Search - Jim Hall :: In Berlin

Rare treasure

Matthew D. White | New Orleans, LA | 05/06/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For some odd reason, this album has not been in print in the U.S. since OJC seemed to drop it unceremoniously from their catalog. Now, it seems, a Japanese label has picked it up and has it back in print. For Jim Hall fans, this is an essential one, on a par with his best trio albums, including "Live" and even the recent "Magic Meeting", although here I guess you could call it Hall's "European Trio".

There's a plenty of classic Hall here; "Up, Up and Away" is a sly and very catchy opener; "Blue Joe" and "It's Nice to Be With You" (composed by Jane Hall) are other standouts. There are several ballads ("Romaine; "Young One") where Hall overdubs on a solo guitar track, essentially playing a duet with himself. I'm guessing these tracks must have made an impression on Pat Metheny, who went on to try the same idea on his first ECM album.

For the already initiated, this album can stand as one of Hall's best. For newcomers, this is certainly a good place to start discovering the genius of the reigning master of understatement, the great Jim Hall."

Conversations With Himself

Gordon Danis | Eastchester, New York United States | 02/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I long owned this on vinyl and jumped at the first chance to grab it on CD (on the German MPS label. ) "It's Nice To Be With You" features Jim in his favorite context of guitar, bass, and drums, like his prior collaborator and musical soulmate Bill Evans, who also used the trio format (albeit with piano instead of guitar) to bring group improvisation to its highest level. While most tracks are straight ahead trio selections, Jim was influenced by Bill Evans' "Conversations With Myself" album, and overdubs guitars on "In A Sentimental Mood" and on

"My Funny Valentine" (that track also has bassist Jimmy Woode and drummer Daniel Humair, making it a "virtual quartet.") The CD is a gem, and my only complaint is that it runs a bit short in this CD age; it would have been nice to have alternate takes or other tracks that didn't make the vinyl record, assuming such material exists. Small quibble, though, as the music that is there is clearly five-star material."