Bill Frisell's Blues Dream

[Brad Bechtel]

Jazz guitarist Bill Frisell has put out another winner. Blues Dream (Nonesuch 79615-2) is another atmospheric exploration of American music. His core band of Greg Leisz (steel guitars), David Piltch (bass) and Kenny Wollesen (drums) is augmented with Billy Drewes (sax), Ron Miles (trumpet), and Curtis Fowlkes (trombone).

Greg Leisz is all over this recording, playing pedal steel, lap steel (check out the National Dynamic on the back cover!), National resonator guitar, and even a bit of mandolin. There's even a song named "Greg Leisz". He really shows how the steel guitar can fit into a non-country context.

This is a different sort of music. Imagine some of the stuff the Band did in the Last Waltz with a horn section, filtered through a jazz sensibility.

Recommended if you have ears for this sort of thing.

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Brad's Page of Steel:
www.well.com/~wellvis/steel.html
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

[Jim Cohen]

I've heard the tune "Blues Dream" and really enjoyed Leisz's playing on that. Will have to hear more!

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www.jimcohen.com

[Craig Stock]

I have his last one "New Dog, Happy Man?", which I love, I will have to get the new one thanks for the heads up, Brad

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Regards, Craig

[Bob Hoffnar]

Bill Frisell will be spending a week at the Blue Note in NYC in march. Greg will be on the gig.

bluenote.net/newyork/index.html

cya there, Bob

[Chris Walke]

The tunes on this album run the entire range from playful to disturbing. This album is absolutely fantastic, but not for everyone. Leisz shines like I've never heard before, and has this incredible ability to make his entrance so subtley that you don't realize he's playing during the first phrase or two. Great tone, superb dynamic control, and magnificent taste!

Oh yeah, and the rest of the band is just as impressive!! Ol' Bill knows how to put a band together and he really lets them play.