Customer Reviews

Big Blues

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The liner notes leave much to be desired, but the music is a different matter. Both Art Farmer and Jim Hall are in good form here, and there are some surprises that those who don't know this CD but admire the other all-too-few Farmer-Hall releases will definitely enjoy. The performances are relaxed, the soloing highly musical, intelligent. Farmer and Hall are perfect foils for each other, of course, setting a high standard for the notion of "chamber jazz." In my opinion, two tracks here are fine enough to be called classics of their decade.

I'm a jazz guitarist and bona fide, card carrying, Jim Hall nut. I have real affection for this one. The production is more of a "studio slick" sounding affair than most of Jim's other albums, much like "Concerto". It's a beautiful listen. Art Farmer is an old cohort of his, and the two are a great musical pairing. Of all the albums Jim has done, this would likely be your wife's first pick for playing at a dinner party. It has that sort of mellow, perhaps tad syrupy sounding production, that would be welcoming to nonjazz fans. For me, the guitar fan, I found that Jim's solos on this album were some of my favorites for their sheer beauty. Particularly on "A Child Is Born", though, they're all very good and meaningful. His playing is very direct, deliberate and memorable. Fans of Jim Hall will be pleased.