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History, Mystery

Bill Frisell Format: Audio CD
3.9 out of 5 stars 14 customer reviews
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$16.80 & FREE Shipping on orders over $49. Details Only 3 left in stock (more on the way). Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

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  • Sample this album Artist (Sample)
1
30
Imagination
1:51
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2
30
Probability Cloud
4:45
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3
30
Probability Cloud Pt. 2
1:01
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4
30
Out of Body
2:27
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5
30
Struggle
5:32
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6
30
A Momentary Suspension of Doubt
0:38
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7
30
Onward
1:38
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8
30
Baba Drame
6:09
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9
30
What We Need
1:37
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10
30
A Change Is Gonna Come
8:49
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11
30
Jackie-ing
2:55
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12
30
Show Me
3:16
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13
30
Boo and Scout
2:28
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14
30
Struggle Pt. 2
6:25
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15
30
Heal
1:41
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16
30
Another Momentary Suspension of Doubt
0:37
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17
30
Probability Cloud Reprise
1:36
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18
30
Monroe
4:18
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19
30
Lazy Robinson
2:18
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20
30
Question #1
1:14
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21
30
Answer #1
0:40
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22
30
Faces
1:52
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23
30
Sub-Conscious Lee
5:39
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24
30
Monroe Part 2
1:52
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25
30
Question #2
0:56
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26
30
Lazy Robinson Part 2
3:17
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27
30
What We Need Part 2
1:14
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28
30
Waltz for Baltimore
8:47
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29
30
Answer #2
1:50
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30
30
Monroe Part 3
2:58
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Digital Booklet: History, Mystery
Digital Booklet: History, Mystery
Album Only

Product Details

  • Audio CD (May 13, 2008)
  • Number of Discs: 2
  • Label: Nonesuch
  • ASIN: B0016OMGFG
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #161,700 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsmusic for grownups
By eliot gardenstreet on June 23, 2008
Format: Audio CD Verified Purchase
Miles Davis once said that the secret to playing jazz was capturing the feel of children's rhymes like "Patty Cake." Bill Frisell captures it perfectly, and his music is simple, playful, and fun. It's also serious and complex. No contemporary jazz artist (other Keith Jarrett) puts me in touch with the poignancy of life the way Bill does, with the sweetness of being alive, with delight in what's transient and beautiful in the face of great loss and inevitable death. Bill (like Keith) understands how important it is to keep jazz connected to its roots in blues and American popular song. ("All Blues" would be a good title for Bill's entire oeuvre.) I think this is why I resonate more to his music than to trickier cutting edge jazz, which sometimes sounds like an unfun puzzle. History, Mystery has the kind of artistic scope of Blues Dream, but it's even larger, more natural, and more satisfying. It contains echoes of The Intercontinentals, but sounds deeper, less concepty, and more settled. The pairing of guitar and violin has an illustrious history: Rheinhardt and Grapelli, McLaughlin and Goodman, McLaughlin and Shankar, Abercrombie and Feldman. Add Frisell and Scheinman to that list.
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4.0 out of 5 starsMiniatures writ large
By Anthony Cooper on July 21, 2008
Format: Audio CD
Bill Frisell leads an octet over the 30 mostly short songs that make up "History, Mystery". He has a very good group -- Ron Miles on trumpet, Greg Hardy on sax, Jenny Schienman, Eyvind Kang & Hank Roberts on strings, Tony Scherr on bass, and Kenny Wollesen drumming. The songs generally have a creative dreaminess about them. The closest touchstone to this CD is Frisell's "Have A Little Faith". One thing contributing to dreaminess is that many of the songs show up more than once, so there's 40 seconds of "Answer #1" then later 110 seconds of "Answer #2". For all of the interesting miniatures, the longer songs with longer solos stand out -- "Baba Drame", "A Change Is Gonna Come", "Struggle", and "Waltz For Baltimore". Greg Hardy's solo in "A Change Is Gonna Come" is a highlight of the CD. Given that this CD has more players, Frisell's guitar is downplayed and he also doesn't step on his distortion pedal. It's more about Frisell the bandleader and composer and not the guitar hero. At 90 minutes, it's a long CD, but it doesn't seem long, which is a compliment. Bill Frisell fans should absolutely pick this one up. Anyone curious about Frisell would find this a good starting place as well.
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5.0 out of 5 starsStill Growing on Me
By Ron Hartman on May 23, 2008
Format: Audio CD Verified Purchase
This holds together much better then one might think, 30 tracks from different sources. There is a very nice flow to it. I like this more then East/West, less guitar histrionics (but there is a bit). It most reminds me of his "The Intercontinental", probably my favorite Frisell recording.
His version of "A Change is Gonna Come" on here is gorgeous!
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5.0 out of 5 starsFrisell Montage
By Scott Williams on August 22, 2008
Format: Audio CD
Overview:
In History, Mystery Bill Frisell combines elements of the many different styles and genres he has dabbled with over the years into one cohesive story telling album. You can hear elements of Appalachia (ala The Willies), string orchestrations (ala Unspeakable), ambient soundscapes (ala Floratone), great horn lines (Blues Dream), African jazz (ala the Intercontinentals) and quirky odd Friselldoms (ala The Rambler). Basically Bill has gone into his bag of tricks and combined the many magical things he can do into one dreamy CD. At first listen it's a bit much to take in and for fans who are not wild about violins, the string orchestrations might seem a bit too far from jazz. However, after several listens the clever crafting of the songs and the great interactions between the musicians reveal themselves. The overall mood of the album is somber, tragic, intense and dramatic.

Performers: Bill Frisell (electric & acoustic guitars & electronics), Ron Miles Cornet, Greg Tardy (tenor sax, clarinet), Jenny Scheinman (violin), Eyvind Kang (viola), Hank Roberts (cello), Tony Scherr (bass), Kenny Wolleson (drums)

Song Highlights:
Probability Cloud - This song reminds me a lot of Miles Davis' performance of Manuel de Falla's "Will O Wisp" from Sketches from Spain. It has a bit of Spanish tango feel to it. The combined orchestration of strings and horns in the main melody line is beautifully done.

Struggle - Just a killer bass line melody with backing strings. This is perhaps the catchiest song on the CD. Frisell's harmonics over the time are perfectly placed to. Not too much, just a touch here, a note there, plenty of space to let it breath.

Baba Drame - Better than the original Frisell version from Intercontinentals.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starspress "play"
By K. R. Mangels on May 17, 2008
Format: Audio CD
Thoroughly interesting, eminently entertaining, highly recommended!

The description that this album seems like a soundtrack to an unseen play is apt. Perfect for close "headphones" listening, or for a long thoughtful drive in the car.

Let your mind wander... Great CD!
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4.0 out of 5 starsNot much to say
By J. Hoots on August 2, 2008
Format: MP3 Music
I have been listening to Bill for years now and he has always had an impact on my artistic vision. Being a musician myself, I have enjoyed a rich appreciation for Frisell's music, both inspiring and listenable. It isn't very often that an artist is able to revamp a style, yet here he has done it once again. Combining orchestral instruments in a jazz context is nearly impossible without sounding forced. As you know if you enjoy Bill's music, he rarely if ever forces anything and this record is perfect! Every time I hear a new recording I think it's my favorite, but "History" is special in that the song order creates a unique flow lost in the digital world. Remember, "Gone, Just Like a Train", it's that good... Enjoy!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsA masterpiece

So far, this is the Bill Frisell album by which I judge all others -- which is unfair because it is an almost impossible standard to meet. Read more

Published 12 months ago by Walksahead
1.0 out of 5 starsBORING!! 90 Minutes of Lifeless, Meandering Folk Space Music

A Tedious, Tiresome and Disappointing Continuation of Frisell's Exploration of American Traditional / Public Radio / Folk / Sleep Music.
Enough Already Bill!! Read more

Published on December 13, 2009 by Michael Fab
1.0 out of 5 starsFinally, a use for hard drugs!

I guess I didn't smoke enough pot when I was younger because this sounds like someone forgot to shut off the recorder while noodling.

Published on February 6, 2009 by Bill Hennessy
5.0 out of 5 starsHistory Mystery

This was a gift and it arrived early for the Christmas season. My friend is really enjoying it.

Published on January 2, 2009 by Zenon Slawinski
4.0 out of 5 starsreptetive, sad, pleasant

The pieces of music on this album were done by a professional bunch of folk who for some time have been going on in a certain direction. Read more

Published on July 15, 2008 by Ehud Tagari
4.0 out of 5 starsjust a listener

this is only the second recording released by frisell that i've heard that I like. musicians, most of them guitar players, sing praises to frisell's mastery as a jazz guitarist. Read more

Published on July 13, 2008 by Case Quarter
2.0 out of 5 starsCircus music

That's what my daughter called it, and she's right. I know Frisell makes these sort of discs occasionally, with bizarre horn arrangements, but I don't care for them. Read more

Published on July 1, 2008 by Big House
5.0 out of 5 starsI can't wait for the next one.

Another fantastic release from Mr. Frisell. I recommend this to people who are already very familiar with Bill Frisell's work and enjoy it. Read more

Published on May 18, 2008 by Eclectic

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