Have a Little Faith

Bill Frisell | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 23, 1993)
• Original Release Date: February 23, 1993
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B000005J1S
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #125,589 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars quite literally a desert island disk, November 15, 2000

By 

m_noland "m_noland" (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Have a Little Faith (Audio CD)

People like to make lists and talk about the 10 best of this or the essential list of that, but in my work I travel to, and live in, places that are the cultural, if not geographic, desert islands. No, I'm not talking about Nebraska. I'm talking places where they don't have compact disks. Which means that you have to bring your own (or at least you used to -- technology may obviate that need now). Anyway, many times I have been forced to pack a limited number of CDs which I knew that I would end up listening to multiple times. This disk has always made the cut.

It is a startling collection in many ways. The range of covers from John Philip Sousa to Ives to Muddy Waters to Dylan and Madonna is eclectic to say the least. This is real Americana. The instrumentation -- drums bass guitar accordion clarinet -- is similarly unique, and allows for some really unusual voicings. The ensemble playing in consistently intelligent and it up to the material. Just a really wonderful disk.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indespensable, June 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Have a Little Faith (Audio CD)

Bill Frisell is a traditionalist in the very best sense. This collection of songs by a diverse collection of American composers and songwriters transcends trendy eclecticism and restates what we often fail to remember: that America is still an extremely large and varied place. Blues, country, Tin Pan Alley and pop all come from the same well of American composing.

Wise enough to realize the past is not merely a thing to be obliterated in the search for "innovation" or "something entirely new" or worse, "alternative", Frisell builds upon that which has preceded us. Connections which are not at all obvious are highlighted on this disc. There is in fact a progression from Stephen Foster to Charles Ives to Muddy Waters to Sonny Rollins to John Hiatt and yes, to Madonna. Frisell understands that and illuminates and refreshes these examples of a particularly American esthetic.

In fact, this disc powerfully makes the statement that traditional forms are by no means exhausted and that fresh sensibilities can make valuable use of the past. Anyone interested in just how rich contemporary improvisational music can be needs to devote time to Bill Frisell and his entire body of work.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Have a little faith in Bill, March 15, 2000

By 

Mugford "Mugford" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Have a Little Faith (Audio CD)

Even after listening to this album countless times over the last 7 years, I still am nowhere near sick of it. The title track (an instrumental cover (as all the songs on this album are) of a John Hiatt song) is possibly my favorite song ever recorded. It is so tranquil and emotional, as is all his playing. Take any opportunity you get to see this man in concert; he is a national treasure. If anyone is making "American" music now, it is Frisell. This is my favorite album of his, just above Nashville and Good Dog Happy Man.