From the keyboard of David Cooper Orton:

The
Bill Frisell

no - dont tell me, I heard this on an album of his years ago
- was it the one with Vernon Reid?
Song Finder
Page


Updated compositions
(cf VAL)
added 7-vi-21
Most recently re-jigged
7-vi-21
Bibliography
updated 18-xi-13

Latest News


Valentine

was released in
August 2020

Also recently released: Harmony (Blue Note), and Epistrophy (ECM) both 2019.
Plus contributions to Charles Lloyd & The Marvels: Tone Poem (Blue Note), 2021; Gregoire Maret's Americana; John Zorn's Virtue (with Julian Lage and Gyan Riley); and several others...



You know how it is - you rush home with the latest Bill Frisell release, whack it in the CD player, sit back, relax, and think - hold on, I know this one, don't I?

Chances are - yes. Bill has a penchant for re-working/re-recording previous tunes, and not just on the more overtly retrospective collections such as Live or This Land. Statistically speaking, its likely to be one of `Strange Meeting', `Rambler', `When We Go', or possibly `Monica Jane', although several others have had more than one outing, and a few even gain vocals and a new name.
Then again, would you say that `Go Jake' is a faster version of `Pipe Down', or is the latter a more moderately paced interpretation of the former? Conveniently, they're both on Nashville should you want to test this for yourself.


And so - before your very eyes the invaluable resource which is the (totally unofficial) Bill Frisell Song Finder unfolds. The selection and arrangement is entirely arbitrary and up to me. Thus, nothing from Have a Little Faith has been included, as these were all renditions of other peoples' compositions. Any titles begining with `The..' have been placed under the letter T. This may be revised. A key to the short form of the album titles follows-on after the list of songs. One or two items are still unverified, so any information on other Bill-authored titles is willingly accepted



A couple of very thorough discographies exist; if that is all you require - look no further. But if you're tantalised by a tune, or need to search for a song - walk this way...

First letter of song titles:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
All compositions copyright Bill Frisell/Friz-Tone Music, unless otherwise annotated

Titles suffixed with the attribution (ANT) are those included in: Bill Frisell: An Anthology, a book containing 79 of Bill's compositions.

    A
  • A Beautiful View (BSur)
  • After Dark (TPBQ)
  • Again (WITW?), (L), (FHJ); (ANT)
    NB According to Martin Lane, a version of this song appears on Pigpen's V As In Victim (Avant 1994). However Bill does not play on this record
  • A Good Spot (BSur)
  • Albuquerque (Dobro #6) (EAN) Sylvian/Frisell (Opium [Arts] Ltd/Friz-Tone Music)
  • Alias (UNSP) Frisell/Willner/Liljestrand (Friz-Tone Music/Golden Hyena Music/Gold Nordic Folksongs)
  • Alien Prints (For D. Sharpe) (LFH)
  • All the People, All the Time (SOL)
  • All We Can Do (BDS)
  • Amarillo Barbados (SAS), (TL), (FOTR); (ANT)
  • Ambush (GW)
  • A Momentary Suspension of Doubt (HISMYS)
  • Another Momentary Suspension of Doubt (HISMYS)
  • Answer #1 (HISMYS)
  • Answer #2 (HISMYS)
  • Anywhere Road (INT)
  • Aparna and Nimisha (Dobro #5) (EAN) Sylvian/Frisell (Opium [Arts] Ltd/Friz-Tone Music)
  • April 16, 1988 (ACOD) (unverified)
  • Aquela Mulher (LAMEX) Cantuária/Frisell (Warner Chappell/Friz-Tone Music)
  • Arkansas (Parts 1-3) (DIS)
    Based on the song "Arkansas Traveler" by Colonel Sanford C. 'Sandy' Faulkner
  • As It Should Be (SOL)
  • Aunt Mary (VAL)
  • A Worthy Endeavor (for Cajori) (BDS)

    B

  • Babbitt (SC)
  • Baby Cry (BDS)
  • Bagatelle (SC)
  • Ballroom (GJLAT)
  • Barbaro (HEM) Hall/Frisell/Colley/Baron
  • Bathtub (MDH) Eno/Frisell/Hassell (Opal or Upala/Nyen/Polygram or Blue Music etc etc)
  • Beautiful E. (WITW?), (FF); (ANT)
  • Before We Were Born (BWWB)
  • Beijing Blues (HEM) Hall/Frisell
  • Begin (TDOMI)
  • Better Than A Machine (for Vic Chesnutt) (BDS)
  • Big Bob (GT); (ANT)
  • Big Fish (SC)
  • Big Shoe (GDHM), (TW), (FEW); (ANT)
    According to Artut Nowak, a version of this (sans Bill) appears on Upper Egypt by Wayne Horvitz & Zony Mash
  • Big Sur (BSur)
  • Black Light (SAS)
  • Blues Dream (BD), (FHJ); (ANT)
  • Blues Dream (reprise) (BD)
  • Blues for Los Angeles (GJLAT), (EW); (ANT)
  • Bob's Monsters (BFQ)
  • Boo and Scout (HISMYS)
  • Boubacar (INT), (EW), (G)
  • Box Car (GW)
  • Brainstorms Pts 1 & 2 (OOA) Binney/Frisell/Taborn/Opsvik/Wollesen (BeenKnee Music/Tono-Normay/Fristone Music)
  • Branded (GW)
  • Breakup (Rah)
  • Briga De Namorados (LAMEX) Cantuária/Frisell (Warner Chappell/Friz-Tone Music)
  • Bring Your Dream (OOA) Binney/Frisell/Taborn/Opsvik/Wollesen (BeenKnee Music/Tono-Normay/Fristone Music)
  • Brother (N); (ANT)
  • Brown Eyes (GW)
  • Bullfight (GW)
  • Busy Busy Busy (AB/SIN) Frisell/Ales (Friz-tone Music/Word Go)
  • Busy Street Scene (GW)

    C

  • Cadillac 1959 (GDHM); (ANT)
  • Cafezinho (LAMEX) Cantuária/Frisell (Warner Chappell/Friz-Tone Music)
  • Calle 7 (LAMEX) Cantuária/Frisell (Warner Chappell/Friz-Tone Music)
  • Can't You See
    Composed by Bill, who also makes his sole, guitar-playing, appearance on this track from Dan Tyack and Friends' Blackened Toast, released in 2000, according to Bryan Aaker
  • Card Game (GW)
  • Card Tricks (HEM) Hall/Frisell/Colley/Baron
  • Carolina (T)
  • Cartoon (TL)
  • Cartune Riots (ESBSR) DeJohnette/Frisell (DeJohnette Music/Friz-tone Music)
  • Cat and Mouse (ESBSR) DeJohnette/Frisell (DeJohnette Music/Friz-tone Music)
  • Cattle Drive (GW)
  • Change in the Air (MIS)S
  • Chase (AB/SIN)S
  • Chase - Cop (THS/OW)
  • Chase - Caught (THS/OW)
  • Child At Heart (WITW?), (L); (ANT)
  • Children's Song (AB/SIN) Frisell/Godsey (Friz-tone Music/Front Toward Enemy)
  • Circle (AB/SIN) Frisell/Godsey (Friz-tone Music/Front Toward Enemy)
  • Coffaro's Theme (BFQ), (FF), (FHJ); (ANT)
  • Cold, Cold Ground (GDHM); (ANT)
  • Cold, Cold Heart (TW)
  • Construction (THS/OW)
  • Convict 13 (BFQ), (FHJ)
  • Cops and Firemen (GW)
  • Creep (GT)
  • Chrissie In the Meadow (AllH)
  • Chrissie's Fall (AllH)
  • Chrissie's Theme (AllH)
  • Crocodile (TD) Shrieve/Frisell/Horvitz
  • Crumb(L)
  • Cry Alone (BSur)
  • Cuando Me Vaya (DDS)
    NB: Cuando Me Vaya unites the melody of When We Go to lyrics by Gabriella (Sol Rojo Music)
  • Curiosity (HAR)

    D

  • Data Trash (TD) Shrieve/Frisell
  • Dazzling (Percchordally yours) (TDOMI) Cyrille/Street/Frisell/Teitelbaum
  • Dead Ranch (BFQ)
  • Death Dance (AB/SIN) Frisell/Godsey (Friz-tone Music/Front Toward Enemy)
  • Deep Dead Blue (DDB), (HAR); (ANT) Elvis Costello/Bill Frisell (Plangent Visions Music Inc/Friz-tone Music)
  • Del Close (UNSP), (TNC) Frisell/Willner/Liljestrand (Friz-Tone Music/Golden Hyena Music/Gold Nordic Folksongs)
  • Devil Suit (GW)
  • Did You See Him? (DIS)
  • Disfarmer Theme (DIS)
  • Dobro #1 (DBC) David Sylvian/Bill Frisell (Opium (arts) Ltd/Friz-tone Music)
  • Dog Eat Dog (TL)
  • Dogwood Acres (N)
  • Down on Luck (GW)
  • Do You Have It? (FTii)
  • Dream On (BD); (ANT)
  • Drink (DIS)
  • D. Sharpe (UNSP)

    E

  • Eats (GW)
  • Ecos de Allá Atrás (VR) melody line is that of Family - music: Bill Frisell/lyrics: Gabriela (Sol Rojo Music & Fris-Tone Music)
  • 858 - 1 to 8 (R858)
    sequence of eight compositions inspired by Gerhard Richter's painting suite Abstract Picture (858-1 through 858-8), written by Bill to accompany the limited-edition book, Richter 858, published in 2002. Music subsequently re-released on a SACD/CD-ROM in 2005
  • Egg Radio (BFQ), (GJLAT), (FEW); (ANT)
  • El Camino (LAMEX) Cantuária/Frisell (Warner Chappell/Friz-Tone Music)
  • El Camino a Casa (VR) melody line is that of The Way Home - music: Bill Frisell/lyrics: Gabriela (Sol Rojo Music & Fris-Tone Music)
  • Electricity (VAL)
  • Elephant Sleeps But Still Remembers (ESBSR) DeJohnette/Frisell/Surman (DeJohnette Music/Friz-tone Music)
  • Eli (INT)
  • Empty Barn (AllH)
  • Empty Barn Part 2 (AllH)
  • Empty Barn Part 3 (AllH)
  • End Credits (AllH)
  • End of the World (AB/SIN) Frisell/Godsey (Friz-tone Music/Front Toward Enemy)
  • Entranced Androids (ESBSR) DeJohnette/Frisell (DeJohnette Music/Friz-tone Music)
  • Episode (BD)
  • Etta Interlude (AllH)
  • Etta's Theme (AllH)
  • Everybody Loves Everybody (TW)
  • Everywhere (HAR)
  • Exposed (DIS)

    F

  • Faces (HISMYS)
  • Family (N) (HEM); (ANT)
  • Farmer (DIS)
  • Far Away (BSur)
  • Fascination (FAS) Shrieve/Frisell
  • Fifty Years (BD), (HAR)
  • Fight (THS/OW)
  • Fingers Snappin' and Toes Tappin' (THS/OW); (ANT)
  • First Aid (GW)
  • First Train (TD) Shrieve/Frisell
  • Floratone (FLORA) Chamberlain-Frisell-Martine-Townsend
  • Flying Polly (TD) Shrieve/Frisell/Horvitz
  • Focus (DIS)
  • For Christos (INT)
  • Forinfas (LAMEX) Cantuária/Frisell (Warner Chappell/Friz-Tone Music)
  • 43 Joy Street (D&W)
  • Freddy's Step (BWWB); (ANT)
  • Fr, Fr, Frisell (SAS)
  • Friend of Mine, Pt. 1 (SOL)
  • Friend of Mine, Pt. 2 (SOL)
  • Frontiers (FLORA) Chamberlain/Frisell/Martine/Townsend/Krauss
  • Funny Face (MDH) Frisell/Cohen/Eno/Dorn/Blade (Opal or Upala/Nyen/Polygram or Blue Music etc etc)

    G

  • Garden of Chew Man Chew (ESBSR) DeJohnette/Frisell (DeJohnette Music/Friz-tone Music)
  • Gather Good Things (BSur)
  • Get Along (TW)
  • Ghost Town (TSOSR) (GT)
  • Gimme A Holler (N); (ANT)
  • Gimme Some (FTii)
  • Girl Asks Boy (Parts 1 and 2) (GJLAT); (ANT - Part 1 only)
  • Godson Song (IL), (GJLAT)
  • God's Wing'd Horse (HAR) Frisell/Miller (Friz-tone Music/My Blind Driver Music)
    To my ears, the melody is that of Small Town?
  • Going to California (BSur)
  • Go Jake (N)
  • Gone (N)
  • Gone, Just Like A Train (AB/SIN) Frisell/Godsey (Friz-tone Music/Front Toward Enemy), (GJLAT); (ANT)
  • Goodbye (BWWB), (L); (ANT)
  • Goodbye Goodbye Goodbye (UNSP) Frisell/Willner/Lasry (Friz-Tone Music/Golden Hyena Music/Sonimage/Paris)
  • Good Dog, Happy Man (GDHM); (ANT)
  • Good Old People (INT)
  • Good Shot - Swearing In - Shooting Gallery (THS/OW)
  • Go Happy Lucky (MIS)
  • Go West (GW)
  • Greg Leisz (BD)
  • Gregory Corso's Story (TLFR) Ginsberg/Frisell (Copyright Control)
  • Gregory C. (UNSP) Frisell/Willner (Friz-Tone Music/Golden Hyena Music)
  • Grin and Bite (FTii)
    May not stand-up under a fierce cross-examination, but reminds me of Playground from FFE

    H

  • Half A Million (ITY?)
  • Hangdog (LFH), (L); (ANT)
  • Hard Plains Drifter (BWWB); (ANT)
  • Hardy Bar Song (AllH)
  • Hardy Duet (AllH)
  • Hardy Race (AllH)
  • Hawks (BSur)
  • Heal (HISMYS)
  • Hello Nellie (ITY?), (L); (ANT)
  • Here Comes the Train (THS/OW)
  • Highway 1 (BSur)
  • Highways (AB/SIN) Frisell/Godsey (Friz-tone Music/Front Toward Enemy)
  • Home on the Road (JL) Baron/Frisell (Goo Head Music / Friz-Tone Music)
  • Honest Man (HAR)
  • Hope And Fear (ITY?); (ANT)
  • Hour Glass (VAL)
  • Housewarming Party & Storm (THS/OW)
  • How Many Miles? (HAR)
  • Hymn for Ginsberg (UNSP)

    I

  • I Am Not a Farmer (DIS)
  • Ice Cave (SC)
  • If I Could I Surely Would (TW)
  • I Know You Care (TW)
  • Imagination (HISMYS)
  • In Deep (BFQ)
  • In Line (IL), (MIS)
  • Interlude (EW) Frisell/Scherr/Wollesen (Friz-Tone Music/Tony Scherr Music/Kenny Wollesen Music)
  • Interlude 2 (AllH)
  • Interlude 3 (AllH)
  • In Walked Po (JSH) Peacock/Frisell (Mokutu Music/Friz-Tone Music)
  • Is It Sweet (TL)
  • Is That You? (ITY?)
  • It's a Long Story, Pt. 1 (SOL)
  • It's a Long Story, Pt. 2 (SOL)
  • It's Time (AB/SIN) Frisell/Godsey (Friz-tone Music/Front Toward Enemy)
  • I Want Her (GW)
  • I Want to Go Home (TW)

    J

  • Jacksons Epiphany (AllH)
  • Jimmy Carter (Parts 1 and 2) (TL); (ANT)
  • John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! (SC)
  • John Hardy / Ray Returns to Etta (AllH)
  • Julius Hemphill (TL); (ANT)
  • Justice and Honor (GT), (FHJ); (ANT)
  • Just So Happens (JSH) Peacock/Frisell (Mokutu Music/Friz-Tone Music)

    K

  • Kaddish (TDOMI)
  • Keep Your Eyes Open (N), (VAL); (ANT)
  • Kentucky Derby (MIS)

    L

  • La Curva (LAMEX) Cantuária/Frisell (Warner Chappell/Friz-Tone Music)
  • Lágrimas De Amor (LAMEX) Cantuária/Frisell (Warner Chappell/Friz-Tone Music)
  • Lágrimas Mexicanas (LAMEX) Cantuária/Frisell (Warner Chappell/Friz-Tone Music)
  • Lake Superior (SC)
  • Last Race (AllH)
  • La Tormenta Termino (EV)
    NB: La Tormenta Termino unites the melody of Where Do We Go? to lyrics by Gabriella (Sol Rojo Music)
  • Lazy (BRPEP)
  • Lazy Robinson (HISMYS)
  • Lazy Robinson Part 2 (HISMYS)
  • Leprechaun (SC)
  • Let Me In (WITW?); (ANT)
  • Levees (VAL)
  • Lift Off (GSA)
  • Like Dreamers Do (parts one & two) (BD)
  • Lincoln Logs (TD) Shrieve/Frisell/Horvitz
  • Listen (INT)
  • Little Bigger (LFH)
  • Little Boy (DIS)
  • Little Brother Bobby (LFH)
  • Little Girl (DIS)
  • Lo-Ko-Mo-& Frizz (RH) Konitz/Lovano/Motian/Frisell
  • Lonely Man (DIS)
  • Lonesome (LFH), (GJLAT), (HAR); (ANT)
  • Lookout For Hope (LFH), (GJLAT), (FEW); (ANT)
    Jerry Douglas includes a version of this tune on his CD of the same name, Sugar Hill Records 2002, as discussed in Guitar Player July 2002
  • Lost Again, Dark (DIS)
  • Lost, Night (DIS)
  • Louisiana Lowboat (FLORA) Chamberlain/Frisell/Martine/Townsend
  • Love Motel (BWWB)
  • Love Sick (BDS)

    M

  • M. (T) Frisell/Berne (Friz-Tone Music/Party Music)
  • Made to Shine (MIS)
  • Magic (INT)
  • Manfred (TDOMI) Cyrille/Street/Frisell/Teitelbaum
  • Manten Tus Ojos Abiertos (EV)
    NB: Manten Tus Ojos Abiertos unites the melody of Amarillo Barbados to lyrics by Gabriella (Sol Rojo Music)
  • Meet the Stantons (AllH)
  • Melody For Jack (LFH)
  • Migration (HEM) Hall/Frisell
  • Mississippi Rising (FLORA) Chamberlain-Frisell-Martine-Townsend
  • Miss You (MIS)
  • Monica Jane (F), (AH), (TL), (HEM), (MIS); (ANT)
  • Monroe (GDHM), (FEW), (BFRCPM) (HISMYS); (ANT)
  • Monroe Part 2 (HISMYS)
  • Monroe Part 3 (HISMYS)
  • Monsoon (FLORA) Chamberlain-Frisell-Martine-Townsend
  • More Pluck (FTii)
  • Mother Daughter (SOL)
  • Move (FTii)
  • Mr. Memory (N); (ANT)
  • Music I Heard (R); (ANT)
  • My Buffalo Girl (GDHM); (ANT)
  • My Mind Is Going (OCS) Lindsay/Frisell/Baron (Firma Ltd/Friz-Tone Music/Goo Music)

    N

  • Natural Light (DIS)
  • Nature's Symphony (GJLAT); (ANT)
  • New Day (GW)
  • 1951 (SS)
  • 1968 (UNSP)
  • Nobody In Bed (OCS) Lindsay/Frisell (Firma Ltd/Friz-Tone Music)
    NB: Despite co-writing this track, Bill does not appear there upon.

  • No Man's Land (ITY?)
  • No One Gets In (DIS)
  • Not Over Ever (FTii)
  • No Turn Back (FTii)

    O

  • Ode to South Africa (ESBSR) DeJohnette/Frisell/Surman (DeJohnette Music/Friz-tone Music)
    Eric Johnson arpegiation a-hoy! Bloomin' lovely...

  • Oh Well - The Piano (THS/OW)
  • Oh Well - The Bath Scene (THS/OW)
  • Oh Well (THS/OW)
  • Old Times (SOL)
  • One of those Mysteries: Eckert/Frisell, included on the album Finding My Way Home by Rinde Eckert - unverified
  • One Tooth Shuffle (ESBSR) DeJohnette/Frisell (DeJohnette Music/Friz-tone Music)
  • One Week Theme - The Wedding (THS/OW)
  • One Week Theme - Aftermath (THS/OW)
  • Only Now (JSH) Peacock/Frisell (Mokutu Music/Friz-Tone Music)
  • On the Lookout (BSur)
  • On The Range (AB/SIN) Frisell/Ales (Friz-tone Music/Word Go)
  • Onward (HISMYS)
  • Opening Theme (AllH)
  • Otherworldly Dervishes (ESBSR) DeJohnette/Frisell/Surman (DeJohnette Music/Friz-tone Music)
  • Out of Body (HISMYS)
  • Outlaw (GT)
  • Outlaws (BD), (FHJ)

    P

  • Painter (SOL)
  • Passing Through Pasadena (GW)
  • Peckerwood (AllH)
  • Peter Miller's Discovery (DIS)
  • Perky Figure (T)
  • Pick Apart (JL)
  • Pipe Down (N), (EW)
  • Pipeline (TD) Shrieve/Frisell
  • Pip, Squeak (BWWB), (L); (ANT)
  • Play (DIS)
  • Playground (FFE) Krauss/Frisell (Split Window Music, administered by Bug Music/Friz-Tone Music)
  • Pleased to Meet You (GJLAT); (ANT)
  • Poem For Eva (GDHM), (GT); (ANT)
  • Poet - Pearl (ST) Frisell/Morgan
  • Prelude (BFQ), (FEW)
    NB: this latter version credited to Bill Frisell, Tony Scherr, Kenny Wollesen (Friz-Tone Music / BMI)
  • Pretty Flowers Were Made for Blooming (BD); (ANT)
  • Pretty Polly (BFRCPM) - tradational, arranged Bill Frisell
  • Pretty Stars (MIS)
  • Pretty Stars Were Made to Shine (BD); (ANT)
  • Probability Cloud (HISMYS)
  • Probability Cloud Part 2 (HISMYS)
  • Probability Cloud Reprise (HISMYS)
  • Proof (SC)

    Q

  • Queen Bee (TD) Shrieve/Frisell
  • Question #1 (HISMYS)
  • Question #2 (HISMYS)

    R

  • Racoon Cat (GJLAT)
  • Rag (ITY?), (TL), (L); (ANT)
  • Rain, Rain (GDHM), (AM)
  • Rambler (R), (GBH), (MIS - two versions); (ANT)
  • Ray and Etta (AllH)
  • Ray Driving (AllH)
  • Reckless Driving (THS/OW)
  • Recollection (SOL)
  • Remedios The Beauty (LFH)
    NB: According to Allen Ruch, editor of the Web's largest Gabriel Gracia Marquez site, this track was inspired by a character from GGM's One Hundred Years of Solitude. Two pages about Bill, and the track, can be viewed from here, as indeed can a wealth of material about the Nobel Prize winning author himself.
  • Remember (INT)
    The melody of Boubacar reprised, with a hauntingly melancholic arrangement.
  • Reminder (Rah)
  • Resistor (R) (TL); (ANT)
  • Restoration (AB/SIN) Frisell/Godsey (Friz-tone Music/Front Toward Enemy)
  • Rob Roy (WITW?); (ANT)
  • Ron Carter (BD), (EW), (MIS)
  • Ron Miles (HVN)
  • Ron (The Cat) (AT)
  • Roscoe (GDHM); (ANT)
  • Rovers (AB/SIN) Frisell/Ales (Friz-tone Music/Word Go)

    S

  • Saddle Up! (GW)
  • Sad Sack (VR)
  • Safety In Numbers (AB/SIN) Frisell/Ales (Friz-tone Music/Word Go)
  • Sanctuary (TDOMI) Cyrille/Street/Frisell/Teitelbaum
  • Shacked Up (BSur)
  • Sherlock Jr. (GJLAT); (ANT)
  • Shorts (IL)
  • Show Me (HISMYS)
  • Shucks (N)
  • Shutter, Dream (DIS) Frisell/Leisz/Scheinman/Krauss (Friz-Tone Music/Capsong/Bug Music/Split Window Music/BMI and Taylor Peak Music/ASCAP)
  • Sign of Life (SOL)
  • Silent Comedy (SC)
  • Sing Together Like a Family (BSur)
  • Sixty Four (SOL)
  • Size 10 1/2 Sneaks (SAS)
  • Skeleton (FOTR)
  • Slow Dance (BD)
  • Small Hands (SAS), (SS)
  • Small Town (DIS), (ST), (AM)
  • Smile On You (IL)
  • Smilin' Jones (WITW?), (FHJ)
  • Someone In My Backyard (ITY?)
  • Some Song and Dance (BWWB)
  • Somewhere (BSur)
  • Song for Andrew No. 1 (TDOMI), (ST)
  • Song for Lana Weeks (BSur)
  • Sonny's Losing Montage (AllH)
  • Soul Merchant (BD)
  • Soundings In Fathoms (FAS) Shrieve/Frisell/Horvitz
  • Spell (WITW?)
  • Splinter Scene (GW)
  • Squalls (AT)
    Massey/Gephart/Frisell/Gordon

  • Stable Scene (AllH)
  • Stand Up, Sit Down (BFQ); (ANT)
  • Stanton Theme (AllH)
  • Start (IL)
  • Steady, Girl (BWWB)
    NB: `Steady, Girl' features the melody line of `Throughout' [from In Line], combined with vocals by Arto Lindsay (Virgin Music)
  • Stella (TD) Shrieve/Frisell/Horvitz
  • Stella (Reprise) (TD) Shrieve/Frisell/Horvitz
  • Sting (AllH)
  • Storm Clouds and the Mist (ESBSR) DeJohnette/Frisell (DeJohnette Music/Friz-tone Music)
  • Strange Meeting (R) (SM) (TL) (L) (FHJ); (ANT)
    NB: According to Artur Nowak, a version of `Strange Meeting' appears on the eponymous CD by Poland's Funky Groove. Bill is a non-participant.
  • Stringbean (UNSP) Frisell/Willner/Liljestrand (Friz-Tone Music/Golden Hyena Music/Gold Nordic Folksongs)
  • Struggle (HISMYS)
  • Struggle Part 2 (HISMYS)
  • Suitcase in My Hand (SOL)
  • Sunset (TLFR) Ginsberg/Frisell (Copyright Control)
  • Surprise (JL) Baron/Frisell (Goo Head Music / Friz-Tone Music)
  • Swamped (FLORA) Chamberlain-Frisell-Martine-Townsend
  • Sweetie (BDS)

    T

  • Tag (TL) Frisell/Baron
  • Take a Look (FLORA) Chamberlain-Frisell-Martine-Townsend-Krauss
  • Tales From the Far Side (BFQ), (GT*), (WUWUAS); (ANT)
  • Tap Dancer and Confusion (GW)
  • Target Practice (THS/OW)
  • Teacher (SOL)
  • Tell Me Everything (FAS) Shrieve/Frisell/Horvitz
  • Tell Your Ma, Tell Your Pa (GT), (FHJ); (ANT)
  • TGD (LAB) Cyrille/Frisell/Smith
  • Thankful (MIS)
  • That a Boy! (GW)
  • That Was Then (GDHM); (ANT)
  • The Adventures of Max & Ben (TSOSR)
  • The Animal Race (LFH)
  • The Animals (BSur)
  • The Bacon Bunch (BFQ); (ANT)
  • The Beach (IL)
  • The Big One (BSur)
  • The Blinking Buzzards (THS/OW)
  • The Dawn Of Man (AB/SIN) Frisell/Ales (Friz-tone Music/Word Go)
  • The Future (FLORA) Chamberlain-Frisell-Martine-Townsend
  • The Gallows (BFQ)
  • The Great Ambassador (FAS) Shrieve/Frisell/Horvitz
  • The High Sign Theme - Help Wanted (THS/OW)
  • The High Sign Theme - At the Home of August Nickelnurser (THS/OW)
  • The High Sign Theme (THS/OW)
  • The Last Of The Few (RMFM) Frisell/Kaiser (Cesstone Music)
  • The Lone Ranger (BWWB)
  • The Music of Glen Deven Ranch (BSur)
  • Theme Version 2 (AllH)
  • Theme Version 3 (AllH)
  • Theme Version 4 (AllH)
  • Theme 5 / Waltz (AllH)
  • The Passenger (FLORA) Chamberlain/Frisell/Martine/Townsend
  • The Pioneers (GDHM), (MIS); (ANT)
  • The Road (SC)
  • The Sortest Day (GSA)
  • The Skulk (AB/SIN) Frisell/Ales (Friz-tone Music/Word Go)
  • The Sun Sets Red In Cairo (AB/SIN) Frisell/Ales (Friz-tone Music/Word Go)
  • The Tractor (BD)
  • The Vanguard (EW) Frisell/Scherr/Wollesen (Friz-Tone Music/Tony Scherr Music/Kenny Wollesen Music)
  • The Way Home (ITY?); (ANT)
  • The Wanderer (FLORA) Chamberlain/Frisell/Martine/Townsend
  • The Wife and Kid (GJLAT); (ANT)
  • The Willies (TW)
  • The Wizard (DIS)
  • Things Will Never Be the Same (BD)
  • Think About It (MIS)
  • Think (DIS)
  • This is Only America (AB/SIN) Frisell/Godsey (Friz-tone Music/Front Toward Enemy)
    NB: According to Martin Lane, a version of this song appears on Carol Emanuel's Top of Trees (Koch Jazz 1995). However Bill does not play on this record

  • This Land (TL); (ANT)
  • Threadbare (FLORA) Chamberlain-Frisell-Martine-Townsend-Krauss
  • Three (IL)
  • Through A Skylight (JSH) Peacock/Frisell (Mokutu Music/Friz-Tone Music)
  • Throughout (IL) (L) (PHABF) (HEM); (ANT)
    NB: According to the record label CMP, a version of this song appears on In The Same Breath by Mick Goodrick, David Liebman and Wolfgang Muthspiel (CMP 1995). So far as I can tell, Bill does not play on this record.
    In addition to this, the melody line of `Throughout' has being re-written as `Steady, Girl'; and adapted by Gavin Bryars into a piece called `Sub Rosa' which appears on the ECM CD Vita Nova, and more recently Rarum: Selected Recordings
    Even more tangentally, Gavin Bryars' `Sketch for Sub Rosa' appears on the Sub Rosa CD Myths 3: La Nouvelle Serenite

  • Through the Warphole (ESBSR) DeJohnette/Frisell (DeJohnette Music/Friz-tone Music)
  • To the Streets (GW)
  • Tom Tom's Room (MDH) Mehldau/Lanois/Frisell/ (Opal or Upala/Nyen/Polygram or Blue Music/Mother Music etc etc)
  • Tone (R)
  • Tony (UNSP) Frisell/Scherr/Wollesen (Friz-Tone Music/Tony Sherr Music/Woll-o-sound Music)
  • Train (GW)
  • Trance (AB/SIN) Frisell/Godsey (Friz-tone Music/Front Toward Enemy)
  • Tren de la Medianoche/Rambler (DDS)
    NB: `Tren de la Medianoche' unites the melody of `Rambler' to lyrics by Gabriella (Sol Rojo Music)
  • Trick Memory (JL) Baron/Frisell (Goo Head Music / Friz-Tone Music)
  • Trosper (TRO)
    ...or so I assume. The six minutes (approx) piece accompanying Jim Woodring's wordless book may well have no title. Sounds in part like material from Ghost Town
  • Truth and Consequence (AB/SIN) Frisell/Ales (Friz-tone Music/Word Go)
  • Truth Or Consequences Frisell/Kaiser (1986 Friz-tone Music)
    NB: This is featured on the June 1986 Guitar Player Magazine Soundpage #21, with Henry Kaiser and Bill Frisell both playing guitars and Synclavier

  • Twenty Years (ITY?), (BFQ), (FHJ); (ANT)
  • Two Arms (IL)

    U

  • Una Luz en la Ventana (VR) music: Bill Frisell/lyrics: Gabriela (Sol Rojo Music & Fris-Tone Music)
    NB: melody line is that of Lonesome

  • Un Cuarto que Mira al Mar (VR) music: Bill Frisell/lyrics: Gabriela (Sol Rojo Music & Fris-Tone Music)
  • Under a Golden Sky (GT), (FF)
  • Unscientific Americans (SM), (TL); (ANT)
  • Unsung Heroes (WITW?); (ANT)
  • Us and Whose Army (AB/SIN) Frisell/Ales (Friz-tone Music/Word Go)

    V

  • Valentine (VAL)
  • Variation on a Theme (Tales From the Far Side ) (GT); (ANT)
  • Verona (GJLAT); (ANT)
  • Village (SOL)

    W

  • Waiting Inside (O)
  • Walking Stick (for Jim Cox) (BSur)
  • Waltz for Baltimore (HISMYS)
  • Wapitis Dream (JSH) Peacock/Frisell (Mokutu Music/Friz-Tone Music)
  • We All Love Neil Young (BSur)
  • We Are Everywhere (INT)
  • Weepy Donuts. Credited to Frisell/Horvitz, featuring Psycho themes by Bernard Herrmann, this can be heard during the closing credits of Gus Van Sant's Psycho remakeover, 1998. Not on the soundtrack CD, though, I don't think.
  • We're Not From Around Here (N); (ANT)
  • What? (BFQ)
  • What a World (GT); (ANT)
  • What Do We Do? (BD); (ANT)
  • What Do You Want? (MIS)
  • What We Need (HISMYS)
  • What We Need Part 2 (HISMYS)
  • When We Go (R), (SM), (L), (GBH); (ANT)
  • Where Do We Go? (BD), (VAL); (ANT)
  • Where In The World? (WITW?)
  • White Fang (UNSP) Frisell/Willner (Friz-Tone Music/Golden Hyena Music)
  • Who Was That Girl? (UNSP), BDS Frisell/Willner/Liljestrand/Bernstein/Walter (Friz-Tone Music/Golden Hyena Music/Gold Nordic Folksongs/Spanish Fly Music/Berry Music)
  • Winds of Distraction (AB/SIN) Frisell/Ales (Friz-tone Music/Word Go)
  • Winslow Homer (BDS); (MIS)
  • Winter Always Turns to Spring (GT), (VAL); (ANT)
  • Wizard Of Odds (R)
  • Wolves (GW)
  • Wonderland (SOL)
  • Worried Woman (BDS), (LEB)
  • Worry Doll (WITW?)
  • Worse and Worse (BFRCPM) - tradational, arranged Bill Frisell
  • Written In My Dreams By W.C. Williams (HSJR) Words by Allen Ginsberg Music composed & arranged by Bill Frisell

    X

    Y

  • You Can Run (EW) Frisell/Scherr/Wollesen (Friz-Tone Music/Tony Scherr Music/Kenny Wollesen Music)
  • Youngster (SOL)

    Z


Key to album titles:

AB/SIN ACOD AH AllH AM AT BD BDS BFQ BFRCPM BRPEP BSur BWWB D&W DBC DDB DDS DIS ESBSR EV EW F FAS FEW FF FFE FHJ FLORA FOTR FTii G GBH GJLAT GSA GT GW HAR HEM HISMYS HSJR HVN IL INT ITY? JL JSH L LAB LAMEX LFH MDH MIS N OCS O OOA PHABF R Rah R858 RH RMFM SAS SC SM SOL SS ST T TD THS/OW TL TLFR TNC TRO TPBQ TSOSR TW UNSP VR WITW? WUWUAS


The two greatest hits-style primers:

Bill Frisell
Rarum: Selected Recordings ECM 2002

Mandeville / Introduction / India / Singsong / In Line / Resistor / Music I Heard / Tone / Lonesome / Alien Prints / Hangdog / Kind Of Gentle / Closer / Sub Rosa

Bill Frisell
Works ECM

Monica Jane / The Beach / When We Go / Throughout / Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair / Wizard Of Odds / Conception Vessel / Etude


Bill Frisell
[VAL] Valentine, Blue Note 2020

Bill Frisell - guitars
Thomas Morgan - bass
Rudy Royston - drums


Bill Frisell
[HAR] Harmony, Blue Note 2019

Bill Frisell - guitar
Luke Bergman - bass, guitar (acoustic, baritone), voices
Petra Haden - voices
Hank Roberts - cello, voices


Bill Frisell
[MIS] Music IS, Sony Masterworks OKeh 2018

Bill Frisell - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, loops, ukulele, music box


Bill Frisell
[ST] Small Town, ECM 2017

Bill Frisell - guitar
Thomas Morgan - bass


Bill Frisell
[WUWUAS] When You Wish Upon a Star, Sony Masterworks OKeh 2016

Bill Frisell - electric guitar, acoustic guitar
Petra Haden - vocals
Eyvind Kang - viola
Thomas Morgan - bass
Rudy Royston - drums, percussion


Bill Frisell
[GSA] Guitar in the Space Age, Sony Masterworks OKeh 2014

Bill Frisell - electric guitar
Greg Leisz - pedal steel, electric guitar
Tony Scherr - bass, acoustic guitar on Rebel Rouser
Kenny Wollesen - drums, percussion, vibes


Bill Frisell
[BSur] Big Sur, Sony Masterworks OKeh 2013

Bill Frisell - guitar
Jenny Scheinman - violin
Eyvind Kang - viola
Hank Roberts - cello
Rudy Royston - drums


Bill Frisell
[SC] Silent Comedy, Tzadik 2013

Bill Frisell - guitar and loops


Floratone
[FTii] Floratone II, Savoy Jazz 2012

Bill Frisell - guitars
Matt Chamberlain - drums and percussion
Lee Townsend - production
Tucker Martine - production
With special guests:
Mike Elizondo - bass
Jon Brion - keyboards
Ron Miles - trumpet
Eyvind Kang - viola


Bill Frisell and the 858 Quartet
[SOL] Sign of Life, Savoy Label Group 2011

Bill Frisell - guitar
Jenny Scheinman - violin
Eyvind Kang - viola
Hank Roberts - cello


Vinicius Cantuaria & Bill Frisell
[LAMEX] Lágrimas Mexicanas, Entertainment One Music/Naïve 2011

Vinicius Cantuária - vocals, percussion and acoustic guitar
Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars, loops


Bill Frisell
[BDS] Beautiful Dreamers, Savoy Label Group 2010

Bill Frisell - guitar
Eyvind Kang - viola
Rudy Royston - drums


Bill Frisell
[DIS] Disfarmer, Nonesuch Records 2009

Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars, loops, music boxes
Greg Leisz - steel guitars, mandolin
Jenny Scheinman - violin
Viktor Krauss - bass


Bill Frisell
[AllH] All Hat - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, EmArcy Records 2008

Bill Frisell - electric & acoustic guitars, loops
Greg Leisz - steel guitars, mandolin
Jenny Scheinman - violin
Viktor Krauss - bass
Scott Amendola - drums, percussion
Mark Graham - harmonica


Bill Frisell
[HISMYS] History, Mystery, Nonesuch Records 2008

Bill Frisell - electric & acoustic guitars, loops
Ron Miles - cornet
Greg Tardy - tenor saxophone, clarinet
Jenny Scheinman - violin
Eyvind Kang - viola
Hank Roberts - cello
Tony Scherr - bass
Kenny Wollesen - drums


Bill Frisell
[BRPEP] Bill Ron Paul - a Frisell EP, Nonesuch Records 2006
NB: Available only as a download from Songtone, and selected other points online

Bill Frisell - guitar
Ron Carter - bass
Paul Motian - drums


Bill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul Motian
[BFRCPM] Bill Frisell, Ron Carter, Paul Motian, Nonesuch Records 2006

Bill Frisell - guitar
Ron Carter - bass
Paul Motian - drums


Bill Frisell
[FEW] Further East/Further West, Nonesuch Records 2005
NB: Available only as a download from Songtone, and selected other points online

Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars, loops
Kenny Wolleson - drums, percussion
Viktor Krauss - bass [on Further West]
Tony Scherr - bass, acoustic guitar [on Further East]


Bill Frisell
[EW] East/West, Nonesuch Records 2005

Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars, loops
Kenny Wolleson - drums, percussion
Viktor Krauss - bass [on West]
Tony Scherr - bass, acoustic guitar [on East]


Bill Frisell
[R858] Richter 858, Songlines 2005

Bill Frisell - guitars and electronics
Hank Roberts - cello
Jenny Scheinmann - violin
Eyvind Kang - viola


Bill Frisell
[UNSP] Unspeakable, Nonesuch Records 2004

Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars, loops
Hal Willner - turntables, samples
Tony Scherr - bass, guitar
Kenny Wolleson - drums
Don Alias - percussion
Steven Bernstein - trumpet
Briggan Krauss - baritone sax
Curtis Fowlkes - trombone
Adam Dorn - synth

The 858 Strings:
Jenny Scheinmann - violin
Eyvind Kang - viola
Hank Roberts - cello


Bill Frisell
[INT] The Intercontinentals, Nonesuch Records 2003

Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars, loops, bass
Sidiki Camara - calabash, djembe, congas, percussion, vocals
Vinicius Cantuaria - electric and acoustic guitars, vocals, drums, percussion
Christos Govetas - oud, vocals, bouzouki
Greg Leisz - slide guitars, pedal steel guitars
Jenny Scheinman - violin


Bill Frisell
[TW] The Willies, Nonesuch Records 2002

Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars, loops
Danny Barnes - banjo, acoustic guitar,bass harmonica, pump organ
Keith Lowe - bass


Bill Frisell
[FHJ] Bill Frisell with Dave Holland & Elvin Jones, Nonesuch Records 2001

Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars, loops
Dave Holland - bass
Elvin Jones - drums


Bill Frisell and Jim Woodring
[TRO] Trosper, Fantagraphics; ISBN: 1560974265 2001

Bill Frisell - guitars...lots of guitars. And loops, too. Plus some backwards stuff

 



Bill Frisell
[BD] Blues Dream, Nonesuch Records 2001

Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars, loops
Greg Leisz - pedal steel, lap steel, National steel guitar, Scheerhorn resonator guitar, mandolin
Ron Miles - trumpet
Billy Drewes - alto saxophone
David Piltch - bass
Kenny Wolleson - drums and percussion
Curtis Fowlkes - trombone


Lonesome Bill Bill Frisell
[GT] Ghost Town, Nonesuch Records 2000

Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars, 6 string banjo, loops & bass

 


Bill Frisell
[GDHM] Good Dog, Happy Man, Nonesuch Records 1999

Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars, loops and music boxes
Greg Leisz - pedal steel, Dobro, lap steel, Weissenborn, National steel guitar and mandolin
Wayne Horvitz - organ, piano, samples
Viktor Krauss - bass
Jim Keltner - drums and percussion
special guest on Shenandoah:
Ry Cooder - guitar


Bill Frisell
[GJLAT] Gone, Just Like A Train, Nonesuch Records 1998

Bill Frisell - acoustic and electric guitars
Jim Keltner - drums and percussion
Viktor Krauss - bass


Bill Frisell
[N] Nashville, Nonesuch Records 1997

Bill Frisell - guitar
Viktor Krauss - bass
with:
Jerry Douglas - dobro
Ron Block - banjo, acoustic guitar
Adam Steffey - mandolin
Robin Holcomb - vocals
Pat Bergeson - harmonica


Bill Frisell
[BFQ] Quartet, Nonesuch Records 1996

Eyving Kang - violin, tuba
Ron Miles - trumpet, piccolo trumpet
Curtis Fowlkes - trombone
Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars


Bill Frisell
[GW] Music for the Films of Buster Keaton - Go West, Nonesuch Records 1995

Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars
Kermit Driscoll - electric and acoustic basses
Joey Baron - drums and percussion


Bill Frisell
[THS/OW] Music for the Films of Buster Keaton
The High Sign / One Week, Nonesuch Records 1995

Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars
Kermit Driscoll - electric and acoustic basses
Joey Baron - drums and percussion


Bill Frisell, Kermit Driscoll and Joey Baron
[L] Live, Gramavision 1995

Bill Frisell - guitar
Kermit Driscoll - bass
Joey Baron - drums


Bill Frisell
[TL] This Land, Elektra Nonesuch 1994

Bill Frisell - guitar
Don Byron - clarinet and bass clarinet
Billy Drewes - alto saxophone
Curtis Fowlkes - trombone
Kermit Driscoll - electric and acoustic basses
Joey Baron - drums


The Bill Frisell Band
[WITW?] Where In The World?, Elektra Musician 1991

Bill Frisell - guitar, ukulele
Hank Roberts - cello, jazz-a-phone fiddle
Kermit Driscoll - basses
Joey Baron - drums


Bill Frisell
[ITY?] Is That You?, Elektra Musician 1990

Bill Frisell - guitars, bass, banjo, ukulele, clarinet
Wayne Horvitz - keyboards, drum programming, momentary bass
Joey Baron - drums
Dave Hofstra - tuba, bass


Bill Frisell
[BWWB] Before We Were Born, Elektra Musician 1989

Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars
Arto Lindsay - electric guitar
Peter Scherer - keyboards and drum programming
Hank Roberts - cello, voice
Julius Hemphill - alto saxophone
Billy Drewes - alto saxophone
Doug Wieselman - baritone saxophone
Cyro Baptista - shaker
Kermit Driscoll - electric and acoustic basses
Joey Baron - drums, percussion, electronics


Bill Frisell Band
[LFH] Lookout For Hope, ECM 1988

Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars,banjo
Hank Roberts - cello,voice
Kermit Driscoll - bass
Joey Baron - drums


Bill Frisell
[R] Rambler, ECM 1984

Bill Frisell - guitar,guitar synthesizer
Kenny Wheeler - trumpet,cornet,fluegelhorn
BobStewart - tuba
Jerome Harris - electric bass
Paul Motian - drums


Bill Frisell
[IL] In Line, ECM 1982

Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars
Arild Andersen - bass


Ginger Baker Trio
[FOTR] Falling Off The Roof, Atlantic 1996

Ginger Baker - drums, vocals
Bill Frisell - acoustic and electric guitar
Charlie Haden - acoustic bass
plus: Bela Fleck - banjo; Jerry Hahn - electric guitar


Ginger Baker Trio
[GBH] Going Back Home, Atlantic 1994

Ginger Baker - drums, vocals
Bill Frisell - electric guitar
Charlie Haden - acoustic bass


Tim Berne and Bill Frisell
[T] ...Theoretically, Minor Music 1986

Tim Berne - alto saxophone
Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars


Joey Baron
[JL] Just Listen, Relative Pitch Records 2013

Joey Baron - drums
Bill Frisell - guitar


David Binney
[OOA] Out of Airplanes, Mythology 2006

David Binney - alto saxophone
Bill Frisell - guitar
Craig Taborn - piano, organ, syntheziers
Eivind Opsvik- acoustic and electric basses, glockenspiel
Kenny Wolleson - drums, percussion
with:
Adam Rogers - additional guitars


Paul Bley
[TPBQ] The Paul Bley Quartet, ECM 1987

Paul Bley - piano
John Surman - soprano saxophone, bass clarinet
Bill Frisell - guitar
Paul Motian - drums


Paul Bley
[F] Fragments, ECM 1986

Paul Bley - piano
John Surman - soprano and baritone saxophones,bass clarinet
Bill Frisell - guitar
Paul Motian - drums


Elvis Costello And Bill Frisell
[DDB] Deep Dead Blue Live 25 June 95, Warner Bros. / Nonesuch 1995

Bill Frisell - guitar
Elvis Costello - vocals


Andrew Cyrille
[LAB] Lebroba, ECM 2018

Andrew Cyrille - drums
Bill Frisell - guitar
Wadada Leo Smith - trumpet


Andrew Cyrille Quartet
[TDOMI] The Declaration Of Musical Independence, ECM 2016

Andrew Cyrille - Drums, Percussion
Bill Frisell - Guitar
Richard Teitelbaum - Piano, Synthesizer
Ben Street - Bass


Jack DeJohnette, featuring Bill Frisell
[ESBSR] The Elephant Sleeps But Still Remembers, Kindred Rhythm 2006

Jack DeJohnette - drums, percussion, vocal and piano
Bill Frisell - guitar and banjo
Ben Surman - additional production


Floratone
[FLORA] Floratone, Blue Note 2007

Bill Frisell - electric & acoustic guitars, loops
Matt Chamberlain - drums, percussion, loop
Tucker Martine - production
Lee Townsend - production
with guests:
Viktor Krauss - acoustic & electric bass
Ron Miles - cornet (tracks 1-3,7,8)
Eyvind Kang - violin, viola (tracks 1-3,7,8)


Frisell/Godsey/Ales
[AB/SIN] American Blood/Safety In Numbers, Verabra 1994

Bill Frisell - guitars, ukelele and banjo
Brian Ales - sampling and electronics
Victor Bruce Godsey - words and vocal (AB only)

NB: Although the title given on the CD's `spine' is as above, the tracks actually appear with the Safety In Numbers sub-set (1-10) first, followed by American Blood


Gabriela
[EV] El Viaje, Intuition Music 2006

Gabriela - vocals, guitar
Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars, loops
Viktor Krauss - bass
Eyvind Kang - viola, violin
Steve Moore - keyboards
Tucker Martine - percussion


Gabriela
[VR] Viento Rojo, Intuition Music 1999

Gabriela - vocals, acoustic guitar
Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars
Jenny Scheinman - violin
Eric Longsworth - cello
Viktor Krauss - bass
arranged by Bill Frisell


Gabriela
[DDS] Detrás del Sol, Intuition 1997

Gabriela - vocals, acoustic guitar
Bill Frisell - guitars
Rob Burger - accordion, harmonium
Bill Douglass - bass
Alex Acuña - drums, percussion
Eyvind Kang - violin


Allen Ginsberg
[HSJR] Holy Soul Jelly Roll - Poems And Songs (1949-1993), Rhino Records 1994

A 4-CD retrospective, including Bill's performances on `The End' and `Guru' from TLFR, and the previously unreleased `Written In My Dreams By W.C. Williams' with:
Allen Ginsberg - voice
Ralph Carney - clarinet
Bill Frisell - guitars
Marc Ribot - banjo
Steve Swallow - bass


Allen Ginsberg
[TLFR] The Lion For Real, Antilles 1989

Allen Ginsberg - voice
and several others, including:
Bill Frisell - guitars


Petra Haden and Bill Frisell
[PHABF] Petra Haden and Bill Frisell, True North Records 2003

Petra Haden - vocals, violin
Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars, loops


Jim Hall and Bill Frisell
[HEM] Hemisphere, ArtistShare 2008

Jim Hall- guitar
Bill Frisell - guitar
with (on disc 2)
Scott Colley - bass
Joey Baron - drums

Billy Hart
Rah, Gramavision 1988

Billy Hart - drums
and several others, including:
Bill Frisell - electric guitar


Billy Hart
[O] Oshumare, Gramavision 1985

Jabali Billy Hart - drums
and several others, including:
Bill Frisell - electric guitar


Marc Johnson
[TSOSR] The Sound of Summer Running, Verve Records 1998

Marc Johnson - bass
Bill Frisell - electric & acoustic guitars
Pat Metheny - electric & acoustic guitars, 42-string pikasso guitar
Joey Baron - drums


Marc Johnson's Bass Desires
[SS] Second Sight, ECM 1987

Marc Johnson - bass
Bill Frisell - guitar
John Scofield - guitar
Peter Erskine - drums


Henry Kaiser
[RMFM] Re-Marrying for Money, SST 1988

`The Last Of The Few' is a duet recorded live in concert, 21 Nov 1985, by:
Henry Kaiser - guitar
Bill Frisell - guitar


Lee Konitz
[RH] Rhapsody, Evidence 1995

Bill appears on `Lo-Ko-Mo-& Frizz' as part of the Lee Konitz Quartet
Lee Konitz - alto, soprano and tenor sax
Joe Lovano - tenor and soprano sax, alto clarinet
Bill Frisell - guitar
Paul Motian - drums


Viktor Krauss
[FFE] Far From Enough, Nonesuch 2004

Viktor Krauss - bass, electric piano, vocals, electric guitar, sustainer guitar, bass drum, effecr, arco bass
Jerry Douglas - lap steel guitar, dobro, Weissenborn
Bill Frisell - electric guitars, sustainer guitar, acoustic guitar
Steve Jordan - drums, conga
Alison Krauss - vocals


Arto Lindsay
[ OCS] O Corpo Sutil (The Subtle Body), For Life/Ryko 1996

The musicians on `My Mind Is Going' are:
Arto Lindsay - vocals
Bill Frisell - guitar
Joey Baron - drums
Cyro Baptista - congas
Melvin Gibbs - bass
Yuka Honda - sampler


Gregoire Maret
[AM] Americana, ACT 2020

Gregoire Maret - harmonica
Romain Collin - piano, Moog Taurus, pump organ & additional effects
Bill Frisell - electric guitar, acoustic guitar & banjo
Clarence Penn - drums


Chris Massey Group
[AT] Atmosphere, Willow Records 1981

Chris Massey - drums
and several others, including:
Bill Frisell - electric guitar
Brian Gephart - saxophone
My thanks to Martin Lane for help on this one


Ron Miles
[HVN] Heaven, Sterling Circle Records 2002

Ron Miles - trumpet
Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars


Gary Peacock and Bill Frisell
[JSH] Just So Happens, Postcards Inc. 1994

Gary Peacock - bass
Bill Frisell - guitars

My thanks to Laurie Hatch for reminding me about this CD


Power Tools
[SM] Strange Meeting, Antilles 1987

Bill Frisell - electric guitar
Melvin Gibbs - electric bass
Roland Shannon Jackson - drums


Bill Frisell and Vernon Reid
[SAS] Smash and Scatteration, Rykodisc 1984

Bill Frisell and Vernon Reid - electric and acoustic guitars, guitar synth, banjos, and drum programming


David Sanborn
[AH] Another Hand, Elektra/Musician 1991

David Sanborn - alto sax
plus many others including:
Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitar - 5 tracks


Michael Shrieve
[FAS] Fascination, CMP 1994

Michael Shrieve - drums
Bill Frisell - guitars
Wayne Horvitz - organ


Michael Shrieve
[TD] Two Doors (CD 2: Flying Polly), CMP 1995

Michael Shrieve - drums
Bill Frisell - guitars
Wayne Horvitz - organ


David Sylvian
[EAN] Everywhere and Nowhere, Virgin 2000

Bill appears on four tracks: the co-composed Dobro #'s 5 and 6 plus The Scent of Magnolia [also included in two mixes on the digi-pack-only bonus four track CD] and Heartbeat:
Bill Frisell - guitars
[with, amongst others on the latter two]
David Sylvian - keyboards/samples/vocals etc.


David Sylvian
[DBC] Dead Bees on a Cake, Virgin 1999

Bill appears on two tracks: the co-composed Dobro #1 and Krishna Blue:
Bill Frisell - guitars
[with, amongst others on the latter]
David Sylvian - keyboards/vocals
who also produces a reasonable facsimile of the `Friz-tone' on Praise


McCoy Tyner
[G] Guitars, Half Note Records 2008

McCoy Tyner - Piano
Ron Carter - bass
Jack DeJohnette - drums
with
Bill Frisell - guitar on 3 tracks, including Boubacar

also featured: Derek Trucks, John Scofield, Marc Ribot - guitars
Bela Fleck - banjo


Various Artists
[ACOD] A Confederacy of Dances Vol I.: Live Recordings from the Roulette Series New York, Einstein 1992

Track 1: Bill Frisell - guitar


Various Artists
[FF] Finding Forrester, Sony 2000

In addition to 3 previously released tracks, Bill contributes a version of Over The Rainbow

Bill Frisell - guitar and loops


Various Artists
[MDH] Music from the motion picture Million Dollar Hotel, Universal Island 2000

Any number of people including Brian Eno, U2 and Jon Hassell, and on several tracks
Bill Frisell - guitar


Various Artists
[TNC] The Nonesuch Collection, Nonesuch 2004

Willfully obscurantist - 15 track sampler given away free with the March 2004 edition of Uncut magazine (Jimi Hendrix on the cover). Track three includes:
Bill Frisell - guitar


Viklicky/Frisell/Driscoll/Johnson
[D&W] Door & Window, Bonton 1997

Emil Viklicky - keyboards
Bill Frisell - guitars
Kermit Driscoll - bass
Vinton Johnson - drums
Not strictly speaking new. A compilation of two albums released in 1980 and 1985, recorded in 1979. Apart from the one BF composition, probably only of interest to fans of Gary Boyle's Isotope


Discographies

For many years, Bryan Aaker's herculean efforts to achieve the seemingly impossible task of compiling a "complete" discography, ensured that to avoid unnecessary duplication, I attempted merely to "fill-in"' the gaps with my misellany of frisellia which contains a list of articles and interviews about/with Bill Frisell (updated 17-x-11), plus sound bites, details of his video, and CDs which may, or may not, be mentioned in the following mighty work:

  • Martin Lane's original typescript discography, tended, maintained & expanded by Bryan Aaker, with additional news, links, and significant information is still online, but concludes with releases from around 2007 - a new curator is sought;
Also deserving of your attention are the following additional sites which provide a wealth of details within their own parameters:
  • Bill Frisell Official Homepage, containing information re: Bill's Nonesuch output, news, forth-coming gigs, a biography etc, which is, by & large, mirrored on the pages of Songline / Tone Field;
  • Matt Wright's "complete" - up to March 1993 - Bill Frisell discography (annotated, and including much pertinent commentary - NB: I've shanghied this, as its old location no longer appears valid);
  • ECM's discography of Bill's appearances on that label's discs;
  • Nonesuch's likewise
  • Artur Nowak's DISCOGRAPHY OF BILL FRISELL - no longer actively maintained (since 2002?), so far as I can tell, but still lots of coverage for the previous century.
See also:

Initially constructed over a wet weekend in early March 1998 by David Cooper Orton.

Additional information supplied by Martin Lane, May 1998, and from time to time since then, plus my own updates whenerver Bill releases something new.


all contents (apart from that which isn't mine) copyright david cooper orton 1998-2021