TAS Rated 4.5/5 Music, 4/5 Sonics in the October 2019 Issue of The Absolute Sound!
Double LP Recorded Live At The Village Vanguard!
Like their acclaimed ECM release Small Town ("wistful and mesmerizing tonally ingenious and haunting" - The Guardian), Epistrophy was recorded at New York City's hallowed Village Vanguard, once again capturing the rare empathy these two players achieve together in this intimate environment. The pieces are culled from Frisell's beloved Americana songbook together with the duo's poetic interpretations of pieces by Paul Motian, Billy Strayhorn, Thelonious Monk and another James Bond film theme...
"Since reintroducing vinyl earlier this decade, ECM has reissued older titles and committed some new releases to wax. Ideally the vinyl options would include some of the best new music ECM has to offer, and I don't know if you could do much better than Epistrophy. Recorded during he same March 2016 Village Vanguard performances that produced 2017's Small Town, these duets again match the ethereal sounds of Bill Frisell on electric guitar with the deep, woody tone and impeccable timing of Thomas Morgan on double bass. Since his first recordings in the early 1980s, Frisell has been a harmonically inventive jazz musician who loves to take risks, yet he always manages to wring out the sweetness and charm in old pop tunes and Americana, exuding warmth without waxing sentimental. While listening to Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life" and two Monk tunes (the title track and "Pannonica"), you may wonder how often those compositions have been performed in the Vanguard and marvel at how fresh they remain. And during John Barry's "You Only Live Twice", you may wonder how the duo manages to evoke the epic sweep of the original with only two instruments. Just brilliant." - Jeff Wilson, The Absolute Sound, October 2019
Features:
• Double LP
• Gatefold jacket
• Made in Germany
Musicians:
Bill Frisell, guitar
Thomas Morgan, double bass
Selections:
Side 1:
1. All In Fun
2. Wildwood Flower / Save The Last Dance For Me
Side 2:
1. Mumbo Jumbo
2. You Only Live Twice
Side 3:
1. Lush Life
2. Epistrophy
3. Pannonica
Side 4:
1. Red River Valley
2. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
Double LP Recorded Live At The Village Vanguard!
Like their acclaimed ECM release Small Town ("wistful and mesmerizing tonally ingenious and haunting" - The Guardian), Epistrophy was recorded at New York City's hallowed Village Vanguard, once again capturing the rare empathy these two players achieve together in this intimate environment. The pieces are culled from Frisell's beloved Americana songbook together with the duo's poetic interpretations of pieces by Paul Motian, Billy Strayhorn, Thelonious Monk and another James Bond film theme...
"Since reintroducing vinyl earlier this decade, ECM has reissued older titles and committed some new releases to wax. Ideally the vinyl options would include some of the best new music ECM has to offer, and I don't know if you could do much better than Epistrophy. Recorded during he same March 2016 Village Vanguard performances that produced 2017's Small Town, these duets again match the ethereal sounds of Bill Frisell on electric guitar with the deep, woody tone and impeccable timing of Thomas Morgan on double bass. Since his first recordings in the early 1980s, Frisell has been a harmonically inventive jazz musician who loves to take risks, yet he always manages to wring out the sweetness and charm in old pop tunes and Americana, exuding warmth without waxing sentimental. While listening to Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life" and two Monk tunes (the title track and "Pannonica"), you may wonder how often those compositions have been performed in the Vanguard and marvel at how fresh they remain. And during John Barry's "You Only Live Twice", you may wonder how the duo manages to evoke the epic sweep of the original with only two instruments. Just brilliant." - Jeff Wilson, The Absolute Sound, October 2019
Features:
• Double LP
• Gatefold jacket
• Made in Germany
Musicians:
Bill Frisell, guitar
Thomas Morgan, double bass
Selections:
Side 1:
1. All In Fun
2. Wildwood Flower / Save The Last Dance For Me
Side 2:
1. Mumbo Jumbo
2. You Only Live Twice
Side 3:
1. Lush Life
2. Epistrophy
3. Pannonica
Side 4:
1. Red River Valley
2. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
