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Bill Frisell and Vinicius Cantuária's new album, Lagrimas Mexicanas, epitomizes a union of extraordinary musicians. Through the blending of emotive rhythms and harmonies, and the melding of classic and experimental sounds, the two artists have found an easy home with one another. Lagrimas Mexicanas is scheduled for release on January 25, 2011 via Entertainment One Music. The Wall Street Journal calls Frisell "the most innovative and influential jazz guitarist of the past 25 years", while Time Out London calls Cantuária "a supremely cool Brazilian singer-songwriter/guitarist/percussionist who never wastes a note." The duo will tour together in February including performances at Yoshi's in Oakland (February 16 &17), Le Poisson Rouge in New York City (February 19) and the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis (February 22). Please see Tour Dates >>

illustration by Ken Fallin

Bill Frisell scored raves from the Wall St. Journal in a November 3rd feature article (With a Country Twang, Cultural Conversation with Bill Frisell): "Bill Frisell is the most innovative and influential jazz guitarist of the past 25 years... With more than 35 recordings released, he is one of the most emulated musicians in jazz... His signature sound - pungent, almost mournfully low and reverberant - is one of the most readily identifiable in jazz today." Read the full article here.

Bill also scored high once again in Downbeat magazine's annual Reader's Poll (December issue). This year he came in at #3 Best Guitarist (a category he has won 3 times in the past). Bill was also voted as one of the top ten Best Composers and his album, Disfarmer, placed #12 for Best Jazz Album. As usual, a number of Bill's frequent collaborators were also voted among the best on their respective instruments.

Catch Bill live on stage, please see Tour Dates >>

JULY 2010: Bill Frisell Again Honored As Guitarist Of The Year & Other Rosebud Artists Score In Downbeat's 58th Annual Critics Poll

Bill Frisell has been honored for the ninth time in thirteen years as Guitarist of the Year in Downbeat magazine's 58th Annual Critics Poll (August 2010 issue). Bill is also named among the top overall Jazz Artists of the Year. Many of Bill's frequent and recent collaborators were honored as well: Joe Lovano was named #1 in the Jazz Artist, Group and Tenor Sax categories; also ranking high were Jason Moran (Piano, Piano - Rising Star, Composer - Rising Star), Sam Yahel (Organ, Organ - Rising Star), Jim Hall (Guitar), Russell Malone (Guitar), Marc Ribot (Guitar), Ron Carter (Acoustic Bass), Jack DeJohnette (Drums), Paul Motian (Drums), Jenny Scheinman (Violin) and also ranked #1 for Violin - Rising Star, Eyvind Kang (Violin - Rising Star) and Lee Townsend in the category of Producer - Rising Star. Lee is also Bill's manager and member of their side project Floratone.

Other Rosebud Artists honored with high rankings in the poll are Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews in the Trombone - Rising Star category for the 2nd year in a row, Bettye LaVette in the Blues Artist category for the 2nd year in a row, Tommy Castro in the Blues Album category for Hard Believer, Allen Toussaint in the Jazz Album category for The Bright Mississippi and Muddy Waters, who was a Rosebud artist until his passing, in the Hall of Fame category.

Congratulations to all!

Bill Frisell will release his new CD Beautiful Dreamers (Savoy Jazz) on August 31, 2010. Joining Bill on this project are Eyvind Kang on viola and Rudy Royston on drums. They first performed together as a trio in 2008. Produced by longtime collaborator and manager, Lee Townsend, the disc includes both original compositions and reinterpretations of songs by Blind Willie Johnson and Benny Goodman among others. A Grammy winner and perennial Best Jazz Guitarist award winner, Frisell says of the project, "I'm so fortunate having the chance to play music with Eyvind and Rudy and having an audience willing to go along for the latest adventure. I'm the luckiest guy in the world being surrounded by all these folks who have so much faith and trust in the music, helping me to make my dreams come true."

Catch Bill live on stage performing in a variety of formats, please see Tour Dates >>

APRIL 2010: Bill Frisell Nominated For Guitarist of the Year At The JJA Jazz Awards, Yoshi's Residency

Bill Frisell has been nominated for Guitarist of the Year at the 2010 Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Awards which will be presented at City Winery in New York City on June 14, 2010. Bill has won this award six times in the past, including the last two years in a row. In addition, many of Bill's collaborators are nominated this year: Ron Carter (bass); Jason Moran (piano); Paul Motian (drums) and Jenny Scheinman (violin).

A recent four-night residency at Oakland, CA's Yoshi's Jazz Club highlighted Bill's wide variety of formats each night. The first night previewed an upcoming CD project featuring Buddy Miller, Marc Ribot, Greg Leisz, Tony Scherr and Kenny Wollesen with guest vocals by Shawn Colvin and Patty Griffin. The following evening Bill showcased his Music for Films and on the third night Bill's
Quintet played the music of John Lennon. On the final night, Bill debuted a new trio featuring Jason Moran and Kenny Wollesen. Bill begins a 12 night run at New York City's Village Vanguard on May 4, followed by shows in Germany and Canada in June, please see Tour Dates >>

JANUARY 2010: Rosebud Artists Recognized In Village Voice 2009 Pazz & Jop Poll

Six albums and three singles released by Rosebud artists last year are recognized in the Village Voice 2009 Pazz & Jop Poll, which calculated 697 music critics' votes for the most important music of the year.

Listed among the year's top singles are:
Booker T., "Hey Ya" & "Space City"
Meshell Ndegeocello, "Mass Transit"

In addition, two Rosebud artists were featured band members on two albums and one single of recognition: Jon Cleary (John Scofield's Piety Street) and Jim Lauderdale (Elvis Costello's Secret, Profane & Sugarcane and the song "Sulphur to Sugarcane"). Also of note are recognition for releases by Rosebud artist Charlie Watts' other band (The Rolling Stones, Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out reissue) and Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood, Live at Madison Square Garden, which features three songs penned by JJ Cale.

Congratulations to all! Catch these artists live, please see Tour Dates >>

Rosebud Artists Score Year and Decade End Honors ... read more >>

DECEMBER 2009: Bill Frisell, Mavis Staples, Allen Toussaint CDs Recognized Among Best of the 2000's by Downbeat Magazine - Frisell #2 Jazz CD of the Decade Per London Times

CDs by Bill Frisell, Mavis Staples and Allen Toussaint have been recognized among Downbeat Magazine's Best of the 2000's, published in their January 2010 issue. Bill Frisell has four CDs on the list: Ghost Town (2000), Blues Dream (2001), East/West (2005) and History, Mystery (2008). Also honored are Have A Little Faith (2005) by Mavis Staples and Allen Toussaint's GRAMMY nominated The Bright Mississippi (2009). The list also names two historical releases featuring future Rosebud artists: Stax/Volt Revue Live In Norway 1967 DVD featuring Booker T. & the MGs and Newport Folk Festival: Best of the Blues 1959-1968 Box Set, which features performances by Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker, who were both Rosebud artists until their passing.

Bill Frisell's East/West was honored with similar praise from the London Times, where was rated #2 on their "Best Jazz Albums of the Noughties" list.

Catch Bill, Mavis and Allen live on stage, please see    Bill Frisell Tour Dates >>    Mavis Staples Tour Dates >>    Allen Toussaint Tour Dates >>

DECEMBER 2009: Rosebud Artists Nominated for 10 Blues Music Awards

Duke Robillard, Tommy Castro, Bettye LaVette and Ruthie Foster have been nominated for a total of 10 Blues Music Awards. The 31st Blues Music Awards will take place at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, TN on May 6, 2010. Rosebud artist nominations are as follows:

Duke Robillard and Tommy Castro both have four nominations each. Duke is nominated for Album of the Year for Stomp! The Blues Tonight, Band of the Year, Best Instrumentalist - Guitar and Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year. Tommy is nominated for B.B. King Entertainer of the Year, Band of the Year, Contemporary Blues Album of the Year for Hard Believer and Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year. Bettye LaVette and Ruthie Fosterare both nominated for Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year. In addition, Duke produced 10 of the 12 tracks and guests on one song on Album of the Year / Contemporary Blues Album of The Year nominee Between a Rock and the Blues by Joe Louis Walker.

Other Rosebud related nominations are, in the Instrumentalist - Horn category: longtime Tommy Castro Band saxophonist Keith Crossan and Deanna Bogart, who plays in the Rosebud booked Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue with Tommy Castro. Nominated in the Historical Album of the Year category are: Muddy Waters' Authorized Bootleg and Little Walter's The Complete Chess Masters, featuring hit compositions by Willie Dixon. Both Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon were Rosebud artists until their passing. Nominated in the Acoustic Album of the Year category is: Things About Comin' My Way - A Tribute to the music of the Mississippi Sheiks, which features songs by Rosebud artists John Hammond and Bill Frisell.

Congratulations to all the nominees!

AUGUST 2009: Bill Frisell Original Music Featured On Buster Keaton DVD, New Frisell Solo DVD

Original music by Bill Frisell is featured on a new Buster Keaton DVD to be released September 1, 2009. The DVD includes music scores that Bill was commissioned to perform live in 1992-93 with three Keaton films: Go West, One Week and High Sign featured here. Following one performance, the New York Times noted, "Mr. Frisell's scores perfectly balance the need to be abstract and the need to be literal... [He has] recurring motifs that suggest the new American possibility of the time, motifs redolent of the sort of optimism heard in some country music, blues and jazz."

Also new from Frisell is Solos: The Jazz Sessions, a Bill Frisell solo DVD recording session filmed at the Berkeley Church in Toronto, Canada by director Daniel Berman. In this rare solo session, Bill performs original tunes as well as classics by Bob Dylan, Hank Willams, George and Ira Gershwin, and traditional Americana songs. Solos features an intimate look into his electric guitar and looping wizardry, and includes an exclusive interview with Bill.

Catch Bill Frisell performing live on stage in a variety of formats.

JULY 2009: Bill Frisell Honored As Guitarist Of The Year & Other Rosebud Artists Score In Downbeat's 57th Annual Critics Poll

Other Rosebud Artists also scored top ten rankings in the poll including Marcia Ball in the category of Blues Artist - Rising Star, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews for Trombone - Rising Star, and Bettye LaVette as one of the top Blues Artists.

Congratulations to all!

JULY 2009: Bill Frisell, Duke Robillard and Marcia Ball NPR Features

Bill Frisell, Duke Robillard and Marcia Ball are all featured on separateNPR programs in the coming weeks:

Bill Frisell's new album, Disfarmer, out July 21 on Nonesuch Records, was chosen as an Exclusive First Listen on NPR's website. Recently named Guitarist of the Year for the second year in a row by the Jazz Journalists Association, Bill's new CD showcases "evocative original themes and motifs here, surrounded by backgrounds sounding distant echoes of country, bluegrass and old-time mountain music" per NPR's Patrick Jarenwattananon. The Disfarmer project began as a touring multimedia work, with Bill scoring a slideshow of images from photographer Mike Disfarmer (1884-1959). Bill is joined on the CD by Greg Leisz (steel guitars, mandolin) Jenny Scheinman (violin) and Viktor Krauss (bass).

Duke Robillard's performance at the Mountain Stage radio show in Charleston, WV is scheduled to be broadcast beginning the weekend of July 24-26. It will also be archived in it's entirety. For a complete list of stations that carry Mountain Stage please click here. Duke, four-time Best Blues Guitarist winner at the Blues Music Awards, recently released Stomp! The Blues Tonight, which he describes as "Blues / classic-rhythm-and-blues, basically where I started in my Roomful of Blues days."

Marcia Ball will appear live on Mountain Stage on August 9, 2009 at the Clay Center in Charleston, WV. For detailed information, please click here. Also on the bill are Hill Country Revue, Cracker, Other Lives and Maia Sharp. Marcia, a four-time Grammy nominee, won her fourth Pinetop Perkins Best Piano Player Award in the past five years at the Blues Music Awards. Marcia was also recently nominated for Most Outstanding Musician, Keyboard in the upcoming Living Blues Awards, a category she has won the last two years.

JUNE 2009: Bill Frisell Repeats As Guitarist of the Year In Jazz Journalists Association Poll

Bill Frisell was honored as Guitarist of the Year for the second year in a row by the Jazz Journalists Association. The Jazz Award ceremonies were held in New York City June, 16 2009. Frequent collaborator Brian Blade won the award for Drummer of the Year. The Grammy Award winning artist is preparing to release his new album, Disfarmer, on July 21,2009 through Nonesuch Records. Frisell is joined on the record by long-time musical collaborators Greg Leisz (steel guitars, mandolin) Jenny Scheinman (violin) and Viktor Krauss (bass). Catch Bill Frisell on tour throughout the year.

JUNE 2009:Bill Frisell's Disfarmer Set for July 21 Release

Grammy Award-winning guitarist, composer and bandleader Bill Frisell will release his new CD Disfarmer on July 21, 2009 (Nonesuch Records). The album is inspired by the artist and photographer known as Disfarmer, who recorded stark black-and-white photographic portraits of his fellow townspeople in the rural community of Heber Springs, Arkansas, during the 1940s-1950s. Decades after the photographer's passing, a cache of work made by this solitary and oft-reviled man was rediscovered, and he has come to be regarded as an important outsider artist. Frisell himself says "I was blown away when I saw his photos for the first time and started to learn a little about his life. What a fantastic story...I try to picture what went on in Disfarmer's mind. How did he really feel about the people in this town? What was he thinking? What did he see? We'll never know, but as I write the music, I'd like to imagine it coming from his point of view. The sound of him looking through the lens." Frisell is joined on the record by long-time musical collaborators Greg Leisz (steel guitars, mandolin) Jenny Scheinman (violin) and Viktor Krauss (bass).

FEBRUARY 2009: Marcia Ball and Albert Collins Honored With Blues Music Awards, John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" Inducted Into Blues Hall of Fame

The Best of Bill Frisell, Vol. 1: Folk Songs will be released by Nonesuch Records February 24, 2009. This first release in a series of compilations drawn from Bill Frisell's catalog spotlights his idiosyncratic excursions into country and traditional folk. "It's hard to find a more fruitful meditation on American music than in the compositions of guitarist Bill Frisell," says the New York Times. The collection features appearances by frequent collaborators Viktor Krauss, Wayne Horvitz, Kermit Driscoll, Joey Baron, Kenny Wollesen, Jim Keltner and Ry Cooder. In late January 2009, Bill was the subject of a feature article in the The New Yorker, which describes him as "the fearless and adaptable guitarist Bill Frisell, whose varied endeavors have drawn him into free-form extemporizations, symphonic collaborations, hard and soft rock, country, and accompaniments for Buster Keaton silent films ..."

JANUARY 2009: Bill Frisell New Releases Including Download Series and Live DVD

Bill Frisell has initiated a unique monthly download series of live recordings available on Bill's website. The first offering was recorded at the Ruhr Triennale Festival in Bochum, Germany on May 22, 2004. The second in the series has just been released, a classic solo performance from Grace Cathedral in San Francisco recorded on March 16, 2007.

Bill has also released a DVD of a 2004 solo session from the atmospheric Berkeley Church in Toronto. The film is beautifully shot by Director Daniel Berman.

In other recording news, Bill collaborates with one of his musical mentors, the legendary guitarist Jim Hall on the recently released Hemispheres, a double CD on the Artist Share label. One CD showcases Bill and Jim's duo collaboration while the other disc features the two artists in a quartet format with Scott Colley on bass and Joey Baron on drums.

For more details or to purchase these new releases, please visit Bill's website. Catch Bill live on the road, please see tour dates >>

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