Bill Frisell Trio

Venue: Vancouver Playhouse

Vancouver International Jazz Festival presents Bill Frisell Trio with Thomas Morgan & Rudy Royston

Bill Frisell’s career as a guitarist and composer has spanned more than 40 years and many celebrated recordings, whose catalogue has been cited by Downbeat as “the best recorded output of the decade.” His first appearance at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival was in 1986, and we’re thrilled to host his return for our 40th anniversary.

In the trio format he’s favoured throughout his career, Frisell has always projected an orchestral scope — through his remarkably complete sense of harmony, a unique gift for melodies that remain with you long after a performance, and a keen feel for how dynamic range can be used to convey emotion. But on his new double album, his fourth release for Blue Note Records, he makes those symphonic evocations a reality. Produced by Lee Townsend, Orchestras documents two inspired concert-hall engagements arranged by Michael Gibbs for Frisell’s long-standing trio with bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Rudy Royston: one featuring the nearly 60-piece Brussels Philharmonic, conducted by Alexander Hanson; and one with the 11-piece Umbria Jazz Orchestra, under the musical direction of Manuele Morbidini.

As he’s often done over the past four decades, Frisell uses a straightforward concept and a familiar songbook to bring about stirring revelations. To start, these 16 tracks showcase a level of comfort and interactivity that far transcends the vast majority of “with strings” projects on the jazz record shelf. Gibbs’ sweeping, singular orchestration, with its shades of Gil Evans and landmark film scores, moves nimbly within and around the trio’s telepathic rapport, and Frisell’s shimmering trademark tone melds gorgeously with strings and brass.