By Paul Goldfinger (reposted from Blogfinger September 2011)
Bill Frisell (b. 1951) is a jazz guitarist who has today released his new album, a tribute to John Lennon, called “All We Are Saying.” Frisell has been called the most “innovative and influential guitarist of the last 25 years.” His music is derived from many influences including classical, country and progressive folk. Among his many albums are tributes to Aaron Copeland, Bob Dylan and Madonna. Reviewers describe his work as being “understated” and focused on the “inner beauty” of the compositions.
The new album contains 16 songs, all written by John Lennon. This song, “Across the Universe,” is from a 2007 movie of the same name which featured 34 original Beatles compositions and received an Academy Award nomination.
“Across the Universe” is the first song on the CD. Please listen to it carefully. Then, if you love music—any kind of music—go to the link below and play the video (it is from a web site called lineout.thestranger.com). It provides an unusual opportunity to hear the artists discuss the soul of the music, touching on aspects of the creative process including psychology, trust, love, teamwork, and inspiration. I was impressed that the musicians had the lyrics in front of them while they played the pieces.
“Across the Universe” from Bill Frisell’s new album “All We Are Saying:”