Jim Hall, one of a handful of true jazz guitar pioneers, passed away last night in his sleep at the age of 83. Hall introduced a very technical, yet extremely accessible, style of jazz guitar that went on to influence a whole generation of modern players. His understated playing proved that a jazz guitarist didn’t have to be showy to be respected, as he proved on his many trio albums since the mid-1960′s, but also on some very important recordings by many jazz greats. Below is his performance with Sonny Rollins on the saxophonist’s 1962 classic comeback album The Bridge as featured on an early episode of the “Jazz Casual” series. Hall will be certainly be missed, but there is no doubt that his influence on jazz guitar will be everlasting.
