Jim is one of my most profound influences as a musician.

While my wife and I were at IAJE in NYC in 2004 we went to see Jim and Charlie Haden play duo at The Blue Note. Charlie was doing a week of duos with guitarists. He did two nights with Sco, two with Frisell and two with Jim.

I had just picked up Jim Hall’s “Live” CD the day before and I brought it to the show. After the show, Cindy and I went upstairs to use the restroom. At the Blue Note the women’s restroom is right next to the dressing room. As I was waiting for Cindy I saw that Jim was talking to woman in his room with the door opened a bit. As she was leaving, Jim walked her out and turned around and said hi to me. I said hello and he invited me into his dressing room and closed the door. By this time, I had honestly forgotten that Cindy was still in the restroom. Jim asked me if I played guitar and where I was from like we were old friends. I had him sign my copy of “Live!” and then in walked Charlie Haden. It took me a second to realize that I was sitting on a couch with Jim Hall and Charlie Haden. Both Charlie and I are from Iowa, so we talked about that a bit and then Cindy walked right in. Both Jim and Charlie were shocked that this woman had walked right into their dressing room. I said that she was with me. Both Cindy and I sat with them for a bit longer and then we had to catch a cab across town to see Pat Martino at the Iridium.