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. Hall's skills as a composer are vastly underrated by the jazz audience as a whole, but his fellow players recognize his formidable skills. He makes a relatively rare appearance on a 12-string acoustic guitar in his challenging opener, "End the Beguine," in which he and Holland rise to the demands of this captivating piece. McBride joins the leader for the playful waltz "Dog Walk," whileColley, Hall's regular bassist at the time of these recording sessions, joins him for the invigorating "Dream Steps," a reworking of the chords to the standard "You Stepped Out of a Dream." In addition to several memorable duo (or trio) improvisations, Hall is joined by both Colley and Mraz for the initially loping and suddenly very abstract "Tango Loco," featuring Mraz's tasty arco bass. Hall's adventuresome streak as a composer, arranger, and performer continues to flourish. - Ken Dryden
Tracks
01.End the Beguine! (Jim Hall)
Bass – Dave Holland
02.Bent Blue (Jim Hall)
Bass – Christian McBride
03.Abstract 1 (Charlie Haden / Jim Hall)
Bass – Charlie Haden
04. All The Things You Are (Oscar Hammerstein / Jerome Kern)
Bass – George Mraz
05. Abstract 2 (Scott Colley / Jim Hall / George Mraz)
Bass – Scott Colley / George Mraz
06. Sam Jones (Jim Hall)
Bass – Dave Holland
07.Don´t Explain (Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog, Jr.)
Bass – Charlie Haden
08.Dog Walk (Jim Hall)
Bass – Christian McBride
09.Abstract 3 (Scott Colley / Jim Hall / George Mraz)
Bass – Scott Colley / George Mraz
10.Bésame Mucho (Consuelo Velázquez / Sunny Skylar)
Bass – Scott Colley
11.Dream Steps (Jim Hall)
Bass – Scott Colley
12.Abstract 4 (Scott Colley / Jim Hall)
Bass – Scott Colley
13.Tango Loco (Jim Hall)
Bass – Scott Colley / George Mraz
JIM HALL acoustic and electric guitars, 12-string guitar
CHARLIE HADEN bass
CHRISTIAN McBRIDE bass
SCOTT COLLEY bass
GEORGE MRAZ bass
DAVE HOLLAND bass
Recorded January 7 & 8, 2001
TELARC - CD - 83506