Stylistically, guitarists Jim Hall and Ireland's Louis Stewart had much in common. Both embraced edge in their playing, both were unconventional in their attacks, both could swing and both were vastly respected as jazz virtuosos by their peers and countrymen.
On December 26, 1982, Jim and Louis came together for a concert at Dublin's Maccabi Hall. The concert was recorded but only just now released for the first time as Louis Stewart & Jim Hall: The Dublin Concert (Livia).
The concert tapes were discovered in 2022 and have been lovingly digitized and mastered, and the album is now the only known recording of Jim and Louis performing together. The material and sound are terrific.
Jim and Louis first met in 1981 during Louis's residency at Bechet's in New York, a restaurant and jazz club on Third Avenue near 75th Street. Louis was a big admirer of Jim, particularly the duet albums Jim had recorded with Bill Evans. Louis also recorded in duet settings. [Photo above of Jim Hall]
That December, as Jim vacationed in Ireland, a concert was hastily set up in Dublin. "Look at what Santa brought us for Christmas" is how Louis introduces Jim. There was just one mic set up for each guitarist.
The music consisted mostly of standards, but the normally worn songbook songs are deconstructed and given new life. As one guitarist solos or takes the lead, the other plays rhythm. For those unfamiliar with the styles of these guitarists, I'll keep it simple for you: Louis is more pronounced and Jim is more delicate. [Photo above of Louis Stewart]
Interestingly, there are no flashy attacks to show off virtuosity. What you hear are two extraordinary guitarists engaging in musical conversations and clearly having loads of fun.
The tracks:
- Stella By Starlight (Victor Young)
- 2 Degrees East, 3 Degrees West (John Lewis)
- But Beautiful (Jimmy Van Heusen)
- St. Thomas (Sonny Rollins)
- All the Things You Are (Jerome Kern)
- My Funny Valentine (Rodgers and Hart)
- How Deep Is the Ocean (Irving Berlin) ....
- In a Sentimental Mood (Duke Ellington)
Among my many favorites here are But Beautiful, an even more astonishing ballad in their hands; St. Thomas, with a unique approach and easily one of the finest covers of this Sonny Rollins composition; and My Funny Valentine, which they gloriously re-invent and decorate.
Jim Hall and Louis Stewart were JazzWax readers, and I miss them both. Jim Hall died in 2013 at age 83; Louis Stewart died in 2016 at age 72.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Louis Stewart & Jim Hall: The Dublin Concert (Livia) here and on most major streaming platforms. To learn more about Livia Records, the Irish jazz label, go here.
Jazzwax clips: Here's But Beautiful...
And here's St. Thomas...
