Jim Hall & Pat Metheny

this cd reminds me of when i get up early in the morning and try to be quiet while everyone else in the house is still sleeping..there is a special peacefulness about the very beginning of the day, when the sun is just coming up, that reminds me of the sweet vibe on this cd.. the entire release is like listening to a brook flow through the woods or a gentle breeze blow the leaves in the summer.the playing is excellent and the arrangements are very nice. since i have been a fan of both metheny and hall for years i am pleased to recommend this cd to any of you who like soft and/or acoustic jazz.

I bought this a month ago to fill in my Jim Hall collection and have listened to it about ten times: it's great. This morning on CBS' Sunday Morning, the Picasso/Matisse exhibition was discussed, and I thought of the "dialogue" between Hall and Metheny as comparable. They have a lot to say to each other although they're a generation apart.

I must admit that this cd had been collecting dust for the first two years of ownership in favor of ones (e.g. "Letter from Home") that featured Pat Metheny's brilliant guitar work in a group setting. Yeah, it was hard for my ear to appreciate some of the more subtle and contemplative guitar duet's found on this recording. But then a few things happened: I began to listen to the "Intermodulations" recording Jim Hall did with Bill Evans, which helped me appreciate Jim's ability to harmonize so well with other string instruments. Beautiful stuff! Around the same time I also began to become even more impressed with music Pat Metheny's done over the past 20 years, especially the way he harmonizes with Lyle Mays on keyboards. And the music Pat and Jim produce on this recording seems just as impressive. They are so much in tune with one another, it is obvious that both were putting out their best performances in an effort to convey their admiration for one another. There is even a wonderful rendition of "Into the Dream", made famous on Metheny's "Imaginary Day" recording, in which Hall's accompaniment adds a coat of lush texture to a tune that was already rich in harmony and imagination from the strokes of Metheny's 42-string pikasso guitar. So my advice is to give this cd a chance, and keep listening to appreciate the interplay between these two legendary musicians.

I started listening to Pat Metheny a couple of years back, and he was one of the first jazz guitarists I heard that really got to me.His unique, warm tone, and fluency - like running water but in impeccable form and distinction, in his playing, are things that make him one of the world's most amazing guitar players, in my book. Adding to this his enormous versatility in music, the reason he's my, and many others', greatest musical influence becomes quite clear.Who I didn't know of until I saw this CD, was Jim Hall, oddly enough. Later on, I found out through reading a lot of Pat Metheny biographies and interviews, that Jim Hall has been one of Metheny's greatest musical influences.Then it all became very clear to me.Hall's warm, rich tone, and way of playing, is unmistakably reflected in Metheny's, but it's not a copy at all, and that's what makes great artists; learning from the master, but creating your own, and becoming a master yourself, in your own way.In the store, I wanted to listen a little to this CD before buying it, only knowing who Pat Metheny was. After 20 seconds (literally), I took of the headphones and put my money on the desk. It was magic.The way these two masters together interpret the songs on this cd; their own, others', is amazing. The music has such a strong soul in it, that it's kept this album very high on my list for as long as I've owned it (since it came out).Hearing this CD is getting a remarkable insight into the fanstastic musical ideas and spirit of these two, amazing guitarists and human beings.It has given me a whole new view on music, and it really steered me into a totally new understanding of music, being but a kid when I bought it (I was born in 1985).I strongly recommend you buy it, too. This kind of chemistry doesn't happen very often.

For guitar fans, the title of this CD says all that need be said. The chance to hear two of the premier guitarists on the scene today playing together will be an irresistible attraction, and those who pick up this CD will be well rewarded with nearly 74 minutes of well-recorded guitar duets. Six of the 17 cuts were recorded are live performances, while the rest are studio sessions. The tunes include originals by Hall, originals by Metheny, a few standards, and some improvisations made up on the spot by the two guitarists. Hall sticks to his normal electric guitar throughout, while Metheny plays a variety of guitars, both electric and acoustic, including his 42-string Pikasso guitar. To hear these two musicians interact is a joy, and not just for guitar fans.

I do like the CD, it is very nice, yet a number of the songs have such a droning quality, a kind of lulling rhythm, the tones of the guitars, that it doesn't make for much more than background music to reading or writing reviews on ... . There is a fair amount of variety here and there: "Summertime" and "Into the Dream" being the more interesting arrangements. I do have to say, though, that Pat Metheny recorded "Into the Dream" WAY too many times: i've counted at least four different versions on various recordings over the last 4 years or so. But anyways... Ok, here it is: if your'e looking for relaxing, calming, interesting music, check into this. It's not what you'd usually expect from Pat Metheny, though: none of his amazing guitar synth solos, and there's not a single drum beat or bass guitar or keyboard to be heard on this whole cd, which is actually one reason why it's so droning: there are no rhythms other than what the guitars play to keep things upbeat, you know? It's cool though, it's nice to listen to, I listen to this when I fall asleep at night, actually. Take a listen.