Blues Dream
For those who have been wondering where Mr. Bill's musical wanderings would lead him in the wake of his first solo CD,Ghost Town,Blues Dreamprovides the ambitious answer. Nearly all Frisell's fascinations are here: the pastoralism ofHave a Little Faith, aNashvilletinge, and the cinematic sounds ofQuartet. There's also the electronic loop atmospheres of his ECM and early Elektra years and the alternatingEllingtonianand Salvation Army horns of his quintet period. All of this melded into 18 new compositions commissioned by the Walker Arts Center.A textural richness comes courtesy of Greg Leisz's various guitars backing Frisell's own guitar and a stunning integration of three horns:Curtis Fowlkes's trombone,Ron Miles's trumpet, and Billy Drewes's saxophones. As you listen to this string of broad-shouldered pieces, tributes to greats likeRon Carter, and strangely blues-inflected soundscapes, it's apparent that the solos ofGhost Towncan operate as a sort of sketch or "cartoon" for this, the full painting; or a short that is then expanded into a feature. Frisell's career is taking on the aspect of a well-crafted movie or novel that explores different story lines before bringing them together for the finale (and this might be the prelude to the finale).--Michael Ross