Visiting Artists in Jazz, Spring, 2004
Jim Hall, the internationally acknowledged virtuoso guitarist, visited Harvard University as a guest artist in February and April 2004. Sponsored by the Office for the Arts at Harvard and Harvard University Jazz Bands, the residency engaged Jim Hall, who had not previously experienced a college artist residency, in several aspects of university life.
While at Harvard, Hall rehearsed with two bands and met twice with student guitarists and rhythm players. On April 14, he discussed his career in a standing-room-only event, moderated by Tom Everett, Director of Bands, and presented by the Office for the Arts' Learning From Performers program. At a lunch in Hall's honor on April 16, faculty from both Harvard and Berklee College of Music reflected on his artistry, along with students, impresarios, DJs, and members of the Boston jazz press. Hall was also an on-air guest of Steve Schwartz's WGBH-FM "Jazz From Studio Four" program and the WERS-FM ( Emerson College ) "Jazz Oasis" program.
The residency, which retrospectively explored Jim Hall's influences and compositions, culminated with an April 17 concert in Harvard's historic Sanders Theatre. It featured Hall, Harvard's two undergraduate big bands, and an undergraduate string quartet. The evening also included clips from the film Jim Hall, A Life in Progress (Rhapsody Films, Bruce Ricker, producer/director). The concert began with Hall's "Chorale and Dance," presented by the Sunday Jazz Band in a newly commissioned arrangement by Dick Lieb. Works by two of Hall's influences were next-"Four on Six" by Wes Montgomery and "Seven Come Eleven" by Charlie Christian and Benny Goodman.
Jim Hall opened the second half "All the Things You Are" as a solo and "Without a Song" with a small student ensemble (in reference to his landmark recording of
"The Bridge"). He introduced "Django" by John Lewis as "a tribute to peace and my good friend John Lewis." The program ended with an improvisation by Hall and the Monday Jazz Band, loosely derived from his new work for guitar and orchestra. Following a standing ovation Jim Hall performed Hoagy Carmichael's "Skylark" as a solo encore.
"It was amazing to hear such a master," said guitarist Mike Ramos, Harvard Class of '05. "I was very affected hearing him do the chord melody on his solos; you don't understand how he could pick such a perfect note. There is no one on any instrument on the planet that can do what he does. His sense of harmony and chordal harmony-how sophisticated, logical, beautiful, creative and unique it was."
Jazz Programs at Harvard University were initiated in 1971 by Director of Bands Tom Everett and have developed with the Office for the Arts at Harvard since 1976. Artists such as Benny Carter, Illinois Jacquet, John Lewis, Max Roach, J.J. Johnson, Gerry Mulligan, Bill Evans, Randy Weston, Lester Bowie, Andrew Hill, Carla Bley, and Steve Lacy have participated. The purpose is to honor artists who have made a significant contribution to jazz and encourage their creativity in a new environment, share their mastery with students, and bring their music to the public.
The Office for the Arts at Harvard (OFA), established in 1973, supports student engagement in the arts and serves the University in its commitment to the arts. Through its programs and services, the OFA fosters student art making, connects students to accomplished artists, integrates the arts into university life, and partners with local, national and international constituencies. For more information, call 617.495.8676
