NOVEMBER 2013: Rosebud Artists Place High In DownBeat Readers Poll, Trombone Shorty Wins Best Trombonist, Bill Frisell #2 Best Guitarist
Ten Rosebud artists were ranked among the best musicians in the 78th Annual DownBeat Readers Poll (December 2013 Issue). Trombone Shorty won the Trombone category outright for the second year in a row, and he and his band, Orleans Avenue, placed in the top artists ranked for the Jazz Group category. Bill Frisell came in second in the Guitarist category (he won the category overall in the recent Downbeat critics poll for the fifth consecutive year and twelfth time in the past sixteen years!) and placed high in three additional categories: Jazz Artist, Composer, and Jazz Album of the Year (for Big Sur). Also scoring high in a variety of categories this year were some of Bill's recent collaborators including John Zorn, Gary Peacock, Kenny Wollesen, Brian Blade, Joey Baron, Eyvind Kang, Jenny Scheinman, Jason Moran, Charles Lloyd and Lee Konitz.
Multiple Rosebud artists took prominent spots in the Blues Artist or Group category, with Charlie Musselwhite, Marcia Ball and Duke Robillard as top contenders this year. Charlie also ranked in the top ten in the Blues Album category for Get Up!, his recent collaboration with Ben Harper. Also scoring in the Blues Album category was Jon Cleary for his album, Occapella, a collection of songs written by Rosebud artist Allen Toussaint. Toussaint himself was named in the Best Arranger category for the fourth consecutive year.
Meshell Ndegeocello was ranked in the Beyond Artist or Group category for the second year in a row as well as in the Electric Bass category, along with Robert Glasper Experiment bassist, Derrick Hodge, who Meshell appeared with on Glasper's album, Black Radio (2012).
Muddy Waters, a Rosebud artist until his passing, was ranked twice among the readers' top choices in the Historical Album of the Year category for his own album, You Shook Me: The Chess Masters, Vol. 3, 1958 To 1963, and for his collaboration with The Rolling Stones, Live At The Checkerboard Lounge Chicago 1981, which also features Stones drummer Charlie Watts, who Rosebud represents for his rare jazz performances.
Congratulations to all the artists. To Catch Them Perform Live On Stage, See Tour Dates >>
AUGUST 2013: Bill Frisell With Earl Klugh And Mavis Staples With Willie Nelson On New Releases, Plus Rave Reviews For Mavis' And Bill's Latest Albums
Earl Klugh - HandPicked
A making-of video for the album, which features interviews with Klugh as well as sound clips from HandPicked
Bill Frisell is featured on jazz guitar icon Earl Klugh's latest album, HandPicked, released July 30, 2013. On the album, Frisell and Klugh perform a duet version of the classic, "Blue Moon". The album also features ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro and Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill performing duets with Klugh. Klugh said of his partnership with Frisell, "He's such an eclectic player... after about thirty or forty seconds in, it really caught on and ended up being a great piece. That's exactly what I wanted from him.". The track featuring Bill Frisell can be streamed from EarlKlugh.com.
Mavis Staples is featured on country singer-songwriter legend Willie Nelson's upcoming album, To All The Girls, out September 24, 2013. In addition to Mavis, the record features an all-star cast of female collaborators including Dolly Parton, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, Alison Krauss, Carrie Underwood and Emmylou Harris. Mavis' duet with Willie, "Grandma's Hands", exclusively premiered on A.V. Club on August 6, 2013 and was pegged by A.V. Club as "one of the album's best tracks".
Mavis' and Frisell's own releases from June 2013 have both garnered impressive reviews from key news outlets. Rolling Stone proclaimed about Mavis' Jeff Tweedy-produced (Wilco) album, "One True Vine shows there isn't much the ex-Staple Singer can't make gorgeous and lived-in". The New York Times' Nate Chinen described Frisell on his new album, Big Sur, as "...the forefront of a hybrid you might call jazz Americana... his gorgeously evocative new album, fits squarely into this portfolio, with a welcome twist."
JUNE 2013: Bill Frisell To Perform At Joni Mitchell Tribute Concert On June 18 and 19, Named Guitarist Of The Year By The Jazz Journalists Association, Plus New CD, Big Sur, Released Today
Bill Frisell will appear at the historic Massey Hall in Toronto on June 18 and 19 as part of "Joni: A Portrait in Song - A Birthday Happening", a two-night all-star lineup event honoring the life and work of Joni Mitchell. Toronto's Luminato Festival will present the concerts which celebrate Mitchell's influence as an artist as well as her upcoming 70th birthday in November. Over the course of the two nights, the event will feature performances by renowned artists including Kathleen Edwards, Herbie Hancock, Glen Hansard, Esperanza Spalding, Cold Specks, Liam Titcomb, Rufus Wainwright and Lizz Wright, as well as a recital of a new poem by Mitchell based on the work of Canadian modernist and post-impressionist artist, Emily Carr. Frisell will perform both nights as a member of the house band that will consist of other respected musicians including Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet), Melvin Butler (saxophone), Jeff Haynes (percussion), Marvin Sewell (guitar), and Christopher Thomas (bass), under the direction of band leaders Brian Blade (Drums) and Jon Cowherd (piano and keyboards).
In other news, Bill was recently named Guitarist of the Year at the 17th annual Jazz Journalists Association (JJA) Jazz Awards. This is Bill's fourth win and sixth nomination in this category since 2008. The JJA Jazz Awards nominees are selected by professional members of the JJA "honoring excellence in jazz music, recordings, presentation and journalism... ." The Association's professional members then vote in a second round to determine the winners in each category.
Bill's latest CD, Big Sur, was released on June 18 via Okeh Records. The record, which was commissioned by the Monterey Jazz Festival, was inspired by the 90 mile coastal region near Monterey, CA. The CD was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley with longtime collaborators Lee Townsend and Adam Muñoz and features musicians Jenny Scheinman (violin), Eyvind Kang (viola), Hank Roberts (cello) and Rudy Royston (drums) from Bill's 858 Quartet and Beautiful Dreamers projects.
MAY 2013: Bill Frisell's New Album, Big Sur, Out June 18, 2013, Named For Prestigious Curator Roles
Bill Frisell's new album, Big Sur, will be released on June 18, 2013 via Okeh Records. Inspired by the 90 mile coastal region in central California, the album marks Frisell's Okeh Records debut and features the Big Sur Quintet (which combines his 858 Quartet and Beautiful Dreamers trio). In 2012 Frisell was commissioned by the Monterey Jazz Festival to write the completely original work, which blends chamber jazz, country, classical, folk, and rock. Six months later, the Big Sur Quintet recorded the 19 song, hour-long album at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California, with longtime Frisell collaborators Lee Townsend and Adam Muñoz. About his experience creating Big Sur, Frisell stated "It was extraordinary. You're surrounded by forest, and there's a trail that you can walk to the end of the bluff, where the land just drops off and you see the whole panorama of the Big Sur coast and the Pacific Ocean... It was incredible... I filled up pages and pages... The music just kept coming." Frisell has also released a "making of" video which discusses his creative process and how the new album references the environment in which it was created.
Frisell is also currently acting as Guest Curator for the Roots of Americana series at Jazz at Lincoln Center for their '13 - '14 season. This appointment marks Frisell's second role curating at a major jazz institution in a year, as he also currently acting as a Resident Artistic Director at SFJazz overseeing programming and performances.
JANUARY 2013: Bill Frisell Featured At SFJazz Center Grand Opening Events
Bill Frisell performed at three of SFJazz Center's grand opening events the week of January 21, 2013 in San Francisco. These events were each housed in the new SFJazz Center, a $64 million, 35,000-square-foot structure billed as the nation's first free-standing building created for Jazz. The events included a McCoy Tyner Concert, The Historic Opening Night Concert, and The SFJazz Resident Artistic Directors Concert. Over the course of the three nights, Frisell played with other Jazz giants including Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, Regina Carter, Joshua Redman, John Santos, Jason Moran, Miguel Zenón and Bobby Hutcherson. The Historic Opening Night Concert, a sold out event hosted by Bill Cosby, was broadcast by WBGO, WWOZ, and streamed online by NPR. The concert, which featured a never before seen duet with Frisell and Chick Corea, is currently available for streaming at NPR.org. For photos and video from the grand opening and for more info on the new SFJazz Center, please sfjazz.org/center.
In Spring 2011, SFJazz named Frisell one of its Resident Artistic Directors to oversee programming and performances from Fall 2012 through the opening of the SFJazz Center. Frisell will continue to oversee original projects at the center over the next two years.
NOVEMBER 2012: Rosebud Artists Score High In DownBeat Readers Poll
A number of Rosebud artists made impressive showings in the 2012 DownBeat Readers Poll. In addition to Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews' win in the Trombone category and his record, For True, ranking in the Top Ten Jazz Albums of the Year, other Rosebud artists scored high in the poll.
Bill Frisell came in second as Best Guitarist (he won the category overall in the recent Downbeat critics poll - for the fourth consecutive year and 11th time in the past 15 years!) and ranked high in Best Jazz Artist of the Year and Composer categories, while his CD All We Are Saying... scored among the top dozen Jazz Albums of The Year. Allen Toussaint ranked in the top five in the Arranger category, while Bettye LaVette was listed among the top artists in the Blues Artist or Group category. Meshell Ndegeocello ranked high in the Beyond Artist or Group category, and her recent release Weather was ranked among the top choices in the Beyond Album category. Roger Lewis of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band also ranked among the best in the Baritone Saxophone category.
Muddy Waters, a Rosebud artist until his passing, was ranked among the top readers choices for the DownBeat Hall of Fame.
Congratulations to all the artists. To Catch These Artists Perform Live On Stage, See Tour Dates >>
JULY 2012: Dr. John and Bill Frisell Are Winners In DownBeat Critics Poll! Marcia Ball, Bettye LaVette, Meshell Ndegeocello, Allen Toussaint and Trombone Shorty Also Named Among The Best
DownBeat Magazine's 60th Annual Critic's Poll (August 2012 issue) heralds wins for Dr. John in the Best Blues Artist or Group category while Bill Frisell wins Guitarist of the Year, scoring his fourth win in a row since 2009 and his 11th win in the past 15 years! Bill also ranked near the top in the Best Jazz Artist and Best Composer categories as well as for Jazz Album of the Year for his All We Are Saying CD. Dr. John also ranked in the top five for Beyond Artist or Group. Other Rosebud artists ranking high in the poll included Marcia Ball, Bettye LaVette, Meshell Ndegeocello, Allen Toussaint and Trombone Shorty.
Trombone Shorty joined Frisell in the Jazz Album of the Year category for his CD For True. In fact, Trombone Shorty scored high in seven categories including Best Trombone Player (ranking third), Rising Star Jazz Artist (also 3rd), Rising Star Jazz Group, Rising Star Trombone, Beyond Artist or Group, and Beyond Album. Also, appearing in the latter two categories is fellow Rosebud artist Meshell Ndegeocello.
Other Rosebud artists ranking high in the poll included Allen Toussaint for Best Arranger (second place), Bettye LaVette - Best Blues Artist or Group (top 5 ranking), and Marcia Ball - Best Blues Album category for Roadside Attractions.
Frisell's long-time collaborator, the late Paul Motian, was also inducted into the DownBeat Hall of Fame. Frisell worked with the legendary jazz drummer for three decades. Some of Bill Frisell's other frequent and current collaborators were named in the following categories - Ron Carter (Bass category), Jenny Scheinman (Best Violinist and Rising Star - Violin categories as well as Jazz Album of The Year), and Joey Baron - Best Drummer category. Bill's Manager and Producer as well as collaborator on 2012's Floratone II CD, Lee Townsend, was also named among the best in both Producer and Rising Star-Producer categories.
Congratulations to all the artists. Catch all the Rosebud artists performing live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>
JUNE 2012: Bill Frisell Named Guitarist Of The Year For Third Time Since 2008 By The Jazz Journalist Association
Bill Frisell was awarded Guitarist of the Year at the 16th annual Jazz Journalist Association (JJA) Jazz Awards Gala held at The Blue Note, New York City, on June 20. This is Bill Frisell's third time winning this award since 2008. In addition to being named Guitarist of the Year in 2008, 2009 and 2012, Bill was also nominated in this category in each of the other intervening years - 2010 and 2011. The awards gala honors excellence in jazz music, recordings and journalism, and are voted on by professional members of the JJA. For information about the JJA visit jjajazzawards.org.
This latest award for Bill comes close on the heels of his receiving the prestigious Doris Duke Performing Artist Award in May. Recipients of this award are chosen anonymously by their peers across a broad spectrum of performing arts disciplines and are presented with an unrestricted grant in recognition of their significant and continuing contribution to the Arts. For further information about the Doris Duke Performing Artists Awards, visit DDPAA.org.
JUNE 2012: Bill Frisell Featured On Shawn Colvin's New CD, Bill Joins An All-Star Cast for Hunter S. Thompson's The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved
Bill Frisell is featured on Shawn Colvin's new CD All Fall Down. In addition to adding his signature guitar work to seven songs on the project, he also co-wrote the track "Anne of the Thousand Days" with Shawn.
Bill also recently composed and arranged music to help bring to life a definitive performance of an all time classic piece of journalism, The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved by Hunter S. Thompson. An all-star cast lead by Tim Robbins, Ralph Steadman, Annie Ross, John Joyce III, Will Forte and Rosebud's Dr. John add spoken word to this Hal Wilner produced project on 429 Records. Originally published in Scanlon's Monthly in June of 1970, this article is the quintessential example of Thompson's uniquely humorous and piercing insight - and the piece that inspired the term Gonzo Journalism. Rolling Stone calls the record the "the Robert Altman of all-star concept LPs." Original illustration is also provided by Ralph Steadman.
Catch Bill Frisell live on stage throughout the summer and look for a package tour with Lucinda Williams with details to be announced later in the year. Please see tour dates >>
MAY 2012: Bill Frisell Receives Prestigious Doris Duke Performing Artists Award and Nominations for 2012 Jazz Awards
Adding yet another highlight to an already illustrious career, noted Jazz Guitarist/Composer/Arranger Bill Frisell has been named as one of the first Recipients of an unrestricted grant of $225,000 from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Program Director Rachel Ford stated, "This first class of 21 Doris Duke Artists is known for creating work that inspires and challenges audiences from across the country, and indeed around the globe...At its heart, this award recognizes the important contributions of these performing artists to the dynamic cultural fabric of our nation." The Doris Duke Performing Artists Awards winners were drawn from the disciplines of contemporary dance, jazz, theatre and multidisciplinary and will share $5.775 million to use for artistic creation, audience development, and retirement support. Frisell and other recipients were chosen anonymously by their peers based on having demonstrated "exceptional creativity, ongoing self-challenge and the continuing potential to make significant contributions to their fields in the future." For more information on the Doris Duke Performing Artists Awards, visit DDPAA.org.
Bill has also been nominated for two Jazz Journalist Association's 2012 Jazz Awards in Guitarist of the Year and Photo of the Year categories. Already a six time winner as Guitarist of the Year, Frisell shares this year's nomination with Jon Scofield, Mary Halvorson, and Pat Metheny. Bill shares the Photo of The Year nomination with fellow Rosebud Artist Trombone Shorty among many others. This year's winners will be announced at The Blue Note, NYC on June 20. For more information, visit JJAJAZZAWARDS.org.
These accolades come on the heels of Bill's latest CD release, FLORATONE II (March 3, Savoy Jazz). This Fall, Frisell assumes duties as SFJAZZ Center's Inaugural Artistic Director (sharing responsibilities with co-directors Regina Carter, Jason Moran, John Santos and Miguel Zenón). With forty-five albums as part in his repertoire, Bill continues to tour extensively worldwide in various formats which currently include The Beautiful Dreamers, All We Are Saying: Bill Frisell Explores the Music of John Lennon, and The Great Flood - performing the musical accompaniment to Bill Morrison's movie of the same name (see shows detail). Catch Bill Frisell live on stage. Please see tour dates >>
MARCH 2012: Bonnie Raitt's New Album Features Bill Frisell and Cover of Loudon Wainwright III Song, Plus Mavis Staples Joins Bonnie's Summer Tour
FEBRUARY 2012: Bill Frisell's Latest Album Project Floratone II with Matt Chamberlain, Lee Townsend and Tucker Martine Out March 6
Bill Frisell's latest album project, Floratone II, will be released March 6 on Savoy Jazz. Floratone is a collaborative ensemble featuring Bill on guitar, Matt Chamberlain on drums/percussion and producers Lee Townsend (Bill's longtime producer and manager) and Tucker Martine. This album follows up their highly acclaimed 2007 debut, of which NPR raved, "Floratone creates an exotic new language... some of the most riveting instrumental music to emerge this year."
Both albums were created in the artist-producer team spirit of Miles Davis' Bitches Brew, with Bill and Matt laying down musical themes and Lee and Tucker adding and shaping the music while assembling the compositions. Bill says of the process, "Playing with Matt was really effortless. We just played for hours with no thought, no preparation, just having fun and generating all this stuff. It's this kind of guilty pleasure: 'OK, Lee and Tucker, now you have to deal with all of this' ...it was a cool feeling to give that over to them and let them go full tilt." Additional musical Collaborators on the project include trumpeter Ron Miles, viola by Eyvind Kang (both featured on Floratone's debut and frequent Frisell collaborators), bassist Mike Elizondo and keyboards by Jon Brion. Always a prolific musician in the studio, in 2011 alone Bill's album projects included his explorations of John Lennon songs, All We Are Saying; his album Sign of Life: Music for the 858 Quartet and collaborations with Vinicius Cantuaria on Lagrimas Mexicanas and on Buddy Miller's Majestic Silver Strings with Marc Ribot and Greg Leisz.
Bill's All We Are Saying recently ranked #1 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Chart and has been in the Top 10 regularly since it's September release. For True by Trombone Shorty has been in the Contemporary Jazz Top 10 since it's debut, with 12 weeks at #1.
Related Rosebud Agency wins in the Rhythms Readers Poll include: Tinariwen's album Tassili, voted World Music Album of the Year (International) - it features The Dirty Dozen Brass Band's Gregory Davis (Trumpet) and Roger Lewis (Saxophone); HBO's Treme won for Soundtrack (International), it includes songs by Trombone Shorty and Dr. John; and Tom Waits' Bad As Me won #2 Album of the Year (International), which features Charlie Musselwhite on five tracks. Congratulations to all the winners!
Check out Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Bill Frisell perform individually live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>
FEBRUARY 2012: Featured On NPR: Ruthie Foster (Weekend Edition) and Bill Frisell (Tiny Desk Concert)
Ruthie Foster and Bill Frisell were both recently featured on NPR and both appearances are still accessible via these links. Ruthie was interviewed on Weekend Edition on February 4th . The piece focused on her new album Let It Burn. Bill performed a Tiny Desk Concert at the NPR Music offices which premiered February 3rd. NPR noted of the set, "The brilliant and nimble guitarist reinvents the songs of John Lennon" - and this is the subject of Bill's latest album, All We Are Saying.
Ruthie's Let It Burn rocketed to the Top 10 on Amazon's sales chart as well as #1 in Blues on iTunes and Amazon during it's first week of release. The album features The Blind Boys of Alabama, soul legend William Bell, The Funky Meters bassist George Porter Jr. and drummer Russell Batiste, guitarist Dave Easley, saxophonist James Rivers, and organist Ike Stubblefield (Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Eric Clapton). It covers an eclectic group of songs originally performed by Adele, The Black Keys, Los Lobos, Johnny Cash, The Band, Pete Seeger, Crosby, Stills & Nash, John Martyn, Robbie Robertson, and several new Ruthie Foster compositions.
Bill's All We Are Saying recently ranked #1 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Chart and has been in the Top 10 regularly since it's September release. Joining Bill on the album are frequent collaborators Jenny Scheinman (violin), Tony Scherr (bass), Greg Leisz (guitars) and Kenny Wollesen (drums). Bill's interpretations of classic Lennon songs include: "Across the Universe," "Revolution," "Nowhere Man," "Imagine," "Please Please Me," "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," "Hold On," "In My Life," "Come Together," "Julia," "Woman," "# 9 Dream," "Love," "Beautiful Boy," "Mother," and "Give Peace a Chance."
Catch Ruthie touring extensively across the US and Bill performing in a wide variety of formats, please see Tour Dates >>
JANUARY 2012: Rosebud Artists Recognized In Village Voice 2011 Pazz & Jop Poll
Albums and singles released by Rosebud artists last year are recognized in the 2011 Village Voice Pazz & Jop Music Critics Poll, which calculated 700 critics' votes for their Top 10 albums and singles of the year.
Also recognized on the list:
• Buddy Miller's Majestic Silver Strings album which features Bill Frisell as well as a single from the album, "Meds"
• Ben Waters, Boogie 4 Stu: A Tribute to Ian Stewart, which features Rosebud Artist Charlie Watts
• Tom Waits' Bad As Me album, which features Charlie Musselwhite, as well as all five singles from the album that Charlie guests on ("Satisfied," "Bad As Me," "Hell Broke Luce," "Chicago" and "Raised Right Man")
• Steve Cropper's Dedicated: A Salute to the 5 Royales, which features Bettye LaVette
Congratulations to all the artists! Check them out live on a stage near you, please see Tour Dates >>
NOVEMBER 2011: Rosebud Artists Score DownBeat Readers Poll Honors Once Again
Rosebud Artists once again were honored by fans in this year's DownBeat magazineReaders Poll (December issue), with Bill Frisell, Trombone Shorty (who's also featured in this issue's cover story), Allen Toussaint, Dr. John (who Rosebud represents for International booking outside the U.S. and Canada), Bettye LaVette, Charlie Musselwhite and Mavis Staples all placing high in a number of categories.
Bill Frisell scored high in three categories, placing in the top 10 Jazz Albums of the Year for Beautiful Dreamers, in the top 5 for Best Guitarist (a category he has won 3 times in the past) and among the Best Beyond Albums for his collaboration with Vinicius Cantuária, Lagrimas Mexicanas.
Dr. John, Bettye LaVette and Charlie Musselwhite were honored in two categories each. They were all voted among the top Best Blues Artists. In addition, Dr. John was among the Best Beyond Artists, Bettye's Interpretations - The British Rock Songbook was among the Best Beyond Albums and Charlie's The Well was voted among the Best Blues Albums.
Congratulations to all! Catch all of these artists individually live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>
OCTOBER 2011: Trombone Shorty and Bill Frisell Top Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart Pieta Brown and Duke Robillard Top Folk and Blues Radio Charts
As Trombone Shorty's new For True CD holds down the #1 spot on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Album Chart for the 3rd straight week since it's release, he is joined at the top (debuting at #2) by Bill Frisell's All We Are Saying, his new album exploring the songs of John Lennon. In addition, Trombone Shorty's major label debut, the GRAMMY-nominated Backatown, remains in the top 10, a full 76 weeks after its release, with 10 of those weeks at #1. In the meantime, Pieta Brown's Mercury continues to reign at #1 on the Roots Music Radio Folk Chart while Duke Robillard continues in the top 3 on the Blues Radio Chart with his latest, Low Down and Tore Up.
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue have toured relentlessly since the release of Backatown in April 2010. They've performed on five continents as well as making numerous TV, radio, festival and major concert appearances. The new For True album includes guests Jeff Beck, Kid Rock, Ledisi, Warren Haynes, Lenny Kravitz, Ivan and Cyril Neville, The Rebirth Brass Band, 5th Ward Weebie and more.
The Wall Street Journal calls Bill Frisell "the most innovative and influential jazz guitarist of the past 25 years," while DownBeat proclaims he has "the best recorded output of the decade." Bill has been honored as Best Guitarist 10 times in the DownBeat Critics Poll, including his win this year. All We Are Saying is already his fourth album project this year, following collaborations with Vinicius Cantuaria on Lagrimas Mexicanas and on Buddy Miller's Majestic Silver Strings with Marc Ribot and Greg Leisz, in addition to his own Sign of Life: Music for the 858 Quartet.
Catch Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Bill Frisell, Pieta Brown and Duke Robillard individually live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>
JULY 2011: Bill Frisell Explores The Songs Of John Lennon On New Album All We Are Saying - Out September 27, 2011
Bill Frisell explores the songs of John Lennon on his new album, All We Are Saying, set for release on September 27, 2011. Frisell 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.
All We Are Sayinghas long been in the works - one could say as far back as the first time Bill heard the Beatles at the age of 13. 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."
Songs featured on the CD include: "Across the Universe," "Revolution," "Nowhere Man," "Imagine," "Please Please Me," "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," "Hold On," "In My Life," "Come Together," "Julia, Woman," "# 9 Dream," "Love," "Beautiful Boy," "Mother," and "Give Peace a Chance."
A Grammy winner and three-time nominee including a 2009 nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Bill is also a 10-time Best Guitarist winner in the DOWNBEAT Critics Poll (including 2011) and three-time DOWNBEAT Readers Poll winner for Best Guitarist. He was voted as Jazz Awards Guitarist of the Year 2008 & 2009 and Guitarist of the Year Nominee 2010 & 2011.
You can see Bill performing live throughout the U.S. now through March 2012, please see Tour Dates >>
JULY 2011: Bill Frisell Honored With 10TH DownBeat Critics Poll Win For Guitarist of the Year - Allen Toussaint, Trombone Shorty, Bettye LaVette, Dr. John, Charlie Musselwhite, Mavis Staples Also Recognized
Bill Frisell has been honored for the tenth time in fourteen years as Guitarist of the Year in the DownBeat Critics Poll (August 2011 issue). This is Bill's third win in a row as Best Guitarist. Bill was also recognized in the Beyond Album category with Vinicius Cantuária for their duo album, Lagrimas Mexicanas. In addition, Allen Toussaint, Trombone Shorty, Bettye LaVette, Dr. John, Charlie Musselwhite and Mavis Staples were all also recognized in the Critics Poll.
Allen Toussaint was named in the Arranger category; Trombone Shorty was recognized in both the Trombone and Rising Star: Trombone categories. Bettye LaVette, Dr. John and Charlie Musselwhite were all named in the Blues Artist category. Charlie received an additional nod in the Blues Album category, while Dr. John was also named in the Beyond Artist category. Mavis Staples and Bettye LaVette were both recognized in the Beyond Album category. The late Muddy Waters (a Rosebud artist until his passing) was also named as one of the finalists for induction into the Hall of Fame.
As usual, many of Bill Frisell's frequent and recent collaborators were also honored: Jason Moran was awarded Jazz Artist Of The Year, Jazz Album Of The Year, and Piano of the Year, as well as being named in the Rising Star: Jazz Artist, Composer and Rising Star: Composer categories; Joe Lovano Us Five was awarded Jazz Group of the Year and Joe was also named in the Jazz Artist, Jazz Album, Soprano and Tenor Saxophone categories; Paul Motian was awarded Drummer of the Year and he was also named in the Hall of Fame and Jazz Artist categories; Dave Holland was awarded Acoustic Bass of the Year and was named in the Jazz Album, Composer, Arranger and Jazz Group categories; Jenny Scheinman was named in the Violin category; and Bill's Manager and Producer, Lee Townsend, was named in both the Producer and Rising Star: Producer categories.
Congratulations to all the artists! Catch all the Rosebud artists performing live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>
JUNE 2011: Bill Frisell To Play TEDxGoldenGateED June 11th - Bill Named Among New SFJAZZ Center's Inaugural Artistic Directors
Bill Frisell will play at TEDxGoldenGateED on June 11, 2011 in Richmond, CA, located on the edge of the San Francisco Bay overlooking the city's skyline. In addition, the SFJAZZ Center recently named Bill as an Inaugural Artistic Director to oversee programming and performances beginning Fall 2012 at it's new permanent Center in San Francisco.
Bill will be featured performing at TEDxGoldenGateED, Teach Compassion: Educating Hearts and Minds on June 11th. TEDxGoldenGateED also includes a diverse field of speakers, discussing what science tells us about compassion and empathy, and how compassion improves learning. There will be chances to meet people who teach compassion explicitly, and others whose creative and vital work is deeply informed by it.
TED is an annual event where some of the world's leading thinkers and doers are invited to share what they are most passionate about. Past speakers have included Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Frank Gehry, Paul Simon, Sir Richard Branson, Philippe Starck and Bono. "TED" stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. TEDx is a local, self-organized event where x = independently organized. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program.
Bill has also been named as an Inaugural Artistic Director for the SFJAZZ Center. Along with fellow Artistic Directors Regina Carter, Jason Moran, John Santos and Miguel Zenón, he will oversee programming and performances beginning Fall 2012 at the new permanent SFJAZZ Center, the West Coast's first stand-alone facility designed expressly for jazz. Throughout the season, each director will individually oversee two weeks of programming and performing at the Center. During their two week term, each director will spend one week in residence collaborating with students, attending listening parties and performing for audiences. Selected based on their career, commitment to jazz and understanding of the SFJAZZ mission, the current Artistic Directors will stay onboard with SFJAZZ for two years. SFJAZZ, founded in 1983, is the largest nonprofit presenter of jazz in the western United States. The new state-of-the-art facility will be the country's first stand-alone building for jazz. It will present world class artists in concert throughout the year, nurture young musicians' development and promote music education through jazz outreach programs to Bay Area students and adults.
In the first half of 2011 alone, Bill has already released a duo album with with Brazilian singer-songwriter / guitarist / percussionist Vinicius Cantuária titled Lagrimas Mexicanas; was a featured member on Buddy Miller's Majestic Silver Strings album, with fellow guitarists Marc Ribot and Greg Leisz; and released his own album of compositions, Sign of Life: Music for the 858 Quartet, featuring Jenny Scheinman (violin), Eyvind Kang (viola), and Hank Roberts (cello). Always a prolific musician in the studio, there is more music on the way from Bill. He's at work recording his interpretations of John Lennon songs (set for September 2011 release) and there is another Floratone album in the works - Bill's collaboration with Matt Chamberlain, Tucker Martine and Lee Townsend. Catch Bill performing live on stage in a myriad of formats, please see Tour Dates >>
MAY 2011: Bill Frisell Nominated for Guitarist of the Year at the 2011 Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards
Bill Frisell has been nominated once again for Guitarist of the Year at the 2011 Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards . Bill has been honored with this award six times in the past. In addition, many of Bill's collaborators are nominated this year, including Paul Motian (drums); Joe Lovano (sax); Ron Carter (bass); Jason Moran (piano); and Jenny Scheinman (violin). The winners will be announced at a benefit Gala at City Winery in New York City on June 11, 2011. The winners are chosen by the votes of the professional journalist members of the JJA, the non-profit professional organization of jazz writers, broadcasters, photographers and new media producers.
Just four months into 2011, Bill had already released a duo album with with Brazilian singer-songwriter / guitarist / percussionist Vinicius Cantuária titled Lagrimas Mexicanas; was a featured member on Buddy Miller's Majestic Silver Strings album, with fellow guitarists Marc Ribot and Greg Leisz; and released his own album of compositions, Sign of Life: Music for the 858 Quartet. Joining Bill in the 858 Quartet are Jenny Scheinman (violin), Eyvind Kang (viola), and Hank Roberts (cello).
MARCH 2011: Bill Frisell's New Sign of Life: Music for the 858 Quartet Out April 26th
Bill Frisell will be release Sign of Life: Music for the 858 Quartet (Savoy Jazz) on April 26, 2011. The 858 Quartet features Jenny Scheinman (violin), Eyvind Kang (viola), and Hank Roberts (cello). The ensemble was conceived when Bill was commissioned to compose music inspired by artist Gerhard Richter's 858 series of paintings, which were exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. It was here that the group debuted in January 2003. Bill says of the 858 string quartet, "I write the music down on paper. It is difficult to say what is composed, orchestrated, improvised, or arranged. I don't really have to tell anyone what to do. It is a musical language alive and changing all the time... growing and developing." This is Bill's third album project released so far this year (following a collaboration with Vinicius Cantuaria - Lagrimas Mexicanas - and Buddy Miller's Majestic Silver Strings with Marc Ribot and Greg Leisz) and he's not done yet. Bill is at work recording his interpretations of John Lennon songs, set for release in September 2011. There is also another Floratone album on the way, Bill's collaboration with Matt Chamberlain, Tucker Martine and Lee Townsend, scheduled for March 2012 release.
The New Yorker has noted: "Bill Frisell plays the guitar like Miles Davis played the trumpet: in the hands of such radical thinkers, their instruments simply become different animals. And, like Davis, Frisell loves to have a lot of legroom when he improvises - - the space that terrifies others quickens his blood."
Catch Bill performing live on stage: he embarks on a 10 date European Tour with his Disfarmer Project in mid-March (with a band that also features fellow Rosebud artist, Carrie Rodriguez); he will also play a 12 night residency at the Village Vanguard in New York City with his Beautiful Dreamers project beginning in mid-April, among many other shows in a wide variety of formats. please see Tour Dates >>
FEBRUARY 2011: Bill Frisell Featured On Buddy Miller's Majestic Silver Strings - Album Out March 1st
Bill Frisell is featured on a new project, Buddy Miller's Majestic Silver Strings, to be released on CD, with a bonus DVD, March 1, 2011. Also featured are fellow guitarists Marc Ribot and Greg Leisz. Together, Bill, Buddy, Marc and Greg are the Majestic Silver Strings. Rounding out the band are Dennis Crouch (bass) and Jay Bellerose (drums). Guest vocalists on the album include Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin, Lee Ann Womack, Chocolate Genius and Julie Miller. Produced by Buddy, the project is his re-imagination of country songs. A bonus DVD with concert footage of the first and only performance to date with Bill, Buddy, Marc, and Greg playing the tracks selected for this project, will be included with the CD.
Always a prolific musician in the studio (lauded by Downbeat as having "the best recorded output of the decade"), Bill has just released an album collaboration with Brazilian singer-songwriter / guitarist / percussionist Vinicius Cantuária titled Lagrimas Mexicanas. The duo will tour together for select dates in February, before Bill embarks on a European tour in March with his Disfarmer Project, featuring Greg Leisz, Viktor Krauss and fellow Rosebud artist, Carrie Rodriquez. Catch Bill live on stage, in all of his various, distinctive band configurations, please see Tour Dates >>
JANUARY 2011: Rosebud Artists Recognized In Village Voice 2010 Pazz & Jop Poll
Eleven albums and six singles released by Rosebud artists last year are recognized in the 2010 Village Voice Pazz & Jop Music Critics Poll, which calculated 712 critics' votes for the most important music of the year.
Listed among the year's top singles are: Mavis Staples, "You Are Not Alone" and "Last Train" Bettye LaVette, "Salt of the Earth" Trombone Shorty, "On Your Way Down," "Backatown" and "Something Beautiful"
Also recognized on the album list:
- Elvis Costello's National Ransom, which features Jim Lauderdale and for which Jim co-wrote the song "I Lost You."
- Cyndi Lauper's GRAMMY Nominated Memphis Blues which features Charlie Musselwhite and Allen Toussaint
In addition, Captain Beefheart's "Big Eyed Beans From Venus" reissue was recognized in the year's top singles list. The late Captain Beefheart was a Rosebud artist until his retirement in 1981.
Adding yet another highlight to an already illustrious career, noted Jazz Guitarist/Composer/Arranger 
Bill has also been named as an Inaugural Artistic Director for the SFJAZZ Center. Along with fellow Artistic Directors Regina Carter, Jason Moran, John Santos and Miguel Zenón, he will oversee programming and performances beginning Fall 2012 at the new permanent SFJAZZ Center, the West Coast's first stand-alone facility designed expressly for jazz. Throughout the season, each director will individually oversee two weeks of programming and performing at the Center. During their two week term, each director will spend one week in residence collaborating with students, attending listening parties and performing for audiences. Selected based on their career, commitment to jazz and understanding of the SFJAZZ mission, the current Artistic Directors will stay onboard with SFJAZZ for two years. SFJAZZ, founded in 1983, is the largest nonprofit presenter of jazz in the western United States. The new state-of-the-art facility will be the country's first stand-alone building for jazz. It will present world class artists in concert throughout the year, nurture young musicians' development and promote music education through jazz outreach programs to Bay Area students and adults.
