Al Hall

Although never a prominent soloist, the versatile and very supportive bassist Al Hall was considered an asset to a countless number of dates and recording sessions. He grew up in Philadelphia and early on played cello and tuba before switching permanently to bass in 1932. After working locally for a few years, Hall moved to New York in 1936 where he played with Billy Hicks (1936-1937), Skeets Tolbert (1937-1938), and, most significantly, <a href="spotify:artist:0tg5uVI4VjzZOFzBryJZii">Teddy Wilson</a>'s big band and combo (1939-1941). After working with the Ellis Larkins Trio (1942-1943) and <a href="spotify:artist:6hrEc1XqVcGLK0Di6zVADR">Mary Lou Williams</a>, Hall became a staff musician at CBS (often playing on The Mildred Bailey Show as part of <a href="spotify:artist:2TXeeTg3ZGNpNFUSO1lgd2">the Paul Baron Orchestra</a>) and worked in the pit bands of Broadway shows on an occasional basis for decades. Hall formed the Wax label in 1946, which lasted three years before being purchased by Atlantic. The bassist worked and toured with <a href="spotify:artist:6C65D20ASusYqHGSIktfED">Erroll Garner</a> off and on during 1945-1963. Among his later associations were <a href="spotify:artist:1pBuKaLHJlIlqYxQQaflve">Benny Goodman</a> (a 1966 tour of Europe), <a href="spotify:artist:2CoyzkezSfH59UcVF1sGvP">Hazel Scott</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2SJ9t86XCfdJnyoMgAtPU1">Tiny Grimes</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4ZdfXQkef0hnTSqmhpGarA">Alberta Hunter</a> (1977-1978), and <a href="spotify:artist:5IncNYeCNPQoNYU6gR1wpR">Doc Cheatham</a>. Hall made his recording debut with Billy Hicks in 1937, and led five titles during 1946-1947 for the Wax label and four selections for European Columbia in 1959. Additionally, he was not above playing sessions devoted to newer forms of music and, as a New York-based musician, alternated with Abie Baker on sessions for George Goldner's Gee and Rama labels run by saxman Jimmy Wright, doing R&B and early rock & roll. ~ Scott Yanow & Bruce Eder, Rovi