Harmony

世界中の音楽ファンが敬愛してやまないギタリストの一人、ビル・フリゼールの新プロジェクトがブルーノートからリリース。
プロデュースを手掛けるのは長年のフリゼールのコラボレーターLee Townsend、そしてオレゴンのポートランドにあるFlora RecordingでTucker Martineによって録音。
本プロジェクトHARMONYは4人組。これまでもフリゼールとコラボしてきたなじみの2人チャーリー・ヘイデンの三女のヴォーカリストPetra Haden、チェロとヴォーカルを担当する Hank Roberts、そしてニューカマー Luke Bergmanはアコースティック・ギター、バリトン・ギター、ベース、歌を担当。
ビル・フリゼールは、1992年ジョン・スコフィールドの作品『Grace Under Pressure』から始まり、Don Byron (Romance With The Unseen)、Ron Carter (Orfeu)、Norah Jones ("Come Away With Me")などをはじめ、これまでチャ―ルス・ロイドのThe Marvelsの作品までこれまで30年弱ブルーノート作品に参加しているが、本人名義作としては本作が初。
Frisellならではのジャンルを超えた広大な音楽世界、彼自身の音楽は一貫してアメリカの音楽全体を尊重し、彼の個人的な歴史を誠実に表現しているアメリカーナ名盤の誕生!
180g重量盤LP。

Atmospheric isnt just an adjective for Bill Frisell, its a concise description of the aesthetic hes followed through much of his career. While hes a masterful player in various contexts, Frisells magic is how much he can create with so little; hes capable of creating tremendously evocative soundscapes with just an electric guitar, some reverb, and the occasional use of a looping pedal. While jazz is a fitting category for his work, if anyone in contemporary music has a style that transcends genre, it would be Frisell. 2019s HARMONY is not just the title of a Bill Frisell album but his name for the ensemble that created it -- Frisell and Luke Bergman on guitars, Hank Roberts on cello, and Petra Haden on vocals. On HARMONY, Frisell and his partners play a handful of Frisell originals (his lyricists include Elvis Costello and Julie Miller) alongside an assortment of classic American songs, a variety that encompasses the venerable show tune On the Street Where You Live, Billy Strayhorns jazz standard Lush Life, and the classic cowboy song Red River Valley. The mysterious frameworks of Frisells guitar work are at the center of the performances, but Bergman and Roberts complement his performances with subtle grace and a sure hand, and Hadens vocals are lovely, whether shes exploring the nuances of a classic lyric or wordlessly adding her own textures to the melody. (Bergman and Roberts also contribute harmony vocals, and they interact with Haden with the same kind of care and imagination that they display with Frisells instrumental work.) HARMONY sometimes feels so ethereal that it could blow away in a strong breeze, but theres a strength in the quiet of these sessions, and the best moments are nothing short of magic. If youre looking for music that will suit a quiet night with intelligence and style, you should certainly give HARMONY a listen. ~ Mark Deming