Skúli Sverrisson with Bill Frisell: For All Your Flowers

For All Your Flowers is the second collaboration between Icelandic bassist and composer Skuli Sverrisson and guitarist Bill Frisell, following Strata (Newvelle Records, 2018). Surprisingly, despite appearing on more than 100 recordings, Sverrisson remains little-known, while his partner here has spent decades cultivating one of the most recognizable guitar sounds in jazz, drawing as naturally from folk, country and Americana as it does from improvisation. What unites them is a long history of collaboration across a broad spectrum of artists and genres together with a rare musical empathy that allows their individual voices to merge seamlessly.

Newvelle takes audio quality very seriously and it is immediately evident in this recording made over two days in June 2025 at EastSide Sound in New York City. It captures the sliding movement of fingers on strings as the duo's intimate musical dialogue unfolds over 10 tracks, all but one composed by Sverrisson, with Frisell contributing "Baby."

One might expect Sverrisson to simply anchor proceedings with supportive electric bass lines beneath Frisell's playing, but that is merely the starting point. He goes considerably further, weaving in his own independent melodic lines and counterpoint until the sound frequently resembles a conversation between two equal melodic instruments. His is an almost constant presence, allowing Frisell more freedom to leave space between his phrases.

Their interaction develops as they play melodies in unison before diverging, only to reconnect in unexpected ways, creating music that is warm, lyrical and rich in texture. Frisell, who often adopts a self-effacing role in collaborative settings, sounds especially open here, clearly relishing Sverrisson's compositions as the pair stretch ideas and weave new textures.

"Nowhere To Go," like many of the tracks here, would work well in TV or film music. Others, like the atmospheric "Further Down The Road" and the spacious "Always Late, Always Listening" are of a more soothing and contemplative nature and benefit from Frisell's timbral clarity. The title track is among the album's finest moments, as bass and gently chiming guitar weave beautifully together. Frisell's composition "Baby" brings a tender melody before the mesmeric "Behind the Mountain" closes the album.

Sverrisson has created a sound world that is elegiac, intricate and quietly beautiful. His playing is inventive, highly individual and deeply responsive, while his compositions form the ideal platform for Frisell to cast his spell. Ultimately, For All Your Flowers is simply two musicians playing off one another, yet from that modest foundation flow layer upon layer of charming musical empathy.