The Secret of Bill Frisell's Success

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"Clearly one of the most original and most proficient guitarists now playing, he is acknowledged as one of the most influential and exciting jazz guitarists to emerge in the latter half of the 20th century," says All About Jazz in a feature profile of Bill Frisell. "Noted for his unparalleled sensibilities, over the years Frisell has pursued emotional honesty over technical perfection to achieve a specific sound that is both powerful and beautiful. As a solo artist, he has explored various music venues and taken his listeners to a lot of places ... Simply put, you never know what to expect from Frisell."

 

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In a feature published earlier this month in All About Jazz, writer Nenad Georgievski examines the fruitful recording career of Bill Frisell, now approaching its quarter-century mark:

Clearly one of the most original and most proficient guitarists now playing, he is acknowledged as one of the most influential and exciting jazz guitarists to emerge in the latter half of the 20th century. Noted for his unparalleled sensibilities, over the years Frisell has pursued emotional honesty over technical perfection to achieve a specific sound that is both powerful and beautiful. As a solo artist, he has explored various music venues and taken his listeners to a lot of places ... Simply put, you never know what to expect from Frisell.

An important part of Frisell's prolific output has been his stints with a veritable Who's Who of musical innovators, from Arto Lindsay to John Zorn. And though he has worked with some very distinctive voices—his most recent Nonesuch release is an album with Ron Carter and Paul Motian—Bill's own has always remained a recognizable contribution to his collaborations. "What I like about certain musicians," Georgievski writes, "is their ability to add their magic regardless of the context and at the same time to keep their identity and credibility intact and strong. Therefore whether playing other people's music or his own, his sound is unique and vibrant with rich and often unexpected harmonics."

The article offers what may be the best explanation for Frisell's continued success when Georgievski asks the guitarist about his seemingly non-stop touring schedule. Frisell's response: "There's nothing I'd rather do than play music."

Read the complete article at allaboutjazz.com.

For information on catching Bill on tour, click here.

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Bill Frisell 2
  • Friday, November 9, 2007
    The Secret of Bill Frisell's Success
    Michael Wilson

    In a feature published earlier this month in All About Jazz, writer Nenad Georgievski examines the fruitful recording career of Bill Frisell, now approaching its quarter-century mark:

    Clearly one of the most original and most proficient guitarists now playing, he is acknowledged as one of the most influential and exciting jazz guitarists to emerge in the latter half of the 20th century. Noted for his unparalleled sensibilities, over the years Frisell has pursued emotional honesty over technical perfection to achieve a specific sound that is both powerful and beautiful. As a solo artist, he has explored various music venues and taken his listeners to a lot of places ... Simply put, you never know what to expect from Frisell.

    An important part of Frisell's prolific output has been his stints with a veritable Who's Who of musical innovators, from Arto Lindsay to John Zorn. And though he has worked with some very distinctive voices—his most recent Nonesuch release is an album with Ron Carter and Paul Motian—Bill's own has always remained a recognizable contribution to his collaborations. "What I like about certain musicians," Georgievski writes, "is their ability to add their magic regardless of the context and at the same time to keep their identity and credibility intact and strong. Therefore whether playing other people's music or his own, his sound is unique and vibrant with rich and often unexpected harmonics."

    The article offers what may be the best explanation for Frisell's continued success when Georgievski asks the guitarist about his seemingly non-stop touring schedule. Frisell's response: "There's nothing I'd rather do than play music."

    Read the complete article at allaboutjazz.com.

    For information on catching Bill on tour, click here.

    Journal Articles:Artist News

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