SOUND CHECK.Bill Frisell/``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 with Dave Holland This article is about Dave Holland, the jazz bassist and composer. For other people with this name, see Dave Holland (disambiguation). Dave Holland and Elvin Jones'' (Nonesuch none·such also non·such n. 1. A person or thing without equal. 2. See black medic. none ) For his 15th Nonesuch release, Frisell is joined by two of modern jazz's most revered figures, and genuine chemistry results. Don't expect the somber, atmospheric work of the widely imitated guitarist's previous outings. While revisiting and revising Frisell's compositions, plus a pair of standards, the trio soars heavenward, propelled to joyous heights by Jones' steely beats and Holland's inventive melodic lines. There's much to savor. While Frisell's unmistakable guitar is sometimes put through loops and effects of various kinds, they never overwhelm his contemplative approach. It's a rare thing, but when Frisell solos, you get the sense wheels are turning upstairs. Fine moments include ``Blues Dream'' with its exotica ex·ot·i·ca pl.n. Things that are curiously unusual or excitingly strange: such gustatory exotica as killer bee honey and fresh catnip sauce. vibe; ``Strange Meetings,'' originally a tango but recast as a breezy bossa nova bos·sa no·va n. 1. A style of popular Brazilian music derived from the samba but with more melodic and harmonic complexity and less emphasis on percussion. 2. A lively Brazilian dance that is similar to the samba. ; Stephen Foster's ``Hard Times,'' transformed into blues and given a rootsy feel by Jones; and a surprising cover of ``Moon River.'' Note to Bill, Dave and Elvin: Royce Hall Royce Hall is a building on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Designed by the Los Angeles firm of Allison & Allison (James Edward Allison, 1870-1955, and his brother David Clark Allison, 1881-1962) in the Italian Romanesque Revival style and completed and a whole lot of people await. Four stars - Fred Shuster Tim O'Brien/``Two Journeys'' (Howdy Skies) West Virginia West Virginia, E central state of the United States. It is bordered by Pennsylvania and Maryland (N), Virginia (E and S), and Kentucky and, across the Ohio R., Ohio (W). Facts and Figures Area, 24,181 sq mi (62,629 sq km). Pop. fiddler and mandolinist O'Brien's sequel to his first exploration of Celtic music Celtic music is a term utilized by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic peoples of Northern Europe. , ``The Crossing,'' has a subtle but unifying theme of Gaelic displacement, both at home and across the seas, soothed and spiritually unified by the sounds of Irish strings and whistles. There are terrific renditions of the Seventh Cavalry saga ``Mick Ryan's Lament,'' the cautionary ``Demon Lover'' (chillingly dueted with Karan Casey Karan Casey (b. 1969 in Ballyduff Lower, County Waterford, Ireland) is an Irish folk singer and jazz singer, and a former member of the Irish band Solas. Early years Her family encouraged her to sing in the house, in a church choir and at school. ), assorted jigs and tunes, and even Lennon-McCartney's ``Norwegian Wood.'' Only O'Brien's own lyrics about his musical sojourns in the land of his ancestors fall slightly short, mainly because of their reliance on certain Irish stereotypes - which the singer evidently had the time of his life indulging. Three and one half stars - Bob Strauss Tenacious D/``Tenacious D'' (Epic) Tenacious D is an acoustic duo with hearts of metal, bellies of pot - and brains of pony droppings. Actors Jack Black (``High Fidelity'') and Kyle Gass make for a hilarious act, but translating their on-stage anarchy to disc is a challenge. The songs are a riot (and not a quiet one): ``Tribute,'' about how they came up with ``the greatest song in the world'' (though even they admit this ain't it); ``City Hall,'' a breathtakingly wrongheaded piece of social commentary; and a romantic ballad whose title we don't dare print that's a textbook example of not even remotely understanding women. Don't look for the video on MTV MTV in full Music Television U.S. cable television network, established in 1980 to present videos of musicians and singers performing new rock music. MTV won a wide following among rock-music fans worldwide and greatly affected the popular-music business. . Three stars - David Kronke McCoy Tyner/``Plays John Coltrane'' (Impulse!) John Coltrane/``Spiritual'' (Impulse!) If anyone has the right to mine the material of jazz legend John Coltrane it's Tyner, who played muscular piano on most of the saxophonist's classic '60s quartet dates. Tyner has returned to Coltrane's music several times throughout his career; this new album comes from a gig recorded at the Village Vanguard in September 1997. The Vanguard, of course, was the setting for some of the classic Coltrane quartet's greatest dates and Tyner seems inspired to be back. Working with drummer Al Foster and bassist George Mraz, the keyboardist explosively runs through familiar tunes ``Afro Blue'' and ``Moment's Notice'' and gently plays several thoughtful ballads, including ``Naima'' and ``After the Rain.'' It's Tyner's best. 1/2 The Coltrane disc is a compilation of the saxophonist's heartfelt spirituals, most of which feature Tyner, drummer Elvin Jones and bassist Jimmy Garrison. The leader's sax possessed a soul-piercing purity evident on each of these eight tracks. Perfect music for turbulent times, although newcomers to `Trane should probably start with the 1964 album ``A Love Supreme'' (title track included here) before seeking this compilation. Three and one half stars - Glenn Whipp Jake La Botz/``Used to Be'' (Utel) If Batman nemesis the Penguin ever took to squawking jailhouse blues, he'd harmonize perfectly with La Botz. Reportedly a child of Chicago's Skid Row, this affectingly parched parch v. parched, parch·ing, parch·es v.tr. 1. To make extremely dry, especially by exposure to heat: The midsummer sun parched the earth. singer studied at the knees of hard-living masters, which is evident in every one of these lost-it-all-and-then-some tracks. It's just Jake and his marvelously versatile acoustic guitar, vocal cords vocal cords: see larynx. Vocal cords The pair of elastic, fibered bands inside the human larynx. The cords are covered with a mucous membrane and pass horizontally backward from the thyroid cartilage (Adam's apple) to insert on ripped to the nerve endings and his luck hopeless to the max. Recorded out in the Joshua Tree desert; sounds like it, too. Three and one half stars - B.S. CAPTION(S): 6 photos Photo: (1) no caption (Bill Frisell with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones) (2 -- 6) no caption (CD covers) |
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