Search - Jim Hall :: Ballad Essentials

Jim Hall once described himself as "a composer who plays guitar." As this ballad collection shows, Hall's near-acoustic guitar lines move with a logic and linearity of composers like Bela Bartok, which has made Hall a favorite with musicians from John Lewis and Sonny Rollins to Art Farmer and Paul Desmond. Hall's tone is sweet and lasting, especially in his singing solo take on "Poor Butterfly" and in his intimate duets with bassist Ron Carter on "Embraceable You" and pianist George Shearing on "Emily." Hall highlights his textural touches on Duke Ellington's "Prelude to a Kiss," the bossa nova "Beija-Flor," and the title track. If you want to hear what influenced players like Pat Martino, Pat Metheny, and John Abercrombie, listen to the quiet and powerful Jim Hall. --Eugene Holley Jr.