Jim Hall - Careful (live in 1989)

Back in 1989 guitarplayer Jim Hall (1930-2013) was our guest in our little cozy radiostudio in Hilversum. He played his composition “Careful”. In this masterpiece his use of the guitar as a miniature orchestra is amazing. The modest maestro, with immense influence, once said: “I find solo playing boring after about 10 minutes. I even got bored with Segovia. So I tried to think orchestrally, like Duke Ellington, to keep it interesting for me, and the listeners.” His introspection, lyricism, spontaneity and risk-taking further set him apart. Hall was highly influenced by saxophonists and pianists. In his outstanding career he played with the best musicians of his time like Sonny Rollins, Ben Webster, Bill Evans and Sonny Stitt. “Careful” is a tricky piece and recorded many times by the guitarist over the decades. The eminent Peter Bernstein once said: “It’s a 16 bar blues, and if you’re not careful, you’ll make a 12 bar blues of it.” Remember Jim Hall (1930-2013) and also check this new Milestones Serie of a Jazz Legend on Spotify. More music: Broadcast: April 4th 1989 This video was recorded in Studio Plantage in Amsterdam for VPRO Reiziger in Muziek, predecessor of VPRO Vrije Geluiden: music program made by the Dutch public broadcast organization VPRO twitter, instagram @vrijegeluiden #jimhall #electricguitar #jazz