Jazz Articles about Bill Frisell

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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: ...

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Bill Frisell: East/West

by Renato Wardle
August 22, 2005

Jazz musicians are relentlessly struggling to find a unique sound on their particular instruments. However, only a very few can lay claim to discovering their own voice, let alone engendering an entire genre. Bill Frisell is one such artist. His style of jazz exists at the crossroads between the disparate idioms of jazz, blues, and country. While many artists endeavor to be on the “cutting edge of jazz, Bill Frisell has withdrawn even further into his own realm. His latest ...

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Cuong Vu: It's Mostly Residual

by John Kelman
August 14, 2005

Since relocating from Seattle in '94, trumpeter Cuong Vu has emerged as an important voice on the New York Downtown Scene. While his reputation has continued to grow with solo releases including '00's Bound and '01's Come Play With Me, his four-year relationship with jazz megastar Pat Metheny has seen his name grow familiar to an ever-expanding audience.

Vu has appeared on Pat Metheny Group's last two recordings--'02's Speaking of Now and this year's ambitious The Way Up--and two lengthy ...

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Bill Frisell: Richter 858

by Mark Corroto
January 24, 2005

Commissioned to create music for a book project on the German painter Gerhard Richter, guitarist Bill Frisell opened his book of guitar techniques to enhance the painter's art.

Given instructions and eight Richter images, Frisell composed pieces for the 858 Strings Trio of Jenny Scheinman, Eyvind Kang, and Hank Roberts, a unit which can be heard on Frisell's 2004 release, Unspeakable. These eight pieces were recorded live in the studio without overdubs, remixing or post-production change. Like a ...