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Bill Frisell: Blues Dream (Nonesuch 79615-2).


Bill Frisell William Richard "Bill" Frisell (born March 18, 1951) is a North American jazz guitarist, progressive folk musician and composer. Frisell uses a wide range of effects (delay, distortion, reverb, octave shifters, and volume pedals, to name a few) to create unique sounds from his : Blues Dream (Nonesuch none·such also non·such  
n.
1. A person or thing without equal.

2. See black medic.



none
 79615-2)

Guitarist Frisell's last couple of recordings have found him in something of a mellow, acoustic-oriented vein. Although these were nice recordings, it is nice to be able to report that Frisell has cranked up the energy a couple of notches on Blues Dream, which features Frisell on both acoustic and electric guitars. The rest of the group comprises Greg Leisz Greg Leisz (pronounced "Lease" [1]) is an American multi-instrumentalist, playing lap and pedal steel guitars, guitar, mandolin, and bass. Little known by his own name, his highly respected playing has appeared on recordings by Tiger Army, Bill Frisell, Dave Alvin, Tracy  on various steel guitars and mandolin mandolin (măn'dəlĭn`, măn`dəlĭn'), musical instrument of the lute family, with a half-pear-shaped body, a fretted neck, and a variable number of strings, plucked with the fingers or with a plectrum. , Ron Miles on trumpet, Billy Drewes on alto sax, David Piltch on drums, Kenny Wollesen on drums, and Curtis Fowlkes on trombone trombone [Ital.,=large trumpet], brass wind musical instrument of cylindrical bore, twice bent on itself, having a sliding section that lengthens or shortens it and thus regulates the pitch. The descendant of the sackbut, it was developed in the 15th cent. .

The recording opens with what sounds like a blues holler played on the trumpet, and the blues dream begins. Perhaps because he has a trumpeter named Miles in this band, Frisell names two of the cuts after musicians, "Ron Carter" (with some big fat bass notes) and "Greg Leisz" (moody and atmospheric, sounding something like soundtrack music). Overall, this is rich stuff, with plenty of texture. The players weave in and out of various cuts; it is especially interesting to hear the occasional interplay between trumpet and guitar.

Frisell's music is hard to pigeonhole pi·geon·hole  
n.
1. A small compartment or recess, as in a desk, for holding papers; a cubbyhole.

2. A specific, often oversimplified category.

3. The small hole or holes in a pigeon loft for nesting.

tr.
. It sounds distinctly American, but it is at once rural and cosmopolitan. His is a unique musical vision; perhaps he will one day be recognized as a seminal force in American music. This is an amazingly satisfying recording that you will want to play over and over again and recommend to your friends, be they jazz buffs, country fanatics, folkies, blues enthusiasts, or whatever. --KWN
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Copyright 2001, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Title Annotation:Review
Author:Nehring, Karl W.
Publication:Sensible Sound
Article Type:Sound Recording Review
Date:Apr 1, 2001
Words:253
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