Jazz Articles about Bill Frisell

Bill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul Motian: Bill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul Motian

by John Kelman
August 24, 2006

Despite his deep harmonic language and highly evolved personal sound, enigmatic guitarist Bill Frisell has often been criticized for musical choices that appear to ignore his jazz roots. But he treats jazz simply as one part of a larger musical continuum where Thelonious Monk and Hank Williams can harmoniously coexist. Bill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul Motian presents him at his jazziest, yet it's still unequivocally a Bill Frisell record, with the broad scope and quirky mannerisms that have defined his ...

Bill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul Motian: Bill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul Motian

by Troy Collins
August 23, 2006

This self-titled debut by an all-star trio of acknowledged masters was recorded live in the studio with no rehearsal. Guitarist Bill Frisell has played with both bassist Ron Carter and drummer Paul Motian on numerous occasions, but never have all three joined forces before.

Carter's rapport with Frisell was established years ago when the first played together in drummer Joey Baron's Baron Down band. Frisell was a charter member of Motian's longstanding trio with saxophonist Joe Lovano, which ...

Bill Frisell: Further East/Further West

by Tom Greenland
May 14, 2006

Bill Frisell Further East/Further West Nonesuch Records 2005

Bill Frisell is an exceptional musician because he has the ability to mine the usual guitaristic textures without getting caught up in clichés, to unearth original ore in the same old vein. Further East/Further West (available only in download form) is a companion album to 2005's East/West, culling material from the same two gigs: four-night stands at the Village Vanguard (December, 2003) and Oakland's Yoshi's (May, ...

Imagine: The Bill Frisell Trio

by AAJ Staff
November 23, 2005

The Bill Frisell Trio The Barbican The London Jazz Festival London, England November 15, 2005

Every once in a while a performer can get away with what happened when Bill Frisell performed at the 2005 London Jazz Festival at the magnificent Barbican, but not often. Appearing with violinist Jenny Scheinman and guitarist Greg Leisz, he blew the rules away with a wave of his hand.Bill Frisell has produced a long line ...

Bill Frisell: East/West

by AAJ Staff
September 5, 2005

Though he's passed through several phases during the last two decades, guitarist Bill Frisell has manifested an uncanny ability to transport listeners across gaps in time, space, and style. His jump-cut playing with Naked City did this in a blunt and abrupt fashion; recordings from his country-tinged period tugged at the very roots of American string music; and his 2003 Nonesuch recording, The Intercontinentals, leapt boldly across international boundaries.

In a similar fashion, the double live set East/West, assembled from ...

Bill Frisell: East/West

by John Kelman
August 27, 2005

Good music is where you find it. Sometimes it's clear as day because the original is so great that there's simply no doubt; other times it can be obscured by poor interpretation--but dig deep enough and unmistakable qualities are revealed. Over the past 25 years, guitarist Bill Frisell has built a reputation as a significant composer on albums like '94's This Land and '01's Blues Dream. But he's equally known as an astute interpreter of others' music, as on '93's ...

Bill Frisell: East/West

by Paul Olson
August 24, 2005

Bill Frisell's new two-disc live album East/West is the guitarist's tenth Nonesuch release. While it must be stated emphatically that there's not a terrible album among those recordings--or, really, in all of Frisell's discography--a newcomer to his work might be at a loss as to where to begin. I'll go out on a limb here and start things off by stating that East/West is the perfect introduction to Frisell's work. It's a veritable Rosetta Stone of just what Frisell does: ...