Bill Frisell with Dave Holland and Elvin Jones
Backed by two of jazz's greatest improvisers--bassistDave Hollandand drummerElvin Jones--guitarist Bill Frisell forges one of his strongest efforts to date. There's a holistic feel to this group that wasn't as apparent in Frisell's handful of trio recordings with bassistKermit Driscolland drummerJoey Baron, where the guitarist was always front and center. And, while the expansive Americana sound ofGone, Just Like a Train,Good Dog, Happy Man, andNashvilleare hinted at in the guitarist's lyrical playing, this CD is unmistakably jazz. There's no real theme here, just Frisell at his creative peak--the numerous loops and effects he puts his guitar through finally sounding organic and coherent--with two great collaborators. Hints of exotica can be found on "Blues Dream" and "Smilin' Jones," Frisell's cover of "Moon River" is sublime, and Stephen Foster's "Hard Times" sounds like a loose jam session in the hands of this threesome. It's a great album, full of rich textures that would do spaghetti-western composerEnnio Morriconeproud, with its ample doses of Frisell's unmistakable contemplative, but minimalist guitar sound.--Jason Verlinde