The Willies

Bill Frisell

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 11, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B0000668K2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #78,623 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #42 in	Music > Indie Music > Jazz > Jazz Fusion
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
His collaborations with John Zorn, Marc Johnson, and Paul Motian have shown that guitarist Bill Frisell is no stranger to the bustle and grind of rock and bebop, but on The Willies he again prefers a gentle ramble through the byways of American folk. Joined by Danny Barnes (Bad Livers) on banjo, guitar, bass harmonica, and pump organ, and Keith Lowe on bass, Frisell wanders dreamily through a mixture of bluegrass standards and originals. The pace hovers around a stroll and the rhythms, melodies, and harmonies are generally true to the idiom. Frisell's longstanding affinity with jazz may perhaps be deduced by the occasionally dark harmonic undertow, a suggestion that all may not be well down on the farm. Those with a taste for Ry Cooder's glowering 1985 soundtrack to Paris, Texas may find happiness with The Willies. --Mark Gilbert

Product Description
2002 release on Nonesuch from the un-classifiable guitar master featuring Danny Barnes on banjo, acoustic guitar, bass, harmonica, pump organ and Keith Lowe on bass. 16 tracks. Slipcase.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blues Dog, Happy Man, July 9, 2002

By	PatrickB (Katy, Texas) - See all my reviews

Frisell continues to explore American music with this excellent CD. I hear sort of a fusion of Blues Dream with Good Dog, Happy Man, minus percussion. I was somewhat apprehensive about the lack of drums. Jim Keltner's work on Good Dog is so nice, meshing with Frisell's style. Yes, it's laid back. But it's real good.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bluegrass Tinged Frisell, June 11, 2002

By	Earl D. Brogan "EDB" (Lake Linden, MI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

With Frisell on electric and acoustic guitars and in charge of looping, Danny Barnes sitting in on guitars, banjo, bass harmonica, and pump organ, and Keith Lowe anchoring the bass parts The Willies covers a range of bluegrass tinged jazz. This isn't new grass or Bela Fleck Acoustic Planet territory--the neighborhood here is more firmly jazz or Frisell's own--so don't expect hoe downs or classic break downs. What you do get is excellent explorations of tunes including traditional classics(Blackberry Blossom, Sitting on Top of the World), tasty instrumental covers (Goodnight Irene), and Frisell originals.

I think they sound like they're having fun, and the listening is very enjoyable. Good stuff.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In the Nashville vien..., June 17, 2002

By A Customer

If you really enjoyed the Americana ramblings of the Nashville CD you will like this project a lot too. The banjo work seems to compliment nicely Frisell's unique guitar style. Frisell's original pieces fit right in with the traditional fiddle tunes. Like a previous reviewer mentioned...they are not flatpicked at super sonic speed, but slowed down and nicely done. It really is a good CD. Thanks again Bill!