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Album of the week; Bill Frisell, Dave Holland & Elvin Jones (Patreon)

Published:
2023-10-04 12:14:09
Edited:
2023-10-04 12:22:26
Imported:
2026-08
Tags:

Content

This week’s recommended listening is this fantastic collaboration between 3 of the true jazz greats. As a huge Bill Frisell fan I could happily recommend any and all of his records! I think this is an easy one to start with if you're looking for a way into his catalogue and are a little suspicious of the more abstract side of jazz.

Check out the track "Moon River" in the video above and you'll hear him fusing jazz and bluegrass with a seriously beautiful tone and touch.. full of pop sensibilities too. This whole song is an absolute masterclass on playing melodically with colour and flair. 

Ooooh.. the tension he builds before resolving via that beautiful major run at 2 mins 20 ish! And that little minor 2-5 lick just after 3 mins in is sublime 👌🏻

Let me know what you think in the comments below! ;)

Files

Moon River

Provided to YouTube by Nonesuch Moon River · Bill Frisell Bill Frisell (with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones) ℗ 2001 Nonesuch Records Editor, Engineer: Adam Munoz Acoustic Guitar: Bill Frisell Electric Guitar: Bill Frisell Bass: Dave Holland Drums: Elvin Jones Masterer: Greg Calbi Engineer, Mixer: Joe Ferla Producer: Lee Townsend Engineer: ROry Romano Composer: Bill Frisell Composer: Henry Mancini Auto-generated by YouTube.

Comments

Ville Silventoinen

I really like Bill Frisell, many good songs on that album (Strange Meeting especially). I found Bill Frisell in the late 90's (Nashville) and then got the Have a Little Faith album. I'm yet to listen to many of his albums properly, there are so many of them. I read his biography about a year ago, it gives a great insight into the albums and his life.

Alex Farran Guitar

Absolutely!.. he releases so much stuff!.. a truly busy man! The last one I bought on vinyl and deep dived into was the Valentine record from a few years back. Lost track a little since then I admit! Am also planning to check out his biography.. if I can free up some reading time 🤞🏻

Ville Silventoinen

I like the way he doesn't want his music to be categorised as "jazz", there's so much more to it. There's a funny moment in the book where he is doing a concert with Petra Haden and someone from the audience starts shouting "this isn't jazz!". Bill shouts back at him to f--- off repeatedly and then continues the concert. :-) Quite uncharacteristic of him, as he always seems so calm and composed, but it did make me chuckle! I also like his little drawings and that he is friends with the Far Side guy (I forget his name). Not to mention that he plays Teles... big inspiration for me.

David Lemon

Wow Moon River is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing this one.

Alex Farran Guitar

Haha wow that’s amazing.. yeah it’s hard to imagine Bill getting riled but it happens to the best of us from time to time! Looking forward to checking the book out. 👍🏻

MarkF

I have been a fan since buying his first CD back in 1984 “In Line” and probably own a dozen other albums of his but I always go back to “East/West” album and the track “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” beautifully played and recorded/produced with some gritty edges. On a lighter note the album art work is much better too ha, ha!! Bill Frisell is a treasure.

Chris Chrizzly

BILL FRISELL TRIO (US) feat. Thomas Morgan and Rudy Royston touring in November 2023

Randy Yount

My favorite Bill Frisell song is "Ron Carter". I never get tired of hearing it.

Randy Yount

If you're taking guitar album suggestions, I'd like to suggest a few: "The Atkins Travis, Traveling Show" by Chet Atkins and Merle Travis. Also "Me and Jerry" by Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed. Those albums were on constant rotation when I was a kid. Still listen to them.

dekalb_MF-5

Always had a soft spot for this tune. The one from the movie especially. What might YOU do with it.

Alex Farran Guitar

Ah yes the East/West record is fantastic, and that version of Grapevine is sooo brooding and intense! 👌🏻

Alex Farran Guitar

Thanks for the heads up mate.. I certainly urge any of my Stateside Patrons to get out and see Bill playing live! 👌🏻

Alex Farran Guitar

Thanks Randy, always interested in album recommendations and I’m sure fellow Patrons would be too. “Me and Jerry” is one I know very well but not heard the one with Merle Travis.. Will put that on the listening list! 🍻

Alex Farran Guitar

It’s a great song for sure! Hmmm yeah good call, maybe a good one for a chord melody lesson perhaps! 🤷🏻‍♂️

Randy Yount

The Merle Travis album with Chet was produced by Jerry Reed. Also, if you've not heard of it "Chester and Lester" is a classic. Recorded with Les Paul. I've heard that Chet did that album to help Les Paul because Les Paul was recovering from alcohol addiction. They won a Grammy.

Randy Yount

On the Merle Travis album there is a wonderful version of "If I had you".

MarkF

Yes chord melodies always welcomed 👍

Nigel Annett

I have tickets to see Bill at Jazz Cafe in London on 20th November - first time I will have seen him live. Alex, any chance you could do (re-do) a session on Bill's version of Strawberry Fields (my favourite) - just checked and your YT video from 10(!) years ago is still there!

Gert De Groof

Unlike most here, I haven’t found a single Frisell album that could capture my attention until the end. A very skilled player, for sure, so it must be something else. Don’t know what it is, always found it a bit too polished or ‘clean’ or ‘perfect’ I guess, … But I believe we’re all here to be proven wrong, so I’ll get on it!

Alex Farran Guitar

That'll be amazing Nigel!.. wish I could make it down for that one too. Seen him a handful of times and he never disappoints. Ah yes, glad you found my old video of "Strawberry Fields".. I will have to revisit that one for sure and either write up a TAB for it or re-film it as a full lesson.

Alex Farran Guitar

No worries Gert, it's all a matter of personal taste. I'm sure if you keep searching through his work you'll find something that connects with you a little more. Have you heard the "intercontinentals" record?.. or his "Disfarmer" record?

Gert De Groof

True…I know ‘Intercontinental’ of Joe Pass though, really like that album 😀. I’ll take a listen to the ones you suggest, don’t think I’ve heard them before.

Todd Grubb

Any chance you could put together a lesson on a Bill Frisell recording?

Todd Grubb

One of his songs or arrangements that you enjoy playing, and that you think is illustrative of Frisell's approach to guitar. Thank you!

Trevor Grant

Not alone - he’s always left me cold. As Alex says… it’s just taste.

Michael Sosebee

Moon River as illustrated above would be a great choice. It made "Breakfast at Tiffany's" . I once saw Henry Mancini and his orchestra in 73' in Las Vegas, NV. I was 17. What a show!