The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
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  1. #1

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    There's a lot of Frisell on YouTube and I love much of what he does. There's often a sense of deliberation or even hesitation in much of his playing that perfectly fits his personality but I don't think I've heard him play with such a feeling of joyous abandon as he does here on this Little Anthony and the Imperials classic.

    Is it jazz guitar? ... probably not but just great electric guitar playing regardless of genre labels.


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    The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
     
  3. #2

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    Actually, La la Means I Love You was by the great Philly group the Delphonics.

    Frisell sounds like he really loves the chart.

  4. #3
    Doh! You're right.

  5. #4

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    Bill does enjoy revisiting the pop music of his (our...) youth...


  6. #5

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    Quote Originally Posted by AndyV
    There's a lot of Frisell on YouTube and I love much of what he does. There's often a sense of deliberation or even hesitation in much of his playing that perfectly fits his personality but I don't think I've heard him play with such a feeling of joyous abandon as he does here on this Little Anthony and the Imperials classic.

    Is it jazz guitar? ... probably not but just great electric guitar playing regardless of genre labels.

    Amazing playing! Is it jazz guitar? Sure is for me, but unfortunately a dying art, the new generation didn't pick up on what BF is doing.

  7. #6

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    Yup, and unfortunately, Frisell is probably the freshest most original thing that happened in Jazz (guitar), and he is already old man. What he does is the closest thing to that "next big step in Jazz" that never happened and probably never will. I mean, it happened, he did it, but did not happen big enough. Guitar players will rather discuss Gipsy Jazz, or some other artistically long dead and buried form and player, instead. It's easier to full mouth angling the pick, history and theory, exciting strings to vibration, than music. making, so, what Frisell is best in, is not financially viable enough for Jazz police. to promote. No wonder larger public knows. him even less.
    To be fair, on occasion I thought Ambercrombie was somewhere there, but he is dead now.


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  8. #7

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    No one like Bill Frisell, the one and only. Love listening to his music, his arrangement of Surfer Girl is another interesting take on an oldie.

  9. #8
    George Shearing said of Oscar Peterson something like "He doesn't take much time to smell the roses, does he?"

    Bill takes the time to smell the roses and explore every nuance of texture and aroma.

    As you say, this is lost on legions of Gypsy Jazzers who aspire to play the guitar like a machine gun but will never approach the poetry of Django's playing. Don't get me wrong - I like fast players too - especially when they are saying something via speed and precision but Bill's playing seems to speak from and to the heart directly. While he's shown a light towards the end of the bebop tunnel, few want to follow.
    Last edited by AndyV; 11-11-2017 at 12:07 PM.

  10. #9

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    I love his work.....always interesting....this was, and still is a beautiful tune.......

  11. #10

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    Big Frisell fan, here.

  12. #11

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    Quote Originally Posted by AndyV
    George Shearing said of Oscar Peterson something like "He doesn't take much time to smell the roses, does he?"

    Bill takes the time to smell the roses and explore every nuance of texture and aroma.

    As you say, this is lost on legions of Gypsy Jazzers who aspire to play the guitar like a machine gun but will never approach the poetry of Django's playing. Don't get me wrong - I like fast players too - especially when they are saying something via speed and precision but Bill's playing seems to speak from and to the hear directly. While he's shown a light towards the end of the bebop tunnel, few want to follow.
    Yeah, but I didnt necessarily mean Gypsy jazz players, obviously they only follow one God Django. I was talking mostly about modern jazz young stars, who I feel moved the jazz guitar in a different direction.

  13. #12

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    I think the lesson from Bill is not to play like Bill, but to be your self and be true to what you love. It is really hard to play like a guy who sounds so unique independent of guitar amp effects etc. This couldn't be further from his normal rigs and yet blindfolded you can tell it is him instantly.


  14. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by Greentone
    Actually, La la Means I Love You was by the great Philly group the Delphonics.

    Frisell sounds like he really loves the chart.
    What a big surprise - Frisell! Just a bit of history behind that Bill Frisell selection:

    Not only was La La Means I Love You a huge 1968 soul hit, the recording charted #4 on the Billboard pop list. It bears mentioning that song was co-written by the great songwriter Thom Bell. Thom wrote a follow up tune for The Delfonics in 1970 called "didn't I blow your mind" that went on to receive a Grammy nomination.

    Bell arranged hits for Jerry Butler, Archie Bell & The Drells, The O'Jays and Dusty Springfield. Everything Bell touched turned gold. You heard of the O'Jay's hit "back stabbers." That's TB's arrangement.

    TB moved on from the great Gamble-Huff Philadelphia International records to produce and write for The Stylistics. As if that wasn't enough Bell did something Berry Gordy couldn't do, creating a hit group out of The Spinners, who'd floundered at Motown.

    Thom Bell hits:



  15. #14

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    i thought they spelled it with an "f".

  16. #15
    Wow! What list of hits - that was the soundtrack to my Philly radio upbringing. Thanks for the back story.

    Here's some insight into the impact of 60s pop on Bill:

  17. #16

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    Quote Originally Posted by AndyV
    There's a lot of Frisell on YouTube and I love much of what he does. There's often a sense of deliberation or even hesitation in much of his playing that perfectly fits his personality but I don't think I've heard him play with such a feeling of joyous abandon as he does here on this Little Anthony and the Imperials classic.

    Is it jazz guitar? ... probably not but just great electric guitar playing regardless of genre labels.

    Obviously a completely different take on the material, but Mike LeDonne has been mining Philly Soul for a while




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  18. #17

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    Huge Frisell fan. Thanks for posting. I have not seen a video with Tony playing stand-up. Tony is a tasty guitar player too. Trying to play Bill's Fretboard journal solo excursions (along with the help of Jan's transcriptions) have given me months, even years of guitar entertainment.

    At the very end of La La is that the "works" of musical jewelry box he is feeding through his pick-ups?

  19. #18

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    Really enjoyed "Shennandoah" as Frisell played it. The small-bodied Gibson sounds great. Perfect guitar for the chart.

  20. #19

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    Another favorite Bill take on "Shenandoah"


  21. #20
    I found some the content in this Frisell lesson very illuminating - especially his intervalic approach to double stops over 7th chords. There's a lot more there if one takes the time to dig. You can always tell who's playing very quickly when you hear Bill play.

    Digging Deeper: Bill Frisell | 2016-04-29 | Premier Guitar

  22. #21

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    Quote Originally Posted by AndyV
    I found some the content in this Frisell lesson very illuminating - especially his intervalic approach to double stops over 7th chords. There's a lot more there if one takes the time to dig. You can always tell who's playing very quickly when you hear Bill play.

    Digging Deeper: Bill Frisell | 2016-04-29 | Premier Guitar
    Very cool insights! Thanks!

  23. #22

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    Gonna get flamed here, but i just never got into Frisell. Bores me to tears

  24. #23

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    dreburden,

    Wouldn't dare flame you. It's all subjective. I, for example, get bored silly with the deedle-ee-dee players who just pile on note after note. I could name a bunch of them, but why bother? The point is, many players just get super energized by the playing of that sort of guitarist.

    But, in rock, I always got more out of Clapton than out of Satriani, Same thing. Oh, yeah...my favorite was Steve Cropper--soul substance tops nat notes, for me.

  25. #24

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    Quote Originally Posted by dreburden
    Gonna get flamed here, but i just never got into Frisell. Bores me to tears
    Great the first post! Sign up to the forum to tell the world you're not into Bill Frisell lol... I can live with dat.. Who are you into then, just curious?

  26. #25
    Art is completely subjective so no worries, here. For instance, I'm supposed to adore every note Billie Holiday ever sang. Never liked listening to anything she ever recorded - not even one bar and don't get me started on Bob Dylan!