Careful" is a tricky piece recorded many times by the guitarist over the decades; Pieranunzi takes immediately to the Hall's quirky blues. "Jimlogue" has the flavor of a 20th century composition for classical piano; one can easily imagine Hall composing it during his conservatory days, though it could just as easily be brand new at the time of these sessions. Jane Hall (the guitarist's wife) penned the beautiful ballad "Something Tells Me" for an earlier CD; this version proves to be even more spacious and lyrical than its initial recording. The pianist's songs include the tasty waltz "From E. to C.," the provocative "The Point at Issue," and the soothing finale, "Dreamlogue." Hopefully, this compelling first meeting between Jim Hall and Enrico Pieranunzi will inspire a follow-up recording date.Ken Dryden, allmusic.com

Jim Hall is no stranger to guitar/bass duets after several memorable outings with the likes of Ron Carter and Red Mitchell, but this series of studio sessions is even more challenging, mixing it up in pairings with Dave Holland, Christian McBride, Charlie Haden, George Mraz, and Scott Colley. Only three of the 13 pieces are standards, including a soft and sparse treatment of "All the Things You Are" with Mraz, a whisper-soft and slowly savored "Don't Explain" with Haden, and a switch to acoustic guitar for a tense "Besame Mucho" with Colley…

This fine club date features guitarist Jim Hall in Toronto with two of the top Canadian jazzmen, bassist Don Thompson and drummer Terry Clarke. The interplay between the three players is sometimes wondrous, and although the five selections are all familiar standards (such as "'Round Midnight," "Scrapple From the Apple" and "The Way You Look Tonight"), Hall makes the music sound fresh and full of subtleties. This enjoyable LP has yet to be reissued on CD.