Biography
In a career spanning more than 25 years and over
200 recordings, including 25 albums of his own, guitarist, composer,
and bandleader Bill Frisell has established himself as a visionary
presence in American music. He has collaborated with a wide range
of artists, filmmakers, and legendary musicians.
Frisell’s recordings over the last decades
span a wide range of musical influences. His catalogue, including
twenty recordings for Nonesuch, has been cited by Downbeat as
“the best recorded output of the decade.”
It includes original Buster Keaton film scores to arrangements
of music for extended ensemble with horns “This Land, Blues
Dream,” adaptations of his compositions originally written
as soundtracks to Gary Larson cartoons “Quartet,”
interpretations of work by other classic and contemporary American
composers “Have a Little Faith,” and collaborations
with the acclaimed rhythm section of bassist Viktor Krauss and
drummer Jim Keltner “Gone, Just Like a Train,” “Good
Dog, Happy Man”. Other releases include an album with Nashville
musicians “Nashville,” the solo record “Ghost
Town,” an album of his arrangements of songs by Elvis Costello
and Burt Bacharach “The Sweetest Punch”, a trio album
with jazz legends Dave Holland and Elvin Jones, and a collection
of American traditional songs and original compositions inspired
by them entitled “The Willies.” “The Intercontinentals,”
nominated for a Grammy in 2004, is an album that combines Frisell’s
own brand of American roots music and his unmistakable improvisational
style with the influences of Brazilian, Greek and Malian sounds.
His 2004 release, entitled “Unspeakable,” won a Grammy
for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. “East/West” is a
two-CD set, featuring his two working trios recorded in concert
on both coasts. His most recent album is “Bill Frisell,”
Ron Carter, Paul Motian, featuring two jazz legends that Bill
considers among his true mentors and musical inspirations.
In December 2006, Frisell was named a USA Rasmuson
Fellow and became a recipient of a grant offered by United States
Artists, a privately funded organisation dedicated to the support
of America's finest living artists.
Bill Frisell- guitar, Thomas Morgan – bass,
Rudy Royston – drums
& Gregory Tardy – saxophones
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