Concierto [Limited Edition]

Jim Hall | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 2, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Limited Edition
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002AGY
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,577 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars introduction to jazz voices, July 22, 2001

By 

Steven C. Berry "scberry" (Edmonds WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Concierto (Audio CD)

I came to jazz in the mid-eighties, and Concierto was my introduction to the jazz guitar of Jim Hall. I didn't stop there--I own everything that is in print that Jim Hall played on--but I keep returning to this masterpiece.

This is a recording of jazz voices. Who needs out-and-out lyrics, when you have the magnificent, battle-weary, eloquent instrumental voices of Paul Desmond, Chet Baker and Jim Hall to talk to you?

"Concierto de Aranjuez" is the arena for these jazz voices to tell their stories, and what can we do but listen, over and over? I'm not slighting the rest of this CD; the difference between the carefully-structured, slow, intense "Concierto de Aranjuez" and the more-mainstream jazz cuts is part of what makes this all work so well. An essential jazz CD.

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Jazz Masterpiece, March 28, 2003

By 

Kurt Harding "bon vivant" (Boerne TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Concierto (Audio CD)

How did I miss this one? I was really into jazz albums issued on the CTI label back in the 1970s, but I was completely unaware of this until I heard it on vinyl recently at a friend's house. Naturally, I had to have my own copy, so I ordered it on CD as soon as I returned home.
I like the whole CD, but the core of this is the magnificent interpretation of Concierto de Aranjuez which in my opinion makes Miles Davis' critically acclaimed Sketches of Spain pale by comparison.
On Concierto, Hall is accompanied by jazz legends Paul Desmond, Ron Carter and Chet Baker as well as accomplished session men Steve Gadd and Roland Hanna. This sextet blends so smoothly, you might think these guys had been together for years. That can be partially credited of course to the production of Creed Taylor and the arrangements of the label's arranger Don Sebesky, but also to Taylor's instinctive ability to gather musicians who meshed with one another for whatever project was at hand.
This jazz masterpiece is one that belongs in every audiophile's collection. Order it today!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Favorite album by favorite artist, December 29, 2001

By 

"neuron617" (San Carlos, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Concierto (Audio CD)

Much of what I would have said is contained in prior reviews, however, I would add that I, too, own virtually all other efforts by the incomparable Mr. Hall and consider the Concierto de Aranjuez to be his finest moment. His work with Ron Carter, Paul Desmond and Bill Evans ranks nearly as high, but this is the best IMHO.

This album is the only place I know of where Hall and Desmond came together with Chet Baker. Jim Hall's guitar chops are awesome even when he is NOT in the forefront. Listen to the way he flatters other soloists, especially encouraging and supporting Baker on "Two's Blues". His sense of time and rhythm, his sense of how much he can come into another's space, his ear for what the others are doing is exquisite.

As an amateur guitarist, I have always wanted to sound like JH on this album. I tried backstage one day to get Mr. Hall to talk about it, to tell me how. He smiled and put his hand on my shoulder. "Just keep listening," he said. Jim, that's what I'm doing.