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[WTD] Bill Frisell roadmap

Marchbanks

Marchbanks

Hat and Beard member
The last thread like this is fifteen years old, so I thought a new one was called for.

I have one Frisell disc, Guitar in the Space Age. I love it, but where should I go next? I think I’d like to start with solo and country-infused stuff, then go via jazz trios and quartets to finish up with John Zorn-type craziness. Can anyone help me find a good route?
 
I'd look at some of his reharmonisations on youtube - he's still a really relevant musician. On his web site he has live material to download too (paid for).

For example

 
I love Frisell. I've seen him alive quite a few times and have a lot( but by no means all) of his records. His stuff is quite diverse ...

My 5 essential records to capture some of that range would be

Blue Dream - country blues with a horn / pedal steel backing
Unspeakable - once described as what people would dance to in parallel universe- frisell with turntables, synths and strings
East West - a live trio CD
Sign of Life - a beautiful acoustic set of Americana
Small Town ( a quietly beautiful duo with Thomas Morgan)

If you like Space Age you might enjoy All we Are Saying which is a record of John Lennon tunes in a very similar style. If you'd like things a little crazier get Zorn's Naked City

( In a lot of overviews Have a Little Faith comes out high on the list but it doesn't ring my bell as much as the five above. One that is always dismissed is the record with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones which I rather like)

Kevin
 
kjb said:
I love Frisell. I've seen him alive quite a few times...
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Er... so I should hope! Thanks for the list, I’ll certainly take a look a those.

I’m holding back from tackling Naked City for a while... I’m going to take it by surprise by coming from the Frith and Frisell directions simultaneously.

Thanks to gavreid and monkfish too, but the idea of working out how to play stuff from YouTube on my hifi fills me with ennui. I’ve had the theory explained by many well-meaning folk but it seems like too much faff to me, so that’s where I kiss the 21st century goodbye. I’ll stick to CDs and streaming. Those live downloads sound interesting as well.
 
Well, just about anything... There is no bad Frisell. East/West might be my favourite, Blues Dream, Good Dog... I really like The Intercontinentals too.
I played Guitar In The Space Age last night it's such a fun album. When You Wish Upon A Star is a good companion piece, I love Petra Haden singing.
 
I think I might have every album he’s ever made in his name and a lot of the stuff he’s featured on. In my home he’s know as “his billness” :D

lots of good suggestions above but “Gone, just like a train” is just a remarkable album as is the recent “Music Is”. Both of these are essential

The trio work with Motian and Lovano is also very fine.
 
Marchbanks said:
Er... so I should hope!
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:oops: - proof reading not my specialism unfortunately - until it comes to other peoples mistakes which I can see a mile off..

Colin L said:
“Gone, just like a train” is just a remarkable album as is the recent “Music Is”. Both of these are essential

The trio work with Motian and Lovano is also very fine.
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+ 1 for each of these. "Ghost Town" and "History Mystery" too , I forgot these earlier. There's a lot to work through...

but don't rule this out....

 
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That’s done for my first marathon Bill session. In ascending order of preference we had...

All We Are Saying
Blues Dream
Gone, Just Like a Train
Music IS

...and if anyone wants to use that information to recalculate the route, great. Otherwise, I’ll plough on tomorrow with the suggestions you have given me already. Thanks!
 
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I have 2 of his, History Mystery and in line.

Never really got into them, must give them another try.

I do really like The Sound of Summer by Marc Johnson which he plays on.

.sjb
 
If you're also looking at sessions he played on, this is essential:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000024J2X/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21

A Kenny Wheeler record but with lots of Frissell. If you've not heard it, dip in. It's one of my favourite records, jazz or otherwise, and never fails to utterly transfix me.
 
This site contains affiliate links for which pink fish media may be compensated.
Marchbanks said:
That’s done for my first marathon Bill session. In ascending order of preference we had...

All We Are Saying
Blues Dream
Gone, Just Like a Train
Music IS

...and if anyone wants to use that information to recalculate the route, great. Otherwise, I’ll plough on tomorrow with the suggestions you have given me already. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Maybe a couple of live recordings next? The records with Thomas Morgan ( Small Town) might be a good next stop then maybe onto East West. Frissell stretches out a bit more on these and picks up some quite diverse tunes - you'll find a Bond theme tune, I heard it Through the Grapevine, some Monk,, some Dylan and some more countryish tunes in here. East West might be a good springboard into something like History/Mystery.

I can't quite think of a link across to the Zorn recordings - maybe the record with Andrew Cyrille and Leo Wahada Smith (Lebroba) from two years ago ...
 
kjb said:
Maybe a couple of live recordings next? The records with Thomas Morgan ( Small Town) might be a good next stop then maybe onto East West. Frissell stretches out a bit more on these and picks up some quite diverse tunes - you'll find a Bond theme tune, I heard it Through the Grapevine, some Monk,, some Dylan and some more countryish tunes in here. East West might be a good springboard into something like History/Mystery.

I can't quite think of a link across to the Zorn recordings - maybe the record with Andrew Cyrille and Leo Wahada Smith (Lebroba) from two years ago ...
Click to expand...
Thanks! I didn't get very far last night as Peter Green elbowed his way in at the start. So I only managed Music IS (again) and Small Town, which I liked very much. I'll probably go with that again tonight, plus Sign of Life and the Kenny Wheeler, if it is on Tidal. I read last night there is anther Bond-themed duo disc, I must find that too. Doing this has finally enabled me to get streaming, after years of not really seeing the point. It's also made me wonder if I really need a TV, but that's for a different thread!
 
Try:

Power Tools - "Strange Meeting" (1987)

Marc Johnson- "Bass Desires" (1986)

Floratone - "Floratone" (2007)
 
Angel Song - I liked very much

East West - my favourite so far, wonderful. Any other recommendations of Bill rocking out a bit with FX and a little distortion?
 
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