Home » Jazz Articles » Download Review » Bill Frisell: Hurricane Harvey Relief: A Compilation Fro...

14

Bill Frisell: Hurricane Harvey Relief: A Compilation From His Live Download Series

By

Sign in to view read count
Bill Frisell
Hurricane Harvey Relief: A Compilation From His Live Download Series
BillFrisell.com
2017

Many musicians may use their celebrity to speak out about issues that matter to them, but only a relatively precious few are actually prepared to put the time, effort and money where their mouths are, creating contexts where much- needed funds can be raised to support those causes. It's even better when they do so in a way that rewards fans who donate to such worthwhile efforts with something tangible, as an expression of gratitude.

Since 2008, Bill Frisell has released a series of download-only live performances from across his long and varied career. Beyond the opportunity to hear high quality soundboard recordings of material that many will only have encountered, so far, on studio albums from In Line (ECM, 1983) through to Beautiful Dreamers (Savoy Jazz, 2010), the Live Download Series—now 21 titles strong—also provides the chance to experience lineups that have never been heard on any of the guitarist's many commercial recordings.

With the massive damage incurred by recent hurricane activity in the southern USA and Puerto Rico, Frisell and his team have put together Hurricane Harvey Relief: A Compilation From His Live Download Series. Culled from five of his Live Download Series releases, Hurricane Harvey Relief not only serves as a good introduction for those who've yet to dip their toes into the series; as a recent press release, first issued on September 18, 2017, makes clear, "Everyone affiliated with this project is donating their royalty or time for this relief effort." It's clearly a win-win.

With the five shows represented already reviewed extensively at All About Jazz, there's little need to go into extensive detail about the individual releases. What's important is that all but one of these seven tracks document lineups that have never before been heard, in precisely these constellations, on any of Frisell's commercial recordings. While it would be impossible to suggest that these tracks are the "best of the best" from the guitarist's Live Download Series, their specific selection and sequencing makes for a compelling 65 minutes of prime Frisell.

From a 2003 Hungary performance released as Live Download Series #011 (2010) and featuring longtime pedal steel and lap steel guitarist Greg Leisz, bassist David Piltch and drummer Kenny Wollesen, Frisell delivers a significantly altered interpretation of "Boubacar," first heard on 2003's world music-inflected The Intercontinentals (Nonesuch). Also recorded at the same show, a more ethereal, atmospheric "Ron Carter" contrasts with the decidedly groove-laden, septet version first heard on 2001's Blues Dream (Nonesuch).

Culled from a one-off 2004 tour with organist Sam Yahel and drummer Brian Blade—first released on Live Download Series #004 in 2009 and recorded in New York City—the guitarist's only organ trio takes a considerably different, percussively unusual look at the melancholically blues-drenched "Strange Meeting," first heard on 1983's eclectic Rambler (ECM), and the gentle, often-covered "Throughout," from Frisell's first album as a leader, 1983's In Line (ECM).

Elsewhere, the more extended "Listen," also from The Intercontinentals, comes from the 2003 tour in support of that album, and is the only track to feature the identical lineup; along with Scheinman and Leisz, Frisell is joined by oud and bouzouki player Christos Govetas, percussionist Sidiki Camara, and acoustic guitarist Vinicius Cantuaria. It may feature the same personnel but, as can always be expected with Frisell, the interpretation is another story entirely, as is true throughout the entire Live Download Series #006 (2009) from which this track is drawn.

The darker-hued Americana of "Lazy Robinson," from a 2004 show in Bochum, Germany that was the Live Download Series' very first release, provides the opportunity to hear an early, quartet look at the horn-and string-driven octet double-disc version that would later surface for the first time, four years later, on 2008's History, Mystery (Nonesuch). Featuring future History, Mystery personnel Jenny Scheinman and Ron Miles (on cornet), this recording also includes bassist Viktor Krauss and drummer Matt Chamberlain—a significantly different rhythm section to the studio recording's Tony Scherr and Kenny Wollesen.

"1968"—taken from Frisell's funkier, R&B-informed collaboration with Hal Wilner, Unspeakable (Nonesuch, 2004)—closes the album with a performance drawn from the 2006 Seattle show originally released as Live Download Series #007 (2009). Without Wilner's turntables and samples—and without the album's three-piece horn section, synthesizers and percussion—it's a somewhat reductionist version that still manages, after an extreme intro with heavily overdriven, reverse-attacked and otherwise effected guitar, to get down to its hefty groove, even as the lineup of Scherr and Wollesen, along with Frisell's longstanding 858 strings (Scheinman, violist Eyvind Kang and cellist Hank Roberts), manage to bring plenty of collectively energetic improvisation and interpretation to Hurricane Harvey Relief's most outgoing performance.

For those who've already indulged themselves with one or more of Frisell's exceptional Live Download Series entries, this special twenty-second instalment represents support for a very worthy cause. For those who've yet to experience the differences and delights of the series, Hurricane Harvey Relief: A Compilation From His Live Download Series not only makes that same valued donation; it also introduces them to a collection of live recordings from a guitarist whose output can only truly be measured and appreciated through hearing both his commercial discography and this hand-picked selection of some of his very best live recordings.

Tracks: Boubacar (2003); Listen (2003); Lazy Robinson (2004); Strange Meeting (2004); Ron Carter (2003); Throughout (2004); 1968 (2006).

Personnel: Bill Frisell: guitar; Greg Liesz: pedal steel and lap steel guitars (1, 2, 5); David Piltch: bass (1, 5); Kenny Wollesen: drums (1, 5); Jenny Scheinman: violin (2, 3, 7); Christos Govetas: oud, vocals and bouzouki (2); Sidiki Camara: percussion and vocals (2); Vinicius Cantuaria: acoustic guitar and vocals (2); Ron Miles: cornet (3); Viktor Krauss: bass (3); Matt Chamberlain: drums (2); Brian Blade: drums (4, 6); Sam Yahel: organ (4, 6); Tony Scherr: bass (7); Hank Roberts: cello (7); Eyvind Kang: viola (7).

Comments

Tags

Concerts


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Jazz article: NIMBY by Amanda Addleman
Download Review
NIMBY by Amanda Addleman
Jazz article: Oscar Peterson Tribute: Simply The Best

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.