Bill Frisell

[R_of_G]

The man is, in my opinion, the absolute master of guitar tone. His playing is spectacular, and between his own work and his work as a sideman, he has played in every genre from bluegrass to speed metal. Of living guitar players, he is behind only Marc Ribot on my list of favorites, and it is a close call.

 

[Robert]

I love him too. Fantastic player and with a unique sound. I think he uses Lexicon LXP-5's for his effects.

I love his way of chording. To say that he knows what he's doing would be a grave understatement!

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Just picked up Good Dog, Happy Man & East/West. Both are fantastic.

 

[tjcurtin1]

Agreed! The range of his playing is astonishing - you can always tell it's him, but he plays with so many different - and so varied stylistically - musicians.

"Good Dog' is among my favorites, along with 'Gone like a Train' (to my ears, a kind of quitessential American music), and a great international brew on 'The Intercontinentals'. And he did a couple of interesting albums with Ginger Baker (yes, that Ginger Baker - I hadn't known he was still alive).

 

[Robert]

Yeah, the rest of you fretter brother should really check him out. He's not a shredder, no instead he is a incredibly tasteful player who knows how to play the notes that count.

Listen to him here play a classic Dylan song "Just Like A Woman", played the "Frisell" way. Beautiful!

 

[Jimi75]

I guess we already spoke about Bill once, didn't we?

He's such a great player and it his use of the whammy bar is incredibly melodic.

His compositions and arrangements are high class.

Love this guy's music and tone.

 

[R_of_G]

Yeah, the rest of you fretter brother should really check him out. He's not a shredder, no instead he is a incredibly tasteful player who knows how to play the notes that count.

Listen to him here play a classic Dylan song "Just Like A Woman", played the "Frisell" way. Beautiful!

However, the man can shred like no other when it's called for [check out John Zorn's "Naked City" to hear some fine examples of Frisell playing all out.]

 

[tunghaichuan]

I remember checking "Before We Were Born" out of the library many years ago. I really enjoyed that CD.

Frisell is a fantastic player.

I do own "Nashville" which I like a great deal, but then again I like bluegrass and some country.

I also got "Smash & Scatteration" by Frisell and Vernon Reid a few weeks back. I like that CD as well, although the drum machine sounds are dated, IMHO. OTOH, great guitar playing is never dated.

If I wanted to increase my Bill Frisell collection, what are the essential recordings for a beginner like me?

tung

 

[tjcurtin1]

Yeah, the rest of you fretter brother should really check him out. He's not a shredder, no instead he is a incredibly tasteful player who knows how to play the notes that count.

Listen to him here play a classic Dylan song "Just Like A Woman", played the "Frisell" way. Beautiful!

This almost sounds like a Renaissance lute piece, the way he plays it!

 

[R_of_G]

If I wanted to increase my Bill Frisell collection, what are the essential recordings for a beginner like me?

tung

Tung,

If you like the country/bluegrass sounds of "Nashville" I would def suggest you pick up both "Good Dog, Happy Man" and "The Willies." Other essential Frisell I would suggest would be "Have a Little Faith" "Ghost Town" "Gone Just Like a Train" "Blues Dream" and "East/West" [which is a fantastic 2-CD live compilation].

 

[tunghaichuan]

R_of_G,

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll check them out.

Regards,

tung

Tung,

If you like the country/bluegrass sounds of "Nashville" I would def suggest you pick up both "Good Dog, Happy Man" and "The Willies." Other essential Frisell I would suggest would be "Have a Little Faith" "Ghost Town" "Gone Just Like a Train" "Blues Dream" and "East/West" [which is a fantastic 2-CD live compilation].