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Born in Baltimore in 1951 and raised in Denver, guitarist Bill Frisell began his adventures in music as a clarinetist. Frisell came of age at the dawn of the rock 'n' roll era, and he became more and more enamored with the R&B and blues-based music that was emerging at the time. He soon put down the clarinet and picked up the guitar.
By the time he'd reached high school, Frisell was playing in cover bands around town. He went on to major in music at the University of Northern Colorado and on to Berklee College of Music. Along the way, he began to hear guitarists like Wes Montgomery and Jim Hall, and his interest in jazz and improvised music was piqued. He moved to New York City in 1979 and built musical relationships with avant-garde composer and saxophonist John Zorn as well as drummer Paul Motian.
Frisell made his first three albums for ECM, where he'd worked for several years as an in-house guitarist. The first, In Line, a mostly solo affair, was released in 1983 and laid the groundwork for the direction of Frisell's future works, showing his interest in atmospheric soundscapes, the heavy use of guitar effects and original compositions based on an improvisatory approach. Lookout for Hope, Frisell's third album and last before leaving ECM, established Frisell as a new and strong voice on the contemporary jazz scene.
Frisell's 1992 release, Have A Little Faith, celebrated the full spectrum of American music, with works by an outrageously diverse group of American composers, including Aaron Copland, Charles Ives, Stephen Foster, Sonny Rollins, Bob Dylan and Madonna.
If Faith revealed Frisell's influences, it also hinted at his intentions for the future. For the last 20 years, Frisell has explored the landscape of America with such standout albums as 1997's release, Nashville, which paired Frisell with a host of country and bluegrass musicians; and 2001's Bill Frisell with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones, which sets the guitarist among a first-rate jazz rhythm section.
With more than 30 albums as a leader, Frisell has also been a willing musical contributor for artists such as Elvis Costello, Marianne Faithful, John Scofield, Vernon Reid, David Sanborn and Brian Eno. Frisell has also composed music for films, including scores for several Buster Keaton silent films, and more recently music for Gus Van Sant's Finding Forrester.
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Set List for Bill Frisell on Piano Jazz:When You Wish Upon A Star (Harline, Washington)
My Man's Gone Now (Gershwin, Gershwin, Heyward)
All The Things You Are (Hammerstein, Kern)
He's The One (McPartland)
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (Williams)
Strange Meeting (Frisell)
Echoes of Yesterday (McPartland)
Blue Monk (Monk)
By the time he'd reached high school, Frisell was playing in cover bands around town. He went on to major in music at the University of Northern Colorado and on to Berklee College of Music. Along the way, he began to hear guitarists like Wes Montgomery and Jim Hall, and his interest in jazz and improvised music was piqued. He moved to New York City in 1979 and built musical relationships with avant-garde composer and saxophonist John Zorn as well as drummer Paul Motian.
Frisell made his first three albums for ECM, where he'd worked for several years as an in-house guitarist. The first, In Line, a mostly solo affair, was released in 1983 and laid the groundwork for the direction of Frisell's future works, showing his interest in atmospheric soundscapes, the heavy use of guitar effects and original compositions based on an improvisatory approach. Lookout for Hope, Frisell's third album and last before leaving ECM, established Frisell as a new and strong voice on the contemporary jazz scene.
Frisell's 1992 release, Have A Little Faith, celebrated the full spectrum of American music, with works by an outrageously diverse group of American composers, including Aaron Copland, Charles Ives, Stephen Foster, Sonny Rollins, Bob Dylan and Madonna.
If Faith revealed Frisell's influences, it also hinted at his intentions for the future. For the last 20 years, Frisell has explored the landscape of America with such standout albums as 1997's release, Nashville, which paired Frisell with a host of country and bluegrass musicians; and 2001's Bill Frisell with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones, which sets the guitarist among a first-rate jazz rhythm section.
With more than 30 albums as a leader, Frisell has also been a willing musical contributor for artists such as Elvis Costello, Marianne Faithful, John Scofield, Vernon Reid, David Sanborn and Brian Eno. Frisell has also composed music for films, including scores for several Buster Keaton silent films, and more recently music for Gus Van Sant's Finding Forrester.
Check out this week's Piano Jazz Shorts: the Piano Jazz podcast.
Subscribe!
Set List for Bill Frisell on Piano Jazz: