Ruth Price has presented concerts at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood several times as part of her floating “Moveable Feast” series. Saturday night’s Jim Hall Quartet 80th Birthday Celebration appeared to be her best-attended event so far, with as many students present as her core demographic of older listeners. All were treated to a masterful display of instrumental virtuosity and group interaction.
Though a giant on his guitar, Hall is a thoughtful, quiet man.
His group — consisting of alto saxophonist Greg Osby, bassist Steve LaSpina and drummer Joey Baron — utilized a chamber aesthetic of quiet exchange, yet often challenged the limitations of that format. Bar lines were sometimes trampled by soloists, free-time excursions occurred, and Osby’s alto felt like it might bust out of the confined dynamic range of the group. Though his influence is pervasive and he’s been recognized as a major stylist for more than 50 years, Hall emerged a creator — still creatively searching and avoiding clichés.
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Photo: Jim Hall Credit: JimHall.com