DCist Preview: Bill Frisell @ The Barns of Wolf Trap
Bill Frisell
One reason for this is Frisell's refusal to be pigeonholed, or limit his music to a single genre. The 58-year old Baltimore native is steeped in the traditions of American music, and his recordings have included influences from classic R&B, to traditional bluegrass, to straight-ahead and modern jazz. Frisell will bring his eclectic style to the Barns of Wolf Trap on Thursday night.
"When I’m inside of the music, that’s where I feel I’m really at home, and that comes from a whole lifetime of experience," Frisell told DCist recently. "There’s so much music that I’ve accumulated."
Frisell also stands out because of his intensely personal sound, something for which every musician strives, but few attain such a recognizable voice as his. His playing is not technical in the sense of being able to play incredibly fast runs and lots of notes, but the range of timbres and colors in Frisell's palette allows him to explore a wide range of emotion.
As Frisell explained, "It’s this long, long process of slowly chipping away. With the sound, there’s a feeling that there’s something just a little bit beyond my grasp out there. You keep getting a little closer, but then it keeps moving farther away."
On Thursday night, Frisell will be performing with longtime comrades, bassist Tony Scherr and drummer Rudy Royston. Both are veteran musicians who perform regularly with nationally touring acts.
"It’s like a conversation when we play. I don’t feel at all like it’s a back up band," Frisell said. "When we play a song, it’s not made just with scales and chords, it has a story to it. They both understand that."
Given this level of musicianship, any Frisell performance will take an audience to uncharted territory. But the area's jazz fans should also head out to Wolf Trap because it is a venue in which he particularly enjoys playing.
Anticipating the concert, Frisell said, "I’m really looking forward to it. I know the sound will be good, and the vibe is always good. Hopefully it'll keep on being good."
The Bill Frisell Trio will be performing on Thursday night at 8 p.m. at The Barns of Wolf Trap. $25