Scott Colley on bass with Ralph Alessi on trumpet, Brian Blade on drums, Bill Frisell on electric guitar, and Craig Taborn on piano. CD

Features Dave Douglas on trumpet, Chris Potter on tenor sax and bass clarinet, Uri Caine on fender rhodes, Bill Frisell on guitar, James Genus on bass, and Clarence Penn on drums and percussion. CD

With Garbarek on tenor and soprano sax, Bill Frisell on guitar, Eberhard Weber on bass, and Michael DiPasqua on drums and percussion. LP, Vinyl record album

A really special collection of work from Charles Lloyd – a set that brings together a trio of trio albums he issued during the space for a single year! First up is Chapel – a really special trio record, done with Bill Frisell on guitar and Thomas Morgan on bass – a group who work in a really open, airy style that really lets the tenor and flute of Lloyd stretch out and do some amazing things! The format is maybe not that different for Frisell, but makes for this great chapter in Lloyd's career – part of his continued inventiveness in later decades – which have almost proved to be more vibrant than the early years of his time on record. Tracks are nice and long – and titles include the originals "Dorotea's Studio", "Beyond Darkness", and "Song My Lady Sings" – plus a fantastic take on Billy Strayhorn's "Blood Count". Ocean is maybe the most spiritual of the three albums recorded as part of the great Trios project from reedman Charles Lloyd – a set that was recorded at the legendary Lobero theater in Santa Barbara, but without an audience in place – which makes for a beautiful mix of wide space and intimate interplay! Lloyd is wonderful on reeds, especially flute – and the group also features Gerald Clayton on piano and Anthony Wilson on guitar – stretching out with Charles on these long tracks that allow for both exploratory solos, and this very easygoing interplay between the musicians. Tracks include "Jaramillo Blues", "Isa Wind", "Hagar & The Inuits", and "The Lonely One". Last is Sacred Thread – the final chapter in the triplet of trios albums recorded by reedman Charles Lloyd in 2022 – and one that really holds onto the special spirit of the others! As before, there's a lean setting that's perfect for the maturing talents of Lloyd – this open sonic space delivered with the guitar of Julian Lage and percussion of Zakir Hussain – both players sensitive enough to understand what Lloyd's trying to do, and give him just the right support throughout the record. The whole thing is a further demonstration that over the past 20 years, Lloyd has maybe grown as much as an artist as he did during his first 20 years in music – as you'll hear on titles that include "Desolation Sound", "Tales Of Rumi", "The Blessing", "Saraswati", and "Nachekita's Lament". LP, Vinyl record album

Paul Motian on drums, Lee Konitz on alto and soprano saxophone, Joe Lovano on tenor saxophone, Bill Frisell on guitar, and Charlie Haden on bass. CD

A very cool set from the New York underground – featuring a shifting set of performances that all feature Jim Staley on trombone – improvising with players who include John Zorn on alto, Fred Frith on guitars, Shelly Hirsch on voice, Ikue Mori on drums, Bill Frisell on guitar, Wayne Horvitz on piano, and Elliott Sharp on double-neck guitar and soprano sax! CD

With Ron Carter on bass and Jack DeJohnette on drums – plus guitarists Bela Fleck, Bill Frisell, Marc Ribot, John Scofield, and Derek Trucks. CD

A big breakthrough moment for Caetano Veloso – a set that got a bit more global exposure than some of his other 80s releases – thanks to work from some of the hipper artists on the New York scene! Production is by Arto Lindsay and Peter Sherer – and Lindsay himself plays on the record, as does Marc Ribot and Bill Frisell – both players who help Caetano reach out with some nice modern elements, and also help get the record a bit of international critical attention too! Titles include "Etc", "Jasper", "Este Amor", "Rai Das Cores", "Outro Retrato", "Geniapap Aboluto", and "Estrangeiro". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the first true moments of genius from producer Hal Willner – the man who helped open up so many ears to diverse music with projects like these! The album's a tribute to the music of Nino Rota, as used in the films of Federico Fellini – but rather than just be a slavish remake, the set instead has a set of ultra-hip jazz musicians providing their own interpretations of Rota compositions – in a range of formats that's completely breathtaking, and which takes these sublime melodies and transforms them even past their use in the films! The set features fantastic Jaki Byard solo performances of "Amarcord" and "La Strada", solo vibes from Dave Samuels on "La Dolce Vita/Juliet Of The Spirits", the Clarla Bley Big Band performing "8 1/2", solo soprano sax and gong from Steve Lacy on "Roma", David Amram playing "Satyricon", solo Bill Frisell guitar on "Juliet Of The Spirits", a great "La Dolce Vita Suite", with passages by Muhal Richard Abrams and Sharon Freeman, and even a medley of "The White Sheik/I Vitelloni/Il Bidone/Nights Of Cabiria" by arranger William S Fischer with Branford Marsalis and George Adams on saxes, Wynton Marsalis on trumpet, and Kenny Barron on piano. LP, Vinyl record album

The music of Leonard Cohen, but served up in a style that's quite different than you might expect – yet that's maybe no surprise, as right from the start, Cohen's magical songs were already getting interpretations by artists in a range of different styles! The setting here is Blue Note, but the artists are a wider range than those you'd normally hear on the label – with a mix of rock and soul talents next to jazz artists – on titles that include "If It Be Your Will" by Mavis Staples, "Suzanne" by Gregory Porter, "Steer Your Way" by Norah Jones, "Avalanche" by Immanuel Wilkins, "Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye" by Luciana Souza, "Bird On The Wire" by Bill Frisell, "Famous Blue Raincoat" by Nathaniel Rateliff, "Coming Back To You" by James Taylor, "Here It Is" by Peter Gabriel, and "You Want It Darker" by Iggy Pop. CD

The music of Leonard Cohen, but served up in a style that's quite different than you might expect – yet that's maybe no surprise, as right from the start, Cohen's magical songs were already getting interpretations by artists in a range of different styles! The setting here is Blue Note, but the artists are a wider range than those you'd normally hear on the label – with a mix of rock and soul talents next to jazz artists – on titles that include "If It Be Your Will" by Mavis Staples, "Suzanne" by Gregory Porter, "Steer Your Way" by Norah Jones, "Avalanche" by Immanuel Wilkins, "Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye" by Luciana Souza, "Bird On The Wire" by Bill Frisell, "Famous Blue Raincoat" by Nathaniel Rateliff, "Coming Back To You" by James Taylor, "Here It Is" by Peter Gabriel, and "You Want It Darker" by Iggy Pop. LP, Vinyl record album

Features Bill Frisell on electric guitar, Charlie Haden on acoustic bass, and Ginger Baker on drums! CD

Features Arthur Blythe on alto, Bill Frisell on guitars, Ron Carter on bass, and Joey Baron on drums. CD

Tim Berne on alto saxophone, Hank Roberts on cello, Bill Frisell on electric guitar, and Alex Cline on percussion. LP, Vinyl record album

With Bill Frisell on guitar, Craig Taborn on piano, organ, and synthesizers, Eivind Opsvik on acoustic and electric basses and glockenspiel, Kenny Wollesen on drums and percussion, and Adam Rogers on additional guitars. CD

Features Ron Carter on bass, Houston Person on tenor saxophone, Bill Frisell on guitar, Stephen Scott on piano, Payton Crossley on drums, and Steve Kroon on percussion. Tracks include "Manha De Carnaval", "Goin' Home", "Samba De Orfeu", and the Carter originals "Saudade", "Obrigado", and "1:17 Special". CD

A beautiful little record that's a bit hard to peg – one that features guitars and vocals from both Jesse Harris and Vinicius Cantuaria, in modes that move between jazz, Brazilian, and other styles – often with the kind of gentle warmth that we love from Cantuaria's own recordings, but with a slightly different vibe too! That vibe might be the vocals of Harris – who has a rasp that's nicely personal, even when Cantuaria's harmonizing along – and there's also some nice touches from musical guests along the way – a lineup that includes Bill Frisell on guitar, Jeremy Gustin on percussion, and Melody Gardot on vocals and piano, shifting in different modes from track to track. Both leaders also handle a bit of percussion – and titles include "Rio Negro", "Far Away", "How Long", "Waiting", "Surpresa", "Broken Umbrellas", "O Maria", and "West Broadway Shuffle". CD

Wayne Horvitz on keyboards, drum programming, and harmonica, Doug Wieselman on clarinet, tenor saxophone, and rhythm guitar, Jon Rose on cello, Bill Frisell on guitar, Elliott Sharp on guitar and bass, Robin Holcomb on keyboards, Chris Brown on gazamba and wing, Dave Hofstra on electric bass and tuba, Bobby Previte on drums, drum programming and tuba, Joey Peters on electronic drums, Jim Mussen on emulator drums operation, and Nica on vocals on one track. CD

Ron Miles achieves a beautiful balance in sound here – working with his cornet alongside Bill Frisell on guitar, Jason Moran on piano, Thomas Morgan on bass, and Brian Blade on drums! Some of these players have worked together often over the years, and you can really hear that in the performance – as nobody ever dominates too much, and instead the group seems to take great joy in finding the best way for its sounds to resonate with each other – with some especially nice elements that come from the ringing tones of Frisell's guitar and Moran's piano. Blade is nice and gentle – a bit different than his work as a leader, but still definitely a key part of the sound – and titles include "Darken My Door", "Jasper", "Mother Juggler", "Revolutionary Congregation", and "I Am A Man". CD

Paul Motian on drums with Bill Frisell on guitar and Joe Lovano on tenor saxophone. CD

Brilliant quartet material from drummer Paul Motian and masterful supporting players – Joe Lovano on sax, Bill Frisell on guitar and Charlie Haden on bass – recorded in NYC in November of 1988. It's a pretty remarkable example of the kind of creative things jazz figures can do with time-honored standards – eking heretofore unheard beauty out of oft-covered ballads by George Gershwin, Cole Porter and others – while still wholly respecting what makes these numbers so vital in the first place. Wonderful stuff! Includes takes on "Liza", "What Is This Thing Called Love", "I Concentrate On You", "Someone To Watch Over Me", "So In Love" and more. 9 tracks in all. CD

With Bill Frisell on guitar and Joe Lovano on tenor sax! CD

With Norma Winstone on vocals, Gary Burton on vibes, and Bill Frisell on guitar! Titles include "Quiet Departures", "Fluid Rustle", and "A Pale Smile". LP, Vinyl record album

A groundbreaking album, put together by Zorn and a group of downtown New York hipsters, as a fitting hommage to the genius of Ennio Morricone! The track list sticks to mostly the bigger known numbers, and the album's got a darkness that we'd actually say was a bit out of place, considering the choice of tracks – but the groups formed by Zorn do a pretty good job of breathing new life into some of the tracks, and the album was a key moment in the recognition of Morricone as one of the century's greatest composers. Players include Robert Quine, Tim Berne, Arto Lindsay, Jim Staley, Bill Frisell, Christian Marclay, Anton Fier, and even Big John Patton. Titles include "Erotico", "Once Upon A Time In The West", "Giu La Testa", "Battle Of Algiers", and "The Big Gundown". CD

Featuring Bill Frisell, Vernon Reid, Geri Allen, Don Byron, Elvis Costello, Mark Ribot, Greg Cohen, Don Alias, Dr. John, and many others. CD

One of the most novel, and dare we say coolest alternative soundtrack compilations of the late 80s! Stay Awake features a wildly diverse roster of artists covering, reinterpreting and paying tribute to songs from older Disney films – including Tom Waits, Sun Ra & His Arkestra, Natalie Merchant & Michael Stipe, Aaron Neville, Bill Frisell, NRBQ, Betty Carter, Garth Hudson of The Band, The Replacements & many more – and goes a lot farther than just inviting disparate musical figures to do versions of classic songs. The material is arranged into suites and medleys that have a strangely effective flow regardless of how jaw-droppingly diverse the voices and players might be from one movement to the next. This one should be considered a late feather in the cap for creativity at A&M Records! Includes "Pink Elephants On Parade" by Sun Ra, When You Wish Upon A Star" by Ringo Starr & Herb Alpert (co-produced by Van Dyke Parks), "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" by Harry Nilsson, "Hey Ho (The Dwarfs Marching Song)" by Tom Waits, "I Wan'Na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)" by Los Lobos, "Stay Awake" by Suzanne Vega, "Cruella De Ville" by The Replacements and lots more. CD

One of the most novel, and dare we say coolest alternative soundtrack compilations of the late 80s! Stay Awake features a wildly diverse roster of artists covering, reinterpreting and paying tribute to songs from older Disney films – including Tom Waits, Sun Ra & His Arkestra, Natalie Merchant & Michael Stipe, Aaron Neville, Bill Frisell, NRBQ, Betty Carter, Garth Hudson of The Band, The Replacements & many more – and goes a lot farther than just inviting disparate musical figures to do versions of classic songs. The material is arranged into suites and medleys that have a strangely effective flow regardless of how jaw-droppingly diverse the voices and players might be from one movement to the next. This one should be considered a late feather in the cap for creativity at A&M Records! Includes "Pink Elephants On Parade" by Sun Ra, When You Wish Upon A Star" by Ringo Starr & Herb Alpert (co-produced by Van Dyke Parks), "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" by Harry Nilsson, "Hey Ho (The Dwarfs Marching Song)" by Tom Waits, "I Wan'Na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)" by Los Lobos, "Stay Awake" by Suzanne Vega, "Cruella De Ville" by The Replacements and lots more. LP, Vinyl record album

Features work by Paul Motian – with Keith Jarrett, Paul Bley, Bill Frisell, Charles Brackeen, Joe Lovano, and others. CD

A great group – with Paul Motian on drums – plus Joe Lovano on tenor, Jim Pepper on tenor and soprano, Bill Frisell on guitar, and Ed Schuller on bass! CD

Paul Motion on drums with Bill Frisell on guitar & Joe Lovano on tenor saxophone. CD

One of our favorite Zorn "tribute" albums from the 80s – in this case a set of long pastiche tracks that pays hommage to pulp writer Mickey Spillane, Albert Collins, and the film Forbidden Fruit. The track "Spillane" is the best – a side-long number that features text by Arto Lindsay, plus John Lurie as the voice of Mike Hammer – over instrumentation by Bill Frisell, Anthony Coleman, Zorn, Jim Staley, Bob James, and Bobby Previte. "Two Lane Highway" is a showcase for solo work by Albert Collins, but Zorn nicely messes things up a lot with a New York downtown approach that includes John Patton, Bobby Previte, Ronald Shannon Jackson, and Wayne Horvitz. "Forbidden Fruit" features the Kronos Quartet augmented with voice by Ohta Hiromi and turntables by Christian Marclay! Also includes "Spillane" & "Two Lane Highway". CD