Art Farmer, Jim Hall – Big Blues(180g LP)

Featured in Michael Fremer’s Heavy Rotation in the August 2010 & January 2011 Issue of Stereophile! Pressed at Pallas in Germany!

Flugelhornist Art Farmer and guitarist Jim Hall had had a regular group for a time in the mid-’60s but (except for one occasion) had not played together since, until this 1978 LP. This is an unusual effort for CTI in that it is a quintet set without added horns, strings or keyboards. Farmer and Hall are joined by vibraphonist Mike Mainieri, bassist Michael Moore and drummer Steve Gadd for two standards, the title cut and a jazz adaptation of Ravel’s “Pavane for a Dead Princess”..

Since Farmer and Hall have long had very complementary styles (both being lyrical, harmonically advanced and thoughtful in their improvisations), it is little surprise that this set is a complete success.

“The combination of the precise, non-swinging rhythm section and the ethereal vibes, muted flugelhorn and hollow bodied electric (bathed in reverb) played by three very swinging musicians produces a kind of Velcro jazz… The album floats jazz-like, but anchored by a well-defined rhythm track.” – Michael Fremer, www.musicangle.com, Music 8/10, Sound 8/10