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"Have a Little Faith"
by Bill Frisell
By Webjockey Feral Cat Roundup
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Have a Little Faith by Bill Frisell
With his 1992 album "Have a Little Faith," Bill Frisell seems to be speaking directly to listeners: have a little faith in the jazz tradition, one of America's greatest products, and in its ability to still sound fresh after all these years.
If anyone can do it, Bill can; one of the greatest guitarists alive, he has an amazing ability to shift styles while maintaining a distinctive sound all his own. He has played traditional jazz with the best, and played thrash noise in John Zorn's "Naked City" project. Here he plays with a unique instrumentation, which includes clarinet, accordion, bass and drums.
The goal seems to be a complete survey of American music, featuring interpretations of all styles the 20th century had to offer. Their take on Aaron Copland's "Billy the Kid Orchestral Suite" that opens the album is the highlight, condensing the large orchestration down to five musicians, without losing the immense majesty of the piece. The playing is not only expert all around, but one can tell that they are having a lot of fun.
They go on to interpret Charles Ives, Madonna, Sonny Rollins, and the title track by John Hiatt, all with the same joy and skill. Frisell's tone really defines the album, sliding and chiming, with the occasional ripping solo. With this album, Frisell shows that he knows and loves American music, and he has made a fantastic contribution himself.
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