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Bill frisell
Beautiful Dreamers
SAVOY JAZZ 17799
★★★★
Bill Frisell has redefined himself
repeatedly, spurred by new musical
experiences rather than career
motivations. It’s a testament to
the force of his creative spark that
his audience—largely, if not in
toto—has gone along for the ride,
detours, cul-de-sacs and freeways
alike. What seems to drive him is a
simple quest for musicality, a specific
vibe or mood established by
economical and direct means. If the
music has, at times, appeared droll,
at closer examination it always has
some musical impetus at its core.
Frisell’s remained alert for sen-
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sitive partners from far-flung corners
of the musical globe, but also
from close to home in the U.S.
Northwest. Violist Eyvind Kang,
with whom the guitarist has worked
extensively (including the outstanding
1996 Nonesuch CD Quartet),
lives near Seattle, but he can’t be
there much, with a crazy range of involvements
from session work (love
the way he inflects Laura Veirs’
CDs) to his own orchestral projects.
On Beautiful Dreamers, Kang has
equal voice, gently moving in and
out of lead position, caressing the
folksy singsongs into something nuanced
and long lasting. Drummer
Rudy Rosyton is new to me, another
Nor’wester, hailing from Denver. A
few minutes with this CD and it’s
obvious why Frisell likes him; he
can push and pull in any direction,
and he can insinuate swing into the
squarest little corner.
Producer Lee Townsend’s been
collaborating with Frisell for decades—look
back as far as the
fantastic pre-Americana Lookout
For Hope (ECM, 1987)—and he’s
a silent soul-mate for the guitarist,
bringing out all the eccentricity
and intelligence latent in Frisell’s
compositions. All relatively short
tracks, often with a very simple
conceit, like the little viola whine
on “Baby Cry” or the “Evidence”like
puzzle on “Winslow Homer,”
they have the downhome-hoedown
blues and country flavor of earlier
outings, but with the quirkiness dial
toned down a bit. That said, the
covers (cute taste of Benny Good-
Eyvind Kang (left), Bill frisell and Rudy Royston
man swing; charming “Tea For
Two” and “Keep On The Sunny
Side”; hilarious take on Little Anthony’s
“Goin’ Out Of My Head”)
throw some of the disc’s curveballs.
Throughout, Frisell’s guitar playing
continues to be self-effacing
and spectacular. He’s pared it down
long ago to fingers and strings, no
effects, no volume-pedal, and he’s
so heavy you can’t deny it, no matter
what you think of his compositional
Grant Wood-isms.
—John Corbett
Beautiful Dreamers: love Sick; Winslow Homer;
Beautiful Dreamer (For Karle Seydel); A Worth
Endeavor (For Cajori); It’s Nobody’s Fault But
Mine; Baby Cry; Benny’s Bugle; Tea For Two;
No Time To Cry; Better Than A Machine (For
Vic Chestnutt); Goin’ Out Of My Head; Worried
Woman; Keep On The Sunny Side; Sweetie; All
We Can Do; Who Was That Girl? (63:25)
Personnel: Bill Frisell, guitar; Eyvind Kang, viola;
Rudy Royston, drums.
ordering Info: savoyjazz.com
Michael Wilson
OCTOBER 2010 DOWNBEAT 45