Release Date: 12 April 2019
Label: ECM Records
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 602557701562
Genres: Jazz Contemporary
Description
Like their acclaimed ECM release Small Town of 2017 - which The Guardian called "wistful and mesmerizing, tonally ingenious and haunting" - Epistrophy by guitarist Bill Frisell and bassist Thomas Morgan was recorded at New York City's Village Vanguard.
The new album once again captures the rare empathy these two players achieve together in this intimate environment. There are further poetic takes on pieces from the duo's Americana songbook ("All In Fun", "Red River Valley", "Save The Last Dance For Me"), as well as another intense version of a composition by Paul Motian ("Mumbo Jumbo"), an artist whom both the guitarist and bassist knew well.
Frisell and Morgan communicate the essence of Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life" and the Frank Sinatra hit "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning", so much so, that the famous words seem to hang in the air even without a singer. At the centre of the album is a pair of pieces by Thelonious Monk: the funky, angular "Epistrophy" and the ruminative ballad "Pannonica". And as with "Goldfinger" on Small Town, Frisell and Morgan offer a glowing duo interpretation of a melody-rich John Barry title tune from a James Bond film - "You Only Live Twice!".
Tracklisting
Various artists
Yuval Cohen Quartet
Thomas Stronen; Craig Taborn; Chris Potter; Sinikka Langeland; Jorge Rossy
Stephan Micus
Rainer Bruninghaus
Paul Bley
Mathias Eick; Kristjan Randalu; Ole Morten Vagan; Hans Hulbaekmo
Julia Hulsmann Quartet
Bill Frisell & Thomas Morgan
