BILL FRISELL — Is That You? (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Recorded in 1989 while Frisell was still a member of Naked City, Is That You? finds the guitarist already trending away from that band's scattershot assault and toward the more pastoral leanings he would embrace in the upcoming decade. At its best, as on the title track, Frisell creates nostalgic but heartfelt melodies that have the sense of being a soundtrack to a bittersweet movie. Wayne Horvitz' "Yuba City" is also evocative and very much in keeping with his other work from around that time, all sumptuous melodic hooks overlaying somewhat clunky rhythms. There are other nice touches here and there (the charming "Rag," for instance), but too often the gauziness that is an inherent problem with much of Frisell's music comes to the fore. While his cover of "Chain of Fools" chugs along with some dopey panache, "The Days of Wine and Roses" threatens to evaporate into the mist altogether. Fans of his later work may welcome this approach and, indeed, consider it one of his most attractive attributes, but those listeners hoping to hear more of the bite and devil-may-care attitude shown in his work with Zorn may feel suffocated. Brian Olewnick

Tracklist :
1    No Man's Land    6:40
 Composed By – Bill Frisell
2    Someone In My Backyard    2:45
 Composed By – Bill Frisell
3    Rag    4:00
 Composed By – Bill Frisell
4    Is That You? 6:50
 Composed By – Bill Frisell
Tuba – Dave Hofstra
5    The Way Home    6:00
 Composed By – Bill Frisell
6    Twenty Years    2:43
 Composed By – Bill Frisell
7    Chain Of Fools 3:30
 Composed By – Don Covay
Bass – Dave Hofstra
8    Hello Nellie 4:07
 Composed By – Bill Frisell
Tuba – Dave Hofstra
9    The Days Of Wine And Roses    3:35
 Composed By – Henry Mancini
10    Yuba City    5:42
 Composed By – Wayne Horvitz
11    Half A Million    4:00
 Composed By – Bill Frisell
12    Hope And Fear    1:06
 Composed By – Bill Frisell
Credits :
Commissioned By – Kronos Quartet (tracks: 10), Ravinia Festival (tracks: 10)
Drums – Joey Baron
Guitar [Guitars], Bass, Banjo, Ukulele, Clarinet – Bill Frisell
Keyboards, Drum Programming, Bass [Momentary Bass], Producer [Produced By] – Wayne Horvitz