Erik Hall
Above: Erik Hall 2009 in Edmonds, WA
AUTHOR: By Ian McKenna
Originally Published Oct 2011
Jazz Soundings October 2011 Page 4
As some of you know - Erik was a charter member of PSTJS and was at the first concert in 1975. He didn’t miss many concerts while he lived in Seattle. Hall moved with his wife, Joan to Phoenix in November 1994.
Hall recorded several bands at PSTJS concerts in the 80’s. An example of those would be “Great Excelsior, Uptown Lowdown, Rainier and Grand Dominion. He says that he is slowly cleaning out his tape collection and I have been the fortunate recipient. He is still an avid fan, and in a phone conversation he said to me “jazz is my life elixir.” So true for a lot of us
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The following is reprint from Fitness Plus Magazine, 1402 N. Miller Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257. This article was written in 2000.
Erik Hall immigrated to the United States from Sweden in 1953 and worked for a steamship line in Seattle, Washington. Six years ago, he and his wife, Joan, moved to Palmas Del Sol East to enjoy their retirement under the “clear blue skies.” Hall and his wife have been avid cyclists for as long as they can remember. They competed in several century and half century races in Washington State in the late 1970’s and throughout the 80’s.
Hall had both hips replaced, one in 1987 and the other in 1996. After his last surgery, he was back on his bike after five weeks. Not only are his hips in good working order, he claims they are “better than new,” though he jokes that they occasionally require a little WD-40.
When he’s working out, he averages about 435 miles per month; Hall normally bikes three to four days a week, and might venture up to 75 miles in one day. He keeps a log-book of his mileage and destinations and has biked almost 20,000 miles since he began keeping count in 1995. He likes to vary his route, often cycling along the canals or out by the Superstitions. Hall feels he’s in better shape now that he was as a young man, because he didn’t have the time to devote himself wholeheartedly to fitness until he retired. He also works out five to six days a week, lifting free weights and taking advantage of the cardio machines. “I’m on a steady diet of exercise,” he quips.
When he’s not working out, Hall has developed a passion for jazz. As a young man, working on a passenger ship that was docked in New York City, he found his way into a jazz club – he was hooked for life. Laughing, he admits that he blasts his jazz music at full volume when his wife is out. “The whole house rocks.” He and Joan travel the country in their van, often spending several months a year on the road, camping and taking in jazz festivals. They never leave their home without their bikes.
To stay motivated, Hall says he doesn’t have to push himself, “I like to stay fit, it’s something I enjoy.” A self-proclaimed loner, he loves riding out in the desert by himself for hours on end. Grinning, he says the best motivation for him to hop on his bike is when Joan wants him out of the house, so she can practice the piano.
At mealtimes, ”My wife has kept me alive – she’s a good cook, and we’re both vitamin freaks,” Hall says. Joan likes to cook light, often using a wok. They have lots of pasta and homemade soups with thick cuts of vegetables. Although they do not consume much meat, they do include a considerable amount of seafood in their diet. Teasing, he says he has eaten more fresh fruit in the last six years than he’d eaten in his entire life up till then. Around Christmas time, Hall makes Swedish meatballs, and cookies, which he delights in giving out to friends and family.
Halls goal is to stay in tip-top shape for the remainder of his life. “I just want to be what I am today – happy – doing what I enjoy: biking, eating good food, listening to music.” There are also many travel plans in his immediate future, including upcoming jazz festivals and perhaps Hawaii, too.
