Bill Frisell

History, Mystery

(Nonesuch)

Guitarist Bill Frisell may not be the flashiest personality in modern jazz, but he’s among the most consistently compelling. While History, Mystery is a relatively low-key affair, the generous two-disc set effectively showcases his skills as a writer, arranger and player of uncommon intelligence and versatility.

The bulk of this material was composed for two stage productions: Mysterio Simpatico, which premiered in 2002, and Probability Cloud, from 2006 – both collaborations between Frisell and visual artist Jim Woodring. These multimedia presentations exhibited Woodring’s moody tone drawings to Frisell’s highly imagistic and deeply focused original scores. Some numbers, such as “A Momentary Suspension of Doubt,” qualify as mere fragments, yet they’re notably pristine ones – miniatures that sound lovely from every angle. Others, like “Struggle,” with its delicate introduction and sweeping melody lines, feel composed in every sense of the word. And the crew Frisell charged with bringing them to life caresses every nuance. Cornetist Ron Miles, saxophonist/clarinetist Greg Tardy, bassist Tony Scherr and drummer Kenny Wollesen acquit themselves with subtlety and taste throughout. And the string section of violinist Jenny Scheinman, viola player Eyvind Kang and cellist Hank Roberts deserves special praise for “Monroe,” an offering of palpable melancholy and understated beauty. The same qualities imbue the reprise, “Monroe Part 2,” which finds Frisell playing relatively few notes – but each one indisputably right.

A handful of covers captured live supplement the set, but while the extended rendition of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” is enjoyable, it doesn’t quite fit. History, Mystery is best in its quieter moments, when Frisell’s modesty and talent stroll side by side.

- Michael Roberts