Bill Frisell Beautiful Dreamers

Last week, while browsing at the Lincoln Triangle Barnes & Noble, I noticed that Bill Frisell was scheduled for an appearance on Monday, August 30th. While in town for his annual two-week Village Vanguard gig with Paul Motian and Joe Lovano, Frisell is promoting his new Beautiful Dreamers CD. I couldn't pass up an opportunity to see Bill Frisell for free!

Events at Lincoln Triangle are held in a large, glass-walled room on the third floor. When I arrived a half hour before the 5pm appearance, the first two rows were already occupied by eager fans, but most of the space was empty. Frisell's guitar sat quietly upon a chair on a slightly raised stage, plugged into an amp and a few effects pedals. During the next few minutes, the room filled quickly to capacity. I had arrived just in time to get a prime seat. By the time Frisell took the stage, there was standing room only. He expressed pleasant surprise over the turnout, and was warmly appreciative.

Frisell spoke a few humble and self-effacing words to bring us into solo guitar renditions of songs from Beautiful Dreamers, including the 150-year-old Stephen Foster title track. Despite his seeming trepidation, four Frisell's solo tunes wonderfully captured the essence of the album (which was playing during seating). Surely, no one in the room expected anything less of Bill Frisell's masterful guitar playing!

I can understand his hesitation performing songs from the album without his trio mates, violist Eyvind Kang and drummer Rudy Royston. The viola adds an incredible character to Beautiful Dreamers, at times complementing Frisell's mysterious guitar sound, and at others playing a worthy foil. It seems to magnify the magical sound that Frisell's albums convey. Royston's percussion is tastefully unobtrusive, becoming an integral part of the trio that you'd, paradoxically, miss if it were gone.

Sixteen tracks in all, the album is a cohesive listen throughout, but yields subtle variety. Winslow Homer carries a quirky, perhaps classic Frisell groove. Frisell successfully puts his stamp on Blind Willie Johnson's It's Nobody's Fault But Mine. Keep On The Sunny Side can single-handedly bale straw. Benny's Groove is splashed with swing-era fun. All We Can Do is a pensive ballad in which Frisell and Kang alternate duty in a pizzicato underpinning.

I'm glad I got an autographed copy and a short chat with Frisell! And nice to see so many others on hand for the same!