Died On This Date (December 10, 2013) Jim Hall / Jazz Guitar Master
themusicsover Jim Hall
December 4, 1930 – December 10, 2013
Jim Hall was an influential American jazz guitarist who counted no less than Bill Frissell and Pat Metheny as disciples. Thanks in part to his skill as an improviser, he was considered one of the greatest guitarists on earth during his time here. Born into a musical family, Hall began playing the guitar at 10 years old. He began playing professionally as a teenager and went on to study music at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He soon headed to Los Angeles to make his mark on the cool jazz scene which was in full swing but settled in New York City around 1960. Throughout his career, Hall played worked with the best of the best in jazz history. That list includes Chico Hamilton, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimmy Giuffre, Paul Desmond, and Art Farmer to name just a few. As a leader, he released no fewer than 40 albums and remarkably, continued to perform regularly until just a few weeks before his death. He was even planning a tour of Japan for January, 2014. Jim Hall was 83 when he passed away on December 10, 2013.
What You Should Own
Bob Brookmeyer was an American jazz musician, arranger and composer who is most often remembered for his contributions to Gerry Mulligan’s Quartet during the late ’50s. He went on to work with the likes of 
Jimmy Giuffre was a respected jazz composer and arranger and also was also known for his stylish saxophone and clarinet skills. Getting his start as Woody Herman’s arranger in 1947, he went on to become of the main forces of West coast jazz. In 1961, Giuffre formed a trio with Paul Bley and Steve Swallow who, though not very successful at the time, went down in history as one of the most important groups in jazz history. Giuffre went on to teach at NYU and later the New England Conservatory of Music through the ’90s. He suffered from Parkinson’s Disease throughout his later life and passed away on April 24, 2008 at the age of 86.
