Artist Profile,
Essentials - Bill Frisell
American guitarist Bill Frisell’s catalogue is as vast as any prolific jazzman, full of plentiful sideman gigs and bandleader records. Originally coming to prominence on the ECM catalogue as a session player, he would later become ingratiated with the more experimental New York crowd, working with names like Tim Berne, Jim Pepper, and most notably John Zorn, as a core member of Naked City. However, perhaps more synonymous with Frisell is his dreamy take on Americana, owing to Frisell’s early love for the sounds of bluegrass, country and folk songs. Just as recognisable is the delicate minimalism of his solo work – while Frisell can definitely be a ‘guitarist’s guitarist’, it’s his understated playing style that sees his appeal stretch further than his fellow axemen, something that can’t be said for every instrumentalist.
With that in mind, here are some of our favourite Frisell recordings to get you started with the man’s back catalogue…
Frisell’s fourteenth album released on Nonesuch is one of his finest, and one of his most graceful integration of country, jazz, and film score-like ambiance; there’s no better place to ingratiate yourself with the signature ‘Frisellian’ sound. Blues Dream is equal parts brassy bebop, free-improv, and Neil Young.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
A longtime collaborator with drummer Paul Motian, Frisell appeared on many of his most well-known recordings. Following a string of quintet albums from Motian – on which Frisell and the third trio member Joe Lovano both contributed – It Should’ve Happened is much more stripped back in comparison. Frisell’s role as the chordal player in Motian’s bands sees him playing both a traditional piano-like accompanist role as well as allowing some of his more ambient tendencies to shine through.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
Small Town is about as essential as it gets for the more recent crop of Frisell releases, in my humble opinion. Another austere stripped-down recording, Frisell strikes a delicate chemistry with double bassist Thomas Morgan as they traverse a mixture of Frisell originals and repertoire, including Motian’s ‘It Should’ve Happened a Long Time Ago’ and country-tinged Frisell original ‘Small Town’, recorded in front of an eager crowd at the esteemed Village Vanguard.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Frisell is a longtime appreciator of psychedelia and surf music – you can hear it in the DNA of his guitar playing style. Recordings like Guitar in the Space Age! are ostensibly country records with a smattering of jazz chops thrown in, with material ranging from The Beach Boys, to Pete Seeger and Link Wray. It might not be his most ‘jazzy’ release to date, but if anything it’s a great way to get a sense of where Frisell’s formative musical influences came from.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
You can hardly argue with this trio lineup – coming in right after Blues Dream, Frisell found himself working with hugely influential drummer Elvin Jones (whom Frisell never thought he’d get the chance to play with), as well as Miles Davis band mainstay Dave Holland. The music here is still unremarkably Frisell, though, right from the dark country twangs of ‘Outlaws’, to the bluegrass-esque ‘Smilin’ Jones’.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
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