Favorite Bill Frisell Album?

**dijos** · 06-08-2013, 07:10 PM

I like him in general, but when I heard gone like a train, it really turned my head. It turns out that the Library has some of his other records, any suggestions where I should go next?

**jseaberry** · 06-08-2013, 07:29 PM

The "Bill Evans" one with Paul Motian.

**cosmic gumbo** · 06-08-2013, 08:43 PM

They're all good.

**3625** · 06-08-2013, 09:07 PM

If I had to choose I'd say it's probably the Frisell/Carter/Motian album - but it's a tough call given how varied his discog is. All depends on my mood in the moment...

**Jazzpunk** · 06-08-2013, 09:18 PM

"Gone, Just Like a Train" and "Bill Frisell With Dave Holland and Elvin Jones" were the two that first hooked me in. This is currently my favorite Frisell recording:

**Flat** · 06-09-2013, 12:34 AM

"Good Dog, Happy Man" is magnificent, imho.

**JimBobWay** · 06-09-2013, 12:49 AM

I heard Bill first on Marc Johnson's "Bass Desires" album, and I recommend that - it's a real treat to hear Sco & Bill in that setting. But then I followed Bill through his evolution, and with little exception I enjoy all of his work. I caught him in Seattle right after he released "Gone.." and sat right up front, and it was sublime. But I heard comments from the audience that it was "more like rock". OK, maybe. I think Bill is a chameleon, and I am grateful for his contributions to the musical smorgasbord.

**David B** · 06-09-2013, 07:46 AM

Kenny Wheeler's 'Angel Song'.

**rictroll** · 06-09-2013, 09:44 AM

All good suggestions.

I particularly like Where In The World

**kamlapati** · 06-09-2013, 07:08 PM

Always liked Blues Dream, great melodies and sublime horn arrangements.

**Bullock** · 06-16-2013, 02:59 AM

All of them! I bought all his recordings up untill the year 2003, and listened to them in reverse order.

My 2 faves will always be Gone Just Like A Train, and Good Dog Happy man. They are the first I recommend. Then I recommend some older Bill: Where in the World, Is That you?, and Live with Kermit Driscol and Joey Barron.

This Land, and Blues Dream highlites his beautiful horn arrangements, as well as Have A Little Faith, which is entirely covers.

If you really like Bill, you need to do the whole trip in my opinion.

**Phlatt Wound** · 06-17-2013, 11:42 PM

Gone, Just Like A Train was the first one that hooked me in. Then when I picked up a cheap, used copy of Good Dog, Happy Man I just fell in love with that one. Don't know if he has an album out of the material but I liked the tiny desk concert (PBS?) of him doing the Lennon tunes too. I've gotta look for that one.

**Bullock** · 06-17-2013, 11:56 PM

He has an album ensemble album called All We Are Saying that is exclusively Lennon Covers.

**Jazzpunk** · 06-18-2013, 02:14 AM

Originally Posted by Phlatt Wound

Gone, Just Like A Train was the first one that hooked me in. Then when I picked up a cheap, used copy of Good Dog, Happy Man I just fell in love with that one. Don't know if he has an album out of the material but I liked the tiny desk concert (PBS?) of him doing the Lennon tunes too. I've gotta look for that one.

I posted a live concert vid above of him doing the Lennon material. I actually enjoy the live performance more than the album he released (though that is good as well).

**jster** · 06-18-2013, 07:02 AM

Originally Posted by JimBobWay

I heard Bill first on Marc Johnson's "Bass Desires" album, and I recommend that - it's a real treat to hear Sco & Bill in that setting.

Michael Brecker of all people turned me onto that album and to Frisell. Some of those tunes remain my favorites.

**Melodic Dreamer** · 06-26-2013, 06:35 PM

It's hard to choose one.

The Frisell/Carter/Motian album is amazing. Actually everything he's done with Motian is amazing.
Angel Song with Kenny Wheeler is some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard.
Enfants Terribles with Lee Kontiz is great as well.
I really enjoy a recent cd purchase of Dale Bruning and Frisell called Reunion.

On the other side
Good Dog Happy Man and Nashville are great, but I love all things Frisell. lol

**HW64** · 12-10-2013, 07:02 PM

I've got pretty much all of his albums released under his own name, but the one I keep going back to is one of his earliest on ECM - Rambler. It has Kenny Wheeler on Flugelhorn and Bob Stewart on tuba. I played it to a friend of mine who was into the smoother side of jazz and he thought it was the worst record he'd ever heard. This pleased me immensely.

I love the Floratone CDs. In Line is great (solo ECM effort). Blues Dream is really good, as is Where in the World.

My favourite is probably The Intercontinentals. The Bass Desires albums are classics. Just checked, I have more than 40 Bill Frisell CDs. I guess I must be a fan. Just didn't realise it.

I don't think I've ever heard anything by him that was bad. He has a website where you can download live shows for very reasonable prices - http://www.billfrisell.com/downloads

**RClegg** · 12-10-2013, 07:19 PM

Interesting that Gone Like a Train was my introduction as well. I love the Carter/Motian album, and Nashville is interesting. His album with singer Petra Haden (Charlies daughter) has some brilliance on it, particularly there cover of Yellow by Cold Play. His solo versions of Shenendoah, as seen on Youtube is amazing, and his on stage version of "If I only Had a Brain" with Elvis Costello is quite interesting.

Petra has done some interesting work as well--her all-female a cappella version of "The Who Sell Out" is worth listening to (certainly if only because it is an all-female a cappella Who album).

Oddly, I don't like the Beatles album very much, not sure why. I love Frisell and the Beatles, should like the album.

**jster** · 12-10-2013, 07:49 PM

Love this tune:

**mr. beaumont** · 12-10-2013, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by 3625

If I had to choose I'd say it's probably the Frisell/Carter/Motian album - but it's a tough call given how varied his discog is. All depends on my mood in the moment...

I really don't dislike any of his output, but that record is so oooh good.

I'll add nods to Kenny Wheeler ' s "Angel Song" and Motion "I have the room above her." Beautiful records.

**maxsmith** · 12-10-2013, 08:45 PM

Unspeakable. It's funky.

**rictroll** · 12-10-2013, 10:05 PM

Where In the World

**Loobs** · 12-15-2013, 07:28 AM

I like Gone Like A Train a lot. Also the record with Elvin Jones & Dave Holland.

**disco~juice** · 12-15-2013, 03:21 PM

The one with Elvin Jones and Dave Holland.

Also, this project called "The Flood" was magic, but it's more music through picture.

**willschmid97** · 12-19-2013, 10:26 AM

Bill is incredible. Frisell/Carter/Motian, Unspeakable, This Land, All We Are Saying, and I also really dig the new Big Sur recording. Just saw him live a couple Sundays ago, what an amazing show.

What an amazing artist.