Reviewed: 2019-10-07
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Iconic guitarist-composer Frisell has chosen to primarily emphasize the Americana side of his music for his debut as a leader for Blue Note Records. When he organized his new band, he was struck by the fact that all of the band members but him sang, so their vocal blend became the group's signature sound as well as the inspiration for the name Harmony. Upon first hearing, the album sounds rooted in traditional American music, but in fact eight of the fourteen selections were composed by Frisell.
If You Like: Ry Cooder, Jakob Bro, Abigail Washburn, Julee Cruise
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
1/ Everywhere – female vocal starts acapella> midtempo jam with wordless vocals> guitar solo> full harmony chorus joins> quick fade
**2/ God’s Wing’d Horse – guitar starts> slow Americana song with female vocal backed by chorus> guitar solo> midtempo song with chorus builds in volume> fade
*3/ Fifty Years – guitar starts> midtempo jam with deep bass notes & wordless vocals with chorus slowly builds in volume> crescendo end
**4/ Hard Times – guitar starts> midtempo Americana song with female vocal, then joined by chorus> quick fade
***5/ Deep Dead Blue – guitar starts> midtempo ethereal dreamy Americana song with female vocal with a spacy jam underneath> fade
*6/ There In A Dream – guitar chords start> slow song with female vocal & deep heavy jam underneath> ethereal instrumental break> midtempo song> slow fade
*7/ Lonesome – guitar starts> uptempo wordless song with female vocal weaving around guitar> fade
*8/ On The Street Where You Live – guitar chord starts> breathy ethereal song with female vocal & chorus> fade
9/ How Many Miles? – full band & chorus starts> midtempo song with wordless vocals & chorus swells in volume & intensity> quick fade
*10/ Lush Life – guitar starts> midtempo actual jazz song with female vocal rolls in slow waves> fade
**11/ Honest Man – female vocal/guitar start> brief midtempo songwith rcking jam underneath> quick stop
***12/ Red River Valley – acapella song with chorus sings midtempo traditional Americana song> fade
*13/ Curiosity – guitar starts> brief midtempo wordless song with female vocal builds in volume & intensity> quick fade
*14/ Where Have All The Flowers Gone? – guitar starts> old folk song with female vocal with intense underbed> quick fade