The Unofficial Bill Frisell
Homepage
Album
Information and Commentary // Links
// Liner Notes and Essays
Bill Frisell is amazing. He is one of
those quirky musicians who has constructed his own world of sound, a slightly
strange, slightly sentimental reflection of America. Jazz guitarist Jim
Hall called him "the Thelonius Monk of the electric guitar" and the comparison
is apt. Frisell's country rock jazz guitar sound and his beautifully simple
compositions are utterly wedded to one another. It is hard to imagine anyone
but Bill Frisell playing these songs.
His sound is utterly unique, the product
of an individual musical mind Frisell's guitar playing is like
the playful harmonies of Jim Hall informed by noisy effects of Jimi Hendrix.
He revels in distorted noise, country twang and jazz licks with the same
wide eyed exploration. Although his sound has shifted
over the years, I would say it has always had the simplicity and exuberance
of a child, and and lately his writing and playing has a sound that could
only be described as simple nostalgia.
Starting in the NYC downtown jazz
scene of the 80's, playing with the likes of John Zorn and Tim Berne, Frisell
developed a simple guitar sound even as he explored noise and rock improvisation.
He still retains the exploratory spirit of the 1980's even as he moved
to more melodic and tonal work.
Frisell's musical world is a strange,
wonderful, and exciting place, both accessible in sound and unorthodox
in techniques and forms.
You can also check out my Unofficial
John Zorn Homepage with album information, commentary, and links.
This site was created and maintained by me, Jamie Graves.
Feel free to email me at james.graves@oberlin.edu
with any questions you have about Frisell.