Home » Jazz Articles » Live Review » Bill Frisell Trio at Blues Alley
Bill Frisell Trio at Blues Alley
Blues Alley
Washington, DC
November 21, 2024
With each decade,
Bill Frisell
guitar, electricb.1951
Thomas Morgan
bass, acoustic
Rudy Royston
drumsAt Washington, DC's prestigious Blues Alley, the trio showed how much there is to gain from scaling back the complexity and focusing on the basics. The opener, Frisell's "Monroe"—a slow, bluesy waltz—is so plain and unadorned that, paradoxically, a lesser musician wouldn't know what to do with it or how to keep the audience's attention. But for a master like Frisell, the lack of melodic or harmonic bells and whistles only raises the stakes of doing just the right thing at every moment.
On "Monroe," which Frisell has recorded several times over the years, and on the next tune, a
Thelonious Monk
piano1917 - 1982
Whereas some of Frisell's earlier playing might be called spacey, exhibiting the introspective murmurings often associated with record label ECM, now it might better be called spacious, giving his colleagues ample time for their own thoughts, and the audience a chance to absorb Frisell's use of various pedal effects. Frisell and Morgan kept their eyes locked on each other throughout the night, but Royston's drumming provided an equally essential voice. The guitarist and bassist have recorded two excellent live duo albums, Small Town and Epistrophy (ECM); but Royston's subdued commentary and raucous soloing alike were a reminder of how much a drummer can add to an ensemble's textures, and to a concert's energy.
Having established the night's mood—a freewheeling blend of Americana and blues filtered through the jazz idiom—the trio added new sounds to the mix. Frisell brought a sinister sense of foreboding to "Strange Meeting," another original that he has recorded several times. Then he swerved in a new direction for a Latin-inflected swing.
The trio took no pauses throughout the show, instead letting a patch of noise gradually segue into the next tune. One can't be sure, because he didn't speak a word all night, but Frisell seemed to be choosing the setlist on the spot, perhaps using each tune's agreeably messy finish to mentally flip through his musical rolodex before settling on the next number. It wasn't always clear what they were playing: an extended ending, a unique bridge between two tunes, or maybe a long intro into the next one.
In the same way, it wasn't always clear when one musician's solo ended and the next began—as the audience's occasional confusion about when to applaud attested. Or maybe conventional, discrete "solos" aren't even the right way to think about this trio's approach to music. This group's playing is more like a casual bull session among three great conversationalists, each flowing in and out of relative prominence, eager to react to what the others are saying even as they're saying it. And just as in a conversation where people occasionally repeat themselves, Frisell often interspersed his playing with echoes of the melody, giving some solidity and structure to the masterful rambling.
The trio closed with "You Only Live Twice," the Nancy Sinatra-sung track to the 1967 James Bond film of the same name, which Frisell and Morgan previously recorded on Epistrophy. Frisell's pedal board went to especially good effect here; after mimicking the original song's guitar line, he locked the riff into repeat, allowing himself to harmonize with himself, then using those harmonies as a background while embarking on one more distorted solo. That solo proved the final word of the show's conversation—when the trio finished, they walked off stage without a word—but it ensured that the appreciative audience would leave with plenty to discuss themselves.
Tags
Live Review
Bill Frisell
Robert Bellafiore
United States
District Of Columbia
Washington
Thomas Morgan
Rudy Royston
Thelonious Monk
Nancy Sinatra
Comments
PREVIOUS / NEXT
Bill Frisell Concerts
Oct
24
Fri
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL :: Bill Frisell...
The JazzlabBrunswick, Australia
Nov
21
Fri
Bill Frisell Trio
Cadogan HallLondon, UK
Nov
22
Sat
Bill Frisell Trio
Wiltshire Music CentreBradford On Avon, Wiltshire, Ba15 1dz, UK
Mar
27
Fri
Bill Frisell: 75th Birthday Celebration with Special...
The Appel RoomNew York, NY
Mar
28
Sat
Bill Frisell: 75th Birthday Celebration with Special...
The Appel RoomNew York, NY
Apr
2
Thu
Bill Frisell - In My Dreams
Wexner Center for the ArtsColumbus, OH
Apr
2
Thu
Bill Frisell - In My Dreams
Wexner Center for the ArtsColumbus, OH
Support All About Jazz
All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.
Go Ad Free!
To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
Washington
Concert Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses
| More...
Buy Now
