East-West
OnEast/WestBill Frisell proves once again he is one of the most prolific players of his generation. While it's a measure of his success that he's able to pursue a wide variety of projects, the bottom line is his insatiable musical curiosity warrants all the attention he receives.East/Westis a two-disc live set, one recorded on each coast. All are trio performances, with drummer Kenny Wollesen playing throughout, Viktor Krauss on bass in California, Tony Scherr in New York. So supple is the interplay that the stylistic change in the two bassists makes for a subtly different character to each of the nights. Frisell focuses on a mix traditional, folk, and even soul in the west; in the east there's a bit more drawn from the jazz canon (though not entirely, as the version of "Crazy" is  a marvel as Scherr sets down his bass and picks up an acoustic guitar).--David Greenberger