Jim Hall’s debut album as a leader perfectly encapsulated his musical personality in multiple ways: the title (Jazz Guitar) is simultaneously bold and simple, unassuming and assertive; the instrumental format he chose (a drummerless trio with pianist Carl Perkins and bassist Red Mitchell) looked forward to many similarly intimate recordings he would make in the future; the all-standards program (beginning with that most familiar of chestnuts, “Stomping’ at the Savoy”) signaled his love of jazz tradition and his determination to push its boundaries. It doesn’t sound like a warning shot across the bow of jazz guitar, but that’s just what this album would turn out to be.

– Rick Anderson