Guitarist and composer Bill Frisell is a revered musician and Grammy winner who has collaborated with artists as diverse as Elvis Costello, Bono, T-Bone Burnett, Paul Simon and many more. Bill is a 10-time Best Guitarist winner in the DOWNBEAT Critics Poll (including 2011) and three-time DOWNBEAT Readers Poll winner for Best Guitarist. The New York Times says "it's hard to find a more fruitful meditation on American music than the compositions of guitarist Bill Frisell." For the 2012/2013 performing arts season, Bill is available in three different, unique show formats:
Bill Frisell explores the songs of John Lennon on his new album, All We Are Saying, set for release on September 27, 2011. Bill has assembled a trusted ensemble consisting of Jenny Scheinman (violin), Tony Scherr (bass), Greg Leisz (guitars) and Kenny Wollesen (drums) to record his definitive take on the classic songs of John Lennon. Says Frisell: "John Lennon's music has been with me, the band, everybody, the world...seems like forever. The songs are part of us. In our blood. There was nothing we really needed to do to prepare for this. We've been preparing our whole lives. The songs are there. All we had to do was play them… Everyone involved has their own personal, deep, long, relationship to John Lennon's music. It connects us all and brings us together."
The Great Flood program is an evening-long suite of music composed by Bill Frisell also featuring Tony Scherr on bass, Kenny Wollesen on drums and Ron Miles on trumpet. Based on the Mississippi River Flood of 1927 and the ensuing transformation of American society and music, staging includes a full length film produced by multiple Bessie and Obie Award winner Bill Morrison for the duration of the concert. The Great Flood performance made its debut in the 2011/2012 season at such venues as Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City, Krannert Center at the University of Illinois, Dartmouth College, Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Duke University, the San Francisco Jazz Festival and UC-San Diego. (more information)
 This performance features a combination of two of Bill's most beloved bands and two of his more recent recording projects - Beautiful Dreamers and The 858 Quartet. Beautiful Dreamers is a stunning CD consisting of original compositions and striking reinterpretations performed along with the virtuoso talents of Eyvind Kang (viola) and Rudy Royston (drums). Sign of Life: Music for the 858 Quartet was released in April 2011 and features Jenny Scheinman (violin), Eyvind Kang (viola), and Hank Roberts (cello). Bill says about these bands "I'm so fortunate having the chance to play music with all of these musicians and having an audience willing to go along for the latest adventure.
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