Search - Bill Frisell :: East-West

Hard To Believe It's Live! Fantastic!

J. Rich | 08/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bill Frisell is one of those rare guitarists that has a style that is instantly recognizable. He's achieved the ultimate goal of any guitarist, which is to have a loyal following and to have work lined up for the next 10 years. After hearing "East/West," it's hard not to see why.



This set is a specially priced double live CD. He performs some of his own material and nice collection of jazz standards and country songs. In the "East" CD, he plays at the Village Vanguard, which all of who don't know already is the "mecca" of jazz performance. Playing there is like playing at Carnegie Hall. This "East" CD is more in a jazz vein then the "West" CD. Great music!



The "West" CD focus more on the country/Americana/blues side of Bill. He blows through several original tunes like "Pipe Down" and "Blues for Los Angeles." He even does a cool version of the song "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," which I haven't heard since I was kid. There is also a cool version of "Shenandoah" on this album, which was originally on the "Good Dog, Happy Man" album.



I was greatly suprised by this album and I think anyone who's a Bill Frisell fan should go ahead and buy this collection of great tunes."

Essential

The Delite Rancher | Phoenix, Arizona | 08/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""East/West" is an essential Bill Frisell release for three reasons. First, the musical content and production put this on a similar level with "Nashville," "Good Dog, Happy Man," "Gone, Just Like a Train" and "Bill Frisell with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones." The disc features a variety of musical styles that keep the music fresh. While leaning mostly into Jazz, Frisell's wanderings into Rock, Americana and World are represented. Second, this is the best and most recent document of what Bill Frisell sounds like live. While tapers and traders have been enjoying this music for years, "East/West" marks the first time that such wonderful music has been available to the general public. In terms of live albums, this disc is as memorable as "Bill Frisell, Kermit Driscoll, Joey Baron LIVE" was mediocre. The third reason for the highly compelling nature of this recording is the song choice. The disc has a great balance of originals and well known cover songs. The originals include the Intercontinental's 'Boubacar' and Frisell's rockin' big gun, 'Blues for Los Angeles.' The cover songs bring instant gratification with classics by Gershwin, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan. As if those three reasons aren't enough, "East/West" comprises two discs that sell for the price of one. "East/West" is an essential part of any Bill Frisell collection."

Before you die

K. Patterson | Australia | 10/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you're alive, and I assume most of you are, listen to this album before you die. If you're a guitarist listen to this before tomorrow ! Bill breaks out ! And about time too.

Listen to those sonorous triads spattered with altered notes like stardust. Listen to Frisell wring every last note out of those standard effects. Verging on the melodramatic and sentimental in the heart of Shenandoah he holds it all together sublimely. Banging the root note throughout Grapevine and Hard Rain he reinforces the heart of pop music.

Frisell plays guitar as it was fated to be played; up and down the neck, using open strings and voicings to die for. It's not a piano or a horn, after all.

The most startling thing about this album is that after years of wishing Frisell to do something like this and expecting it to be pretty damn good, it's just so astonishing. He plays stuff on this that is just new and totally inspired. This is the work of a musician approaching his peak. Can't wait till his next one."