Rob Adams writes:
Dublin-based Livia Records has announced the September release of a previously unissued recording by two of the world’s leading jazz guitarists, Jim Hall and Louis Stewart.
The recording took place in Dublin at Christmas 1982 after Hall contacted Stewart to say he was in Ireland on holiday and asked if they could play a gig.
Hall and Stewart had met in New York the previous year when Waterford-born Stewart was appearing at Bechet’s on Third Avenue, a residency that was announced by the New York Times’ respected jazz critic, John S. Wilson.
Despite the short notice and the difficulty in finding an available venue, the concert went ahead on Boxing Night at the Maccabi Hall. Word got round, tickets sold out and Gerald Davis, who had founded Livia Records to release Stewart’s recordings five years earlier, recorded the performance.
The tapes then lay undiscovered until 2022, when Dermot Rogers, a Dublin radio presenter and Louis Stewart fan, reactivated Livia Records, which had been dormant since Davis’ death in 2005.
“This is the only known recording of Jim Hall and Louis performing together,” says Rogers. “Pat Metheny has described Jim Hall as ‘the father of modern jazz guitar’ and he’d already made historic recordings with Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans and Quincy Jones by the time he arrived in Dublin.”
Louis Stewart had toured and recorded with the King of Swing, clarinettist Benny Goodman and pianist George Shearing, as well as saxophonists Tubby Hayes and Ronnie Scott. He would go on to deputise for one of his early heroes, Barney Kessel – at Kessel’s suggestion – on a Great Guitars tour with Charlie Byrd.
“The excitement in the room is palpable on the recording,” says Rogers. “Here were two of the greatest guitarists of their time, and clearly good friends, enjoying playing together. It would have been a real ‘pinch myself’ moment for everyone present.”
Rogers, who has overseen the release of three Stewart recordings and has further releases planned, had the tapes digitized and mastered and commissioned guitarist Bill Frisell’s biographer, Philip Watson, to write the album’s detailed liner notes.
“There are eight tracks, including duets of “Stella by Starlight” and “How Deep Is the Ocean” and solo versions of “My Funny Valentine” and “In a Sentimental Mood” by Jim Hall and it’s a captivating recording,” says Rogers. “It’s also a piece of jazz guitar history.”
The Dublin Concert by Louis Stewart & Jim Hall is released by Livia Records on 6 September on CD, vinyl and download.
LINKS: Livia Records website
Mike Rud’s “Ten Tracks by Jim Hall I Can’t Do Without”
