"Perhaps they could take some pointers from pianist Doug Hall whose upcoming release, Jihi (Heart Music) will be out next month. The unassuming Hall is one of Austin’s unheralded musical treasures. His brilliantly impressionistic, intensely probing, and sometimes even witty pianism is at the heart of this terrific session of all originals. Recorded in NYC with brother Bruce Hall on drums, ringer Adam Kolker (from Ray Barretto’s band) on sax and top-shelf engineer Jim Anderson at the controls, Jihi serves up an elegant, carefully crafted musical feast for the mind and senses. Hall is a delight to listen to. If only we didn’t have to wait several years between albums. -– Jay Trachtenberg, Austin Chronicle

"Although Austin, Texas is noted for its heritage of American roots music rather than that of jazz, pianist Doug Hall could help change that perception. Accompanied by reedman Adam Kolker, bassist John Hebert, and drummer Bruce Hall, Doug Hall shows the influence of McCoy Tyner on the Coltranean modal theme ‘After The Fact,’ executing bright, dramatic runs. A rustling Hebert solo introduces "Jihi," a mercurial theme set atop a tense, loping bass line, an aggressive groove kept at a tight simmer, and the quavering, offbeat ‘Dark Stream’ features Kolker's dark-toned, skittish bass clarinet solo, and Hall's free-ish improvisations, bedecked with flurries of notes.

A seeming inversion of Arlen-Harburg's Wizard of Oz classic, gentle ballad ‘Under the Rainbow’ intersects with its predecessor a couple interesting ways, and the elegant jazz-soul theme ‘Side Trip’ is a chiming, swaying delight that recalls Keith Jarrett's better grooves.

In reality, Texas has produced many fine jazz artists, with North Texas State University -–