Bill Frisell

Few jazz musicians have acquired the stature and respect of guitarist Bill Frisell, and even fewer have done so in such an unassuming manner. Though he performs regularly at world class venues, and has performed with well-known musicians such as Paul Simon, Jeff Buckley, and Norah Jones, Frisell does not have the name recognition that should accompany a groundbreaking career spanning over 30 years.

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.