Search - Bill Frisell :: Quartet

Quartet
Bill Frisell
Quartet
Genres: Jazz, Special Interest, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (13) - Disc #1

With his indelible, elastic tone, restless curiosity, and open-eared approach to music beyond the traditional corridors of jazz, guitarist Bill Frisell is among the most prolific and continually surprising improvisers aliv...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Bill Frisell
Title: Quartet
Members Wishing: 4
Total Copies: 0
Label: Nonesuch
Original Release Date: 4/9/1996
Release Date: 4/9/1996
Genres: Jazz, Special Interest, Pop
Styles: Avant Garde & Free Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Modern Postbebop, Bebop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 075597940121, 075597940169, 755979401210

Synopsis

Amazon.com essential recording
With his indelible, elastic tone, restless curiosity, and open-eared approach to music beyond the traditional corridors of jazz, guitarist Bill Frisell is among the most prolific and continually surprising improvisers alive. Quartet is built around a typically inventive, typically off-centered Frisell lineup including Ron Miles (trumpet, piccolo trumpet), Eyvind Kang (violin, tuba), and Curtis Fowlkes (trombone) who draw from a sonorous palette. By avoiding a conventional rhythm section and piano, Frisell and his confederates create a group sound with the intimacy of small jazz group while tapping the timbres of chamber music; the material (which includes pieces composed for a TV special built around friend Gary Larson's "Far Side" cartoons) is equally beyond category. --Sam Sutherland

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CD Reviews

A Frisell Masterpiece
ode2understatement | Fayetteville, AR United States | 11/30/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This outing is on the outer fringes of eclecticism even by Bill's standard with this wild ensemble. The odd instrumentation succeeds in making extremely modern music that swings (without a drummer!), is humorous, tranquil, totally Bill. This date is still a fresh sound five years later into Bill's explorations of old-timey meets whatever. Even after Bill's more recent projects, if this album were coming out now, for the first time, it would sound like a wild new direction/addition to what he's been up to. A continually enjoyable listen."
A fantastic album
ode2understatement | 01/08/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Truly amazing work from a truly amazing guitarist and composer. Here, Frisell plays with the odd quartet of guitar, violin, trumpet and trombone. This ensemble has to be heard to be believed! The album mostly features Frisell's soundtrack work, including the Gary Larson animation "Tales From The Far Side" - these tracks are amazing, particularly the atmospheric title track to the cartoon, and "Bob's Monsters". The foursome also have some pretty wild jams between tracks."
Good soundtrack to a dark acid trip
The Delite Rancher | Phoenix, Arizona | 02/26/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Is there anything that Bill Frisell can't play? He's done Jazz, Rock, Americana, World, Orchestral and every hybrid that could be created by cross pollinating these five flowers. Along the lines of 1993's "Have A Little Faith," this is an orchestral project combining elements of Jazz, Rock and Americana. Regardless of the quirky performances, "Bill Frisell Quartet" has a cartoonish sound since the music is played with trumpet, tuba, piccolo trumpet, violin, trombone and guitar. Indeed, this 1996 release sounds like a demented and dark animation score. Much of the music could be the soundtrack to a bad acid trip: dark, powerful, psychedelic and beautiful in an unsettling sort of way. While nightfall permeates the album, there is a surprising amount of comedic relief. 'In Deep' is a good ol' fashioned hoedown while 'Prelude' and 'What?' exercise Frisell's atmospheric minimalism. Enthusiasts of the "Bill Frisell with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones" disc will enjoy hearing orchestrally arranged versions of 'Coffaro's Theme' 'Twenty Years' and 'Convict 13.' Being one of the strongest tracks, 'Egg Radio' has since become a staple of Frisell's live shows. While not the most accessible album in his discography, this release showcases Bill Frisell's compositional abilities."