Bill Frisell with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones

Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Backed by two of jazz's greatest improvisers--bassist Dave Holland and drummer Elvin Jones--guitarist Bill Frisell forges one of his strongest efforts to date. There's a holistic feel to this group that wasn't as apparent in Frisell's handful of trio recordings with bassist Kermit Driscoll and drummer Joey Baron, where the guitarist was always front and center. And, while the expansive Americana sound of Gone, Just Like a Train, Good Dog, Happy Man, and Nashville are hinted at in the guitarist's lyrical playing, this CD is unmistakably jazz. There's no real theme here, just Frisell at his creative peak--the numerous loops and effects he puts his guitar through finally sounding organic and coherent--with two great collaborators. Hints of exotica can be found on "Blues Dream" and "Smilin' Jones," Frisell's cover of "Moon River" is sublime, and Stephen Foster's "Hard Times" sounds like a loose jam session in the hands of this threesome. It's a great album, full of rich textures that would do spaghetti-western composer Ennio Morricone proud, with its ample doses of Frisell's unmistakable contemplative, but minimalist guitar sound. --Jason Verlinde

Bill Frisell with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones,Bill Frisell,Elvin Jones,Dave Holland,Nonesuch,Jazz,Jazz Music,Modern Creative,Pop

Average customer rating: An excellent display of Frisell's abilities. Beautiful music by Bill Frisell Absolutely Amazing!!! Shmeah... YEAY!!

Bill Frisell with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones Bill Frisell , Elvin Jones , and Dave Holland Manufacturer: Nonesuch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: Gone, Just Like a Train Unspeakable East/West Blues Dream Going Back Home ASIN: B00005OM6V Release Date: 2001-10-02

Tracks:

1. Outlaws
2. Twenty Years
3. Coffaro's Theme
4. Blues Dream
5. Moon River
6. Tell Your Ma, Tell Your Pa
7. Strange Meeting
8. Convict 13
9. Again
10. Hard Times
11. Justice And Honor
12. Smilin' Jones

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Backed by two of jazz's greatest improvisers--bassist Dave Holland and drummer Elvin Jones--guitarist Bill Frisell forges one of his strongest efforts to date. There's a holistic feel to this group that wasn't as apparent in Frisell's handful of trio recordings with bassist Kermit Driscoll and drummer Joey Baron, where the guitarist was always front and center. And, while the expansive Americana sound of Gone, Just Like a Train, Good Dog, Happy Man, and Nashville are hinted at in the guitarist's lyrical playing, this CD is unmistakably jazz. There's no real theme here, just Frisell at his creative peak--the numerous loops and effects he puts his guitar through finally sounding organic and coherent--with two great collaborators. Hints of exotica can be found on "Blues Dream" and "Smilin' Jones," Frisell's cover of "Moon River" is sublime, and Stephen Foster's "Hard Times" sounds like a loose jam session in the hands of this threesome. It's a great album, full of rich textures that would do spaghetti-western composer Ennio Morricone proud, with its ample doses of Frisell's unmistakable contemplative, but minimalist guitar sound. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

An excellent display of Frisell's abilities........2007-06-29

For years, I've been praying that Bill Frisell would make an album that balances the character and sweetness of his americana records with the hard grooving experimentation of records like the excellent "Unspeakable." With this outing, it seems Frisell has finally done it. From the very first phrase of Outlaws, a reworking of the tune from Blues Dream, we hear low-tuned acoustic bombast ala Marc Ribot ushering in Frisell's familar quirky electric lines. From there Jones and Holland dive into a groove so simple, yet perfectly atmospheric that Frisell is able to dance between folk, blues, jazz, and experimental guitar sounds with perfect stylistic continuity. In this way, the album lacks a stylistic theme like Frisell's other works, but demonstrates his formidable abilities as an improviser and composer better than almost any other album to date.

Beautiful music by Bill Frisell.......2007-02-06

Bill Frisell definitely had a vision when assembling this project, as the entire set possesses a thematic quality not typical of modern jazz innovators. I must admit I had never heard of Frisell prior to the purchase of this album, and it was the sidemen Dave Holland and Elvin Jones that prodded the acquisition. This music is easily accessible by fans outside of the jazz genre, having a bluesy-country-ambient-"swingish" jazz guitar trio thing going on for it. I cannot think of any better way to put it in words.

The trio pulls this musical excursion off like the pros that they are, making me a new fan to Frisell's music. Incidentally the album artwork on here is very striking. I'd love to have some back-story to the artwork, as it is very unique. Slow and deceptively melancholy, this classic will surely come to be revisited in the years to come. This album is well worth the price of admission. Enjoy it.

Absolutely Amazing!!!.......2006-06-07

This album is phenomenal. There are so many good reviews on this album and I don't think that I could write a better review than what has already been done but I just wanted to add one small thing. This album is by far my favorite album to make love to. You should try it sometime. Throw the album on repeat and your all set. I also like to play it along with the album "Dummy" by Portishead and sometimes even a little Keith Jarett solo improv. They all make for a good night!!! This album is essential... Enjoy!!!

Shmeah..........2006-04-05

The title of my review sort of illustrates how I feel about this album and probably Frisell in general: Shmeah... I don't really know how to categorize Frisell, he's kind of jazz, with some country and new age spacey stuff thrown in. There are certain parts on the album that are really good, especially "Moon River." Holland and Jones communicate with Frisell quite well and some of the improvisation is outstanding. Other parts tend to drag on into pure boredom. Hearing spacey loop and feedback effects in jazz doesn't really gel with me either. The musicianship is obviously very good (I saw the three players on this album and said wow, this should be quite good) but the music tends to lack. I've never really been a huge fan of Frisell, so maybe its an acquired taste. This album just doesn't really do it for me overall.

The other big issue that I have with this album is that Holland and Jones are used primarily as puppets for Frisell's music. I would have liked to have seen some influence from the other two players on the album as well. That's what's so great about albums like Edgar Meyer's Uncommon Ritual and Dave Holland's Quintet albums. Even though the headlining musician in these two ensembles take on most of the writing and influential prowess, they let the other members of the group take on some of the creative process. Now, if it were Bill Frisell with Joe Schmo and Murray Whatshisface, I wouldn't complain. But DAVE HOLLAND and ELVIN JONES?!? Come on! Those are some tools that should be used. If there's any one thing this album could use, its variety. Dave and Elvin could have provided that if Frisell would have been willing to step back on two or three cuts.

YEAY!!.......2004-10-03

I love Bill Frisell...Elvin Jones was a god...I saw Dave Holland live, and it was spiritual.

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