Vinicius Cantuaria & Bill Frisell: Lagrimas Mexicanas (2011)

Bill Frisell and Vinicius Cantuaria‘s new album, Lagrimas Mexicanas, epitomizes a union of extraordinary musicians. Frisell’s and Cantuaria’s own music have clearly distinctive origins, but with complimentary styles. 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. – JamBase

At Ronnie Scott’s last week, American guitarist Bill Frisell and Brazilian singer-songwriter Vinicius Cantuaria captivated the crowd, yet couldn’t quite capture the nuance and texture of this remarkable album. Lagrimas Mexicanas is Cantuaria’s collection of aural snapshots of Hispanic life in New York, traditional Latin materials sublimely transformed by cross-genre borrowings, which Frisell colours from his inimitable palette of jazz, blues and country sounds. Balefully angular electric guitar lines, bent-synth noises and bluesy wah-wah effects crisscross the coolly confessional Mi Declaracion. There’s a rockabilly feel to Cafezinho, a choral glow to El Camino (with Frisell making huge chiming sounds like churchbells), a Beatlesesque pop-ballad lilt to Lagrimas de Amor, and a Scott Joplinesque bounce to Briga de Namorados before it blurs into spacey impressionism. Calle 7, a standout track inspired by a walk down Seventh Avenue, is an irresistibly swinging song that manages to be both meditative and to capture the urgent streetlife. It’s a little classic. – Guardian

Tracklist
1. (07:02) Mi Declaracion
2. (05:01) Calle 7
3. (02:33) La Curva
4. (04:33) Lagrimas Mexicanas
5. (04:59) Lagrimas de Amor
6. (01:35) Cafezinho
7. (03:30) El Camino
8. (05:08) Aquela Mulher
9. (04:39) Briga de Namorados
10. (01:53) Forinfas
Bill Frisell & Vinicius Cantuaria
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David Sanborn: Another hand (1991)

This is a definite departure for Sanborn as he goes outside to bring us "Another Hand". Looking at who he's playing with it's very obvious why he has taken the step over into Free Jazz, Bill Frisell and Charlie Haden. Haden was the bassist for the king of Free Jazz and fellow sax player, Ornate Coleman. Coleman could go so far outside that it would hurt. These outside tunes might be a little difficult for even jazz lovers to tolerate, but Sanborn only touches upon it leaving this album very easy to listen to.

The Frisell/Haden combo starts you off easy with Haden's "First Song" and Frisell's signature sound on guitar. Then comes Frisell's turn for one of his songs with "Monica Jane". Haden has a small bass solo in the middle. Lou Reed's "Jesus" is the surprise of this unique combo's reprituer as it stays pretty much inside, which must be the setup for jumping straight on over into Free Jazz with the medley bringing back memories of Coleman. Don't let these songs scare you, the first three from the combo are very well done, and easy on the ear. Plus, for every song he plays with Frisell and Haden, he plays one without them. "Weird from One Step Beyond" (Frisell appears here too) is a beautiful, soulful jazz tune. Sanborn's sax is dripping with emotion as he blows those beautiful notes. Another beautiful song is "Come to Me, Nina." Sanborn mirrors Terry Adams on the piano with great results. Sanborn kicks it in with "Hobbies", which is upbeat and flashy. There's a solo from one of my favorite pianists, Mulgrew Miller. Miller hangs out for "Dukes & Counts", another great tune.

This is one of those albums where an artist wants to step outside his confines and try a little something new. I have to applaud Sanborn for taking the risk, especially to try Free Jazz. Although I'm not a fan of Free Jazz, I still find this a great album. I'm not a big fan of the medley, but the rest of the album makes up for it. Sanborn sure can blow, and proves it on this album. He also surrounds himself with exceptional musicians. For more of Frisell and Haden, check them out with Ginger Baker on "Going Home", and for more Miller with Brian Lynch on "Tribute to the Trumpet Masters", both are excellent. 

Tracklist:

01. First Song 05:23
02. Monica Jane 05:32
03. Come To Me, Nina 05:29
04. Hobbies 04:59
05. Another Hand 06:44
06. Jesus 03:35
07. Weird From One Step Beyond 06:14
08. CEE 02:26
09. The Medley: Prayers For Charlie From The Devil At Four O'clock 12:22
10. Dukes & Counts 05:30

Personnel: David Sanborn (saxophones); Syd Straw (vocals); Lenny Pickett (tenor saxophone); Art Baron (trombone); Terry Adams, Mulgrew Miller (piano); Dave Tronzo (acoustic guitar); Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot, Al Anderson (guitars); Greg Cohen, Marcus Miller, Charlie Haden (bass); Joey Baron, Jack DeJohnette (drums); Don Alias (percussion)

Another Hand
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Bill Frisell: Beautiful Dreamers (2010)

'For a long time I'd had the dream of making a trio with Eyvind Kang and Rudy Royston. We've known each other for years and worked together in many situations. The idea came about as a result of the power and strength of the connection that happens when we play music together. It wasn't about the instruments, it was about the people. We played our first gig on June 7, 2008 in Eugene, Oregon and from the first note, it was working. Each time we get together the music feels new.....and old. Backwards and forwards. Up and down. Anything is possible. I can't wait to hear what happens next. Of course, the next thing on my mind was wishing, hoping we could make an album together of new music. I went to my friend Lee Townsend. Anyone familiar with my music needs no introduction to Lee. Over more than 20 years he has produced many of my albums. We were working together on another project at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley CA. and I started noticing the size, shape, sound, vibe of the room there. It was like it had been custom designed. The perfect set up and atmosphere to record this trio. The next thing I knew, we were in there recording and Savoy came along and wanted to put out the record! 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. Beautiful dreamers.' - Bill Frisell

Tracklist:

01) Love Sick (1:03)

02) Winslow Homer (3:32)
03) Beautiful Dreamer (for Karle Seydel) (3:02)
04) A Worthy Endeavor (for Cajori) (5:24)
05) It?s Nobody’s Fault But Mine (4:34)
06) Baby Cry (6:21)
07) Benny’s Bugle (3:31)
08) Tea For Two (4:28)
09) No Time To Cry (1:36)
10) Better Than A Machine (for Vic Chesnutt) (2:49)
11) Goin’ Out Of My Head (2:46)
12) Worried Woman (4:44)
13) Keep On The Sunny Side (2:26)
14) Sweetie (4:28)
15) All We Can Do (6:16)
16) Who Was That Girl? (6:14)
Beautiful Dreamers
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