It’s been a few weeks since Jim’s death and I was shocked when I heard about this. I wanted to write about it sooner but honestly was looking for just the right thing to say. But I think I do now.
He was a friend to my father and a peer. They drifted apart from the 60s until the 90s when they played a concert at Bellarmine College together. But they had been very close despite being in touch only occasionally,. They respected each other immensely and it wasn’t lip service to a colleague, they could go in to great detail about what made the other a great artist. Jim Hall Live 
was just a head turner for Dad. He thought it was “stunning”. I have his original copy of it. Their approaches were very different but they were both after the same thing, subtlety and beauty. Recently I was marveling at the subtlety of the tracks on that album. For a bit I became obsessed with his interpretation of “Scrapple from the Apple”. I actually didn’t quite know the tune so I learned it by ear from Jim’s interpretation. His solo on it displays the full blossomed alternate conception that makes him one of the fathers of modern jazz guitar besides Dad. It takes the V7-I harmony of the opening A section and defines it for himself, not according to the written rules of “C7 now F now”. He does that by being flexible in rhythm and harmonic color but firm in his motivic clarity. He is a composer plain and simple. And if you think about it Dad is exactly the same, but manifested differently. They were both informed by the composer Parker’s model (Jim quotes Parker’s solo in the opening) but they were both originals and trying to perfect something completely different. I have an unfinished interview with Jim I did in 1999 about Dad and other things that I will posting soon. Rest in Peace, guys you changed music for all of us and we love you for it.
5 Comments
Tony DeCaprio
That’s beautiful Jon and on the money.
Jon Raney
Thanks, Tony
Best-
Jon
Rick Stone
Jon,
Both your dad and Jim Hall had a huge influence on my playing (and subsequently my entire life). I remember being turned on to both of their playing as a young college student just getting into jazz and the sounds of those records still resonates in my mind. Two of the greatest musicians, and even more importantly greatest human beings I’ve ever had the privilege to meet. You words are spot on.
Jon Raney
Thanks to both you, Rick and Tony. Both of you came under their influence at different points in their/your history but understood the lessons they were teaching as it was revealing itself. May you continue to benefit and keep the flame burning of the example they were setting and often the message that perhaps was being missed by those who didn’t listen or perhaps were not able to listen to at that point in their lives.
Best to all 2013-2014. Yes even a Raney can get slightly sentimental:)
Jon
Mark stein
Yes Jon – your father mentioned to me that Jim Hall was one of the very best- as usual,he was right!