Musical chameleon Frisell really shines live, and it's been a long-time frustration of fans that his only solo live album dated from more than a decade ago (the cleverly titled Live.) He finally righted that this summer with the release of two stunning sets of very different material spanning two CDs. Disc 1 features his trio with drummer Kenny Wolleson and bassist Viktor Krauss in a very upbeat, energetic outing that is more straight-ahead jazz (or as close as Frisell generally tends to get.) Disc 2 is Frisell and Wolleson accompanied by bassist Tony Scherr playing a darker, more acoustic and contemplative side of Frisell's material. If you're like me, when the discs are over, you're going to wish there'd been more material from each group.

A quick check this morning of the Bill Frisell site shows that the promised "additional" East/West material (Frisell's fantastic new live album, released Summer 2005) is now available. I'm thrilled to see some options of download format - I had been worried it was going to be crappy low-bitrate mp3s or, much worse, the DRM-protected WMV format, but I'm glad to say that buyers have the option of grabbing compressed, lossy files in the form of both mp3s and AAC (Apple format,) and compressed, non-lossy FLAC files. The files can also be purchased at Itunes and Napster, but why would you limit yourself like that? Get at least the mp3s from the Songtone site so you aren't chained to a particular player, or spend the extr $2.99 and get the FLAC files and decide for yourself what lossy format you want to use. As an incentive, Songtone is including a free download of artwork with your purchase.

Here's the line-up:

FURTHER WEST (DISC 1)

1. Lookout for Hope (9:47)
2. Monroe (7:02)
3. Big Shoe (7:50)
4. Egg Radio (11:10)

total time: (36:06)

Bill Frisell - guitar, loops
Viktor Krauss - bass
Kenny Wollesen - drums

FURTHER EAST (DISC 2)

1. Lost Highway (10:48)
2. Masters of War (9:00)
3. What The World Needs Now (5:21)
4. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (4:03)
5. Prelude/Body and Soul (3:04)
6. Paradox (6:33)
7. Cluck Old Hen (2:16)

total time: (41:10)

Bill Frisell - electric & acoustic guitars, loops
Tony Scherr - bass, acoustic guitar
Kenny Wollesen - drums, percussion

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