This Land

by Bill Frisell

Overview

Famed photographer Walker Evans' black-and-white photo of a rural Mississippi railroad station sets the stage for guitarist Bill Frisell's homespun depiction of Americana on this 1994 release. Here, the artist and his horn-based sextet serve up an aural panorama consisting of country blues motifs, modern jazz, and even Caribbean grooves. The guitarist's now familiar penchant for constructing climactic opuses framed upon his deft utilization of volume control and often-slithery mode of attack counterbalances the horn sections' pumping notes and harmonious choruses. Essentially, melody is the key throughout these pleasantly arranged pieces, as Frisell makes his axe talk and cry while also partaking in lustrous unison lines with Don Byron (clarinet), Curtis Fowlkes (trombone), and Billy Drewes (alto sax). Overall, This Land signifies yet another powerful statement by this wonderfully inventive musician. Recommended! ~ Glenn Astarita

Product Details

Release Date:	03/15/1994
Label:	Nonesuch / Elektra
UPC:	0075597931624
Rank:	73653

Tracks

1. Is It Sweet?
2. Strange Meeting
3. Jimmy Carter, Pt. 1
4. Jimmy Carter, Pt. 2
5. This Land
6. Dog Eat Dog
7. Amarillo, Barbados
8. Monica Jane
9. Resistor
10. Julius Hemphill
11. Unscientific Americans
12. Cartoon
13. Rag
14. Tag

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bill Frisell   Primary Artist,Guitar
Joey Baron   Guest Artist,Drums
Don Byron   Guest Artist,Clarinet,Clarinet (Bass)
Curtis Fowlkes   Trombone
Kermit Driscoll   Bass,Bass (Acoustic),Bass (Electric)
Billy Drewes   Sax (Alto)

Technical Credits

Joe Ferla   Engineer
Joey Baron   Composer
Greg Calbi   Mastering
Lee Townsend   Producer
Mark Slagle   Editing
Deborah Feingold   Photography
Walker Evans   Photography
John Heiden   Design
Bill Frisell   Composer
Kevin Scott   Assistant Engineer