Rarum 5: Selected Recordings
Some artists develop their voice over time. When guitarist Bill Frisell began his association with ECM in 1981 as a sideman with drummerPaul Motian, he was a full-blown original, a texturalist whose spare modal effects and pastoral and pop leanings took jazz in a new direction. Frisell's installment in the label's :rarum anthology series, for which the artists choose the songs and contribute written commentary, offers more variety than most of his individual recordings. He is heard lending support to Motian, saxophonistJan Garbarek, pianistPaul Bley, and trumpeterKenny Wheeler; overdubbing himself on acoustic guitar; leading an offbeat lineup, including tuba stalwart Bob Stewart; and taking his first tentative steps as bandleader with cellist Hank Roberts, bassistKermit Driscoll, and drummerJoey Baron. Whatever the setting, Frisell, who has gravitated in recent times toward American roots forms, finds a rich silver lining in electronic cloudscapes that can be dreamy or dark or both. The collection, which offers 24-bit/96kHz remastering--a first for the legendarily sound-conscious ECM--is brought to a close by classical and new music artist Gavin Bryars, who leads his own ensemble on an atmospheric chamber piece from 1993, inspired by a song on Frisell's 1982 debut,In Line.--Lloyd Sachs