Bill Frisell -- Unspeakable

Squaredancecalling Steve · August-28th-2004, 03:45 PM

First impression is that this is one of Frisell's best and most interesting albums, in large part because of the stellar string section of Jenny Scheinman, Eyvind Kang, and Hank Roberts.

Producer Hal Wilmer on turntables and a strong presence by Frisell's rhythm section of Tony Scherr and Kenny Wollsen give much of the album a groove feel. But it never gets hypnotically boring, there are unexpected inventive touches throughout the album and there is a nice variety in feel between the cuts. Guests include Don Alias, Steven Bernstein, Curtis Fowlkes and Adam Dorn.

Frisell is in absolutely top form, ginding subtleties out of the guitar you wouldn't think were in the instrument, and the interplay between him and the string trio is really special and sounds great!

jaka · August-28th-2004, 04:39 PM

Hmmm... Sounds promising.

Nate Dorward · August-28th-2004, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Hal Wilmer

Or Willmer? I already got burned on that once....

Sounds really interesting--this is the first Frisell album for a long while that tempts me to pick it up. I sorta lost track after that awful disc with Holland & Jones...

Squaredancecalling Steve · August-28th-2004, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Dorward

Or Willmer? I already got burned on that once....

Neither Wilner nor Willmer, but Willner. Thanks.

The strings slip in these Lutoslawksi-like glissandos, Ligeti-like harmonies, etc., all of which dovetail amazingly well with Frisell's slippery pastels.

BFrank · August-28th-2004, 09:18 PM

I just picked up a very nice album by Viktor Krauss (Alison Krauss' brother) with Frisell, Alison, Steve Jordan & Jerry Douglas. It's on Nonesuch, which is interesting.

I'm just listening to it now, but so far I would suggest checking it out......if you can find it. I don't even know what section it would be in the store:
Rock? - Not a rock album/probably not.
Jazz? - Nope, but you never know because of Frisell.
Country? - Maybe, because of the familial connection. Not a country album, though.
Bluegrass? - Perhaps an unknowing store employee who didn't know any better would put it there.
Classical? - Hmmmmmmm. Perhaps, just because of the label.

Good luck.

chuckyd4 · August-28th-2004, 09:46 PM

We, with many other stores I've visited, keep it in the jazz section... not sure what the decision making was behind that though.

As for the Frisell album, it certainly sounds interesting. Jenny Scheinman seems to be one of the most underrated players out there today - extremely prolific (though mostly through side dates, not her own), and an eminent professional who can morph well with almost any ensemble.

She was also on Bill Frisell's last effort The Intercontinentals, which (IMHO) was his real return to form... if you are at all into the last few decades of West African music, it's a really interesting listen. For instance, the first track is a tribute to the great Boubacar Traore. I'm looking forward to us getting in a promo copy of this one that I can take home with me.

BFrank · August-28th-2004, 11:47 PM

Jazz, huh? Well, I guess that would be as good a place as any. If Frisell is there, why not this album?

BFrank · November-6th-2004, 02:29 AM

I've been reading that Frisell's "Nashville" has similarities to the Krauss album. The personnel if nothing else. Anyone heard that one?

Nate Dorward · November-6th-2004, 02:42 AM

Nashville? Yes. It's one of Frisell's weaker albums.

Squaredancecalling Steve · November-6th-2004, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Dorward

Nashville? Yes. It's one of Frisell's weaker albums.

Unfortunately, I completely agree. Lackluster.

BFrank · November-6th-2004, 02:43 PM

Good to know. I'll avoid it, then.

BlueMiles · November-8th-2004, 01:05 PM

I don't know...I thought "Nashville" was pretty good--certainly better than I expected. I'm not much of a country fan, but here Frisell brings in a lot of that influence; and yet it is still very much a Frisell album. The vocals by Robin Holcomb are pretty nice. I've long felt that Frisell should work more often with vocalists.

Actually I saw Bill Frisell in Oberlin, Ohio two nights ago. I thought it was a brilliant show. He was in a trio format with Victor Krauss and Kenny Wolleson. The country influence was virutally nowhere to be found, though there were some very gentle numbers--such as Dylan's "Just Like A Woman."

Think I'll put up a full review later today.

Squaredancecalling Steve · November-8th-2004, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueMiles

Dylan's "Just Like A Woman."

Frisell does a GREAT version of that one on his best album, "Have A Little Faith" (1993)

I thought 'Blues Dream' and the Buster Keaton stuff wre excellent, but I like this new one better than those, better than anything he's done since 'Have A Little Faith.'

Mike Schwartz · November-10th-2004, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate Dorward

Nashville? Yes. It's one of Frisell's weaker albums.

I thought the CD was just OK, but it was superb to witness that group live!

I love the new one, and Frisell will be the feature guest on the weekly radio/webcast Dec. 5 9AM Pacific www.ksjs.org and 90.5FM Bay Area

BlueMiles · November-12th-2004, 01:17 PM

This guy never sits still! All kinds of projects--some are great, all are interesting.

I am greatly looking forward to his live double-CD coming next year. I think it's absolutely vital that live jazz be documented.

BFrank · November-12th-2004, 01:32 PM

That Viktor Krauss album ("Far from Enough") gets better with each listening. I definitely recommend it!

Vince Kargatis · February-14th-2005, 08:58 AM

The Grammy reminded me to pipe in on this: I'm a longstanding Frisell fan, but really haven't glommed onto this record like many others have seemed to. Basically too much arrangement, not enough "playing" for me - or at least, my impression is always that the playing seems buried in the arrangements. The best since Have a Little Faith? Wow, I'd easily take This Land, Quartet, Gone, Blues Dream, Good Dog, and Ghost Town over it.

But still, glad to have it win a Grammy, if only for publicity/marketing's sake.

Saw Frisell's 858 Quartet in DC Friday night, that was very nice.

Nim Chimpsky · February-14th-2005, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince Kargatis

Saw Frisell's 858 Quartet in DC Friday night, that was very nice.

Now this band/album interests me. Do you have the CD? The line-up made me think of Frisell's brilliant performance on Gavin Bryars' After the Requiem, although I imagine the music here is quite different from that.

Squaredancecalling Steve · February-14th-2005, 12:31 PM

That 858 string group is on this album, too, and the one I was raving about in the opening post. I had hoped to see this group in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago, but missed them and will have to order the CD on-line now.

Vince -- I have all the ones you mentioned except Quartet, plus the Buster Keaton stuff which I like a lot, and I'd take Unspeakable over any of those. Because of those strings!

Squaredancecalling Steve · February-14th-2005, 12:42 PM

And to descend from the semi-coherent to the ridiculous:

Whenever I go through my Frisells I always hit the Lefty Frizzell set at the end, and find myself wishing they had somehow overcome the barriers of time and teamed up to do an album called The Frizells...

Vince Kargatis · February-14th-2005, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

Whenever I go through my Frisells I always hit the Lefty Frizzell set at the end, and find myself wishing they had somehow overcome the barriers of time and teamed up to do an album called The Frizells...

Sqdc, dude, you need some Fred Frith, like, yesterday.

Squaredancecalling Steve · February-14th-2005, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince Kargatis

Sqdc, dude, you need some Fred Frith, like, yesterday.

I hope he has an album called Fred Frith at The Firth of Forth. I'll give him a listen, Vince -- thanks!

clarke68 · February-14th-2005, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nim Chimpsky

Now this band/album interests me. Do you have the CD? The line-up made me think of Frisell's brilliant performance on Gavin Bryars' After the Requiem, although I imagine the music here is quite different from that.

I have a bootleg of one of the shows they did at SFMOMA two years ago. Frisell actually introduces his digital effects box as a member of the band. Really interesting work...good integration of electronics and acoustic instruments. I'm looking forward to picking up the new '858' disc as well.

I like 'Unspeakable' well enough...I haven't given it a good, detailed listen but seem to remember some tracks working really well, and others not so well, but the good outweigh the 'less good' by at least 2:1. In general I'm a fan of Hal Wilner's stuff, a very engaging psycho/genius. Anyone here check out 'Weird Nightmare"?

Nim Chimpsky · February-15th-2005, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clarke68

In general I'm a fan of Hal Wilner's stuff, a very engaging psycho/genius. Anyone here check out 'Weird Nightmare"?

Oh yes! It was a birthday present from a good friend, who's always had my musical best interests at heart.

When it came out I was just starting to investigate the world outside rock music and this was the perfect album to act as a catalyst: a combination of some of the finest contemporary American musicians and a retrospective nod to investigate Mingus' and Harry Partch's back catalogues.

baksheesh · November-3rd-2009, 02:13 PM

Absolutely loved Unspeakable! One of my fave Frisells (and that's saying something). It does 'contemporary elements' far more convincingly than Sco's somewhat unfortunate (or at least far from completely successful) technical jiggerypokery on Up All Night, and Uberjam.
One of my favourite things about this Record Reviews forum of JC is that it inspires me to dig out albums I'd forgotten all about. That's the thing these days, when you have an Ipod crammed full of new stuff, and tons of old stuff on your hard drive - you forget to make time for the old classics that should have regular space on your speakers or 'phones.
Shame on you 'sheesh for your neglect! Shame on the 'sheesh!