BEN HALL INTERVIEW
(Originally aired on April 14, 2011)
Usually we interview guitarists who have built successful careers on a foundation of many albums and years of touring — jazz wizard Charlie Hunter, classical virtuoso Sharon Isbin and Dobro master Jerry Douglas, for example. But occasionally, we catch bright, young talents right at the beginning of their career, and it's exciting to help spread the word about such new and promising players. This is the case with Ben Hall, a 22-year-old (at the time of this interview) fingerstyle guitarist who plays with the authority, soul and groove of a master two or three times his age. Hall's debut album — Ben Hall! — was released in 2011 and if you enjoy Merle Travis and Chet Atkins, you'll be floored by Hall's take on "thumbpick" guitar.
In our exclusive interview, Nashville-based Hall describes recording his debut album in New York and explains how he discovered and embraced Travis-style picking before hitting his teens. During our feature, we'll hear selections from Ben Hall! that illustrate his stunning command of the instrument.