I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry: Julian Lage and Bill Frisell

Performed by Julian Lage and Bill Frisell, Live House Concert, Lincoln, MA, December 1, 2021

[@displaychicken]

I love the way Bill often starts out with total chaos and slowly let’s the song almost build itself out of the pieces and emerge.

[@Mincher]

Bill plays 1 note and it rings so clearly that you know it's him instantly.

[@samuelhornmusik]

absolutely!!!! first note, you know immediately!!

[@michaelfoxbrass]

Yes! Miles once said something like “it takes a long time to sound like yourself”

[@spinnact]

Marc Ribot discussed this in an interview he did with Bill - "every guitarist who has ever heard Frisell has wondered how he managed to get his guitar to produce notes that swelled in volume as they sustained, like a violinist or horn player, instead of steadily fading, like the notes on everyone else’s guitar. There was talk by the bar of a clever use of compression, echo, or volume pedals. I believed this until I heard him produce the same effect on an acoustic guitar, at which point I gave up trying to understand." Bill's a magician.

[@billybarnett]

Beautiful

[@billybarnett]

Stunning

[@cliffirddelbridge2810]

Julian is doing great playing with Bill. Bill always has the most unexpected moves and Julian's ears are HUGE to compliment Bill so brilliantly and heart felt..

[@kenji3389]

What amazes me about Mr. Bill is he plays so few notes, but it make me feel like listening to orchestra. Such a magic.

[@michaelfoxbrass]

His tone is simply expressive beyond words. (Fwiw, I’m a trumpet player and am absolutely stunned by his playing and this wonderful collaboration with Julian Lage makes me want to work on my tone!)

[@kenji3389]

@@michaelfoxbrass yes whenever I noticed, I found myself in his world when I listened to him. I had a chance to briefly talk to him after the concert years ago. He was such a humble gentleman. True legend

[@resilientrecoveryministries]

His improvisation is ethereal. It's like a ghost of the melody-no longer of this world, but retaining some essence of its former self.

[@monkeyxx]

I was "counting with him" in the intro, and there are some points where he does seem to "ignore time" lose the count, lose the bar, whatever. Mostly not, but sometimes he does. Very much like older blues music. When Julian comes in, yes they keep a common time.

[@billyfitzgerald834]

@@monkeyxx most intros are like that. You can do what the hell you want when you are playing alone lol

[@Luq_]

All those things you imagine could be possible on a guitar, Julian imagines and plays them right there. He's so free and imaginative melodically, it's completly astonishing

[@MelodicDreamers]

They sound so good together. It's like they were created to play off one another.

[@PowMusic]

Bill’s touch. Unlike anyone else. Instantly recognizable and so friendly and inviting

[@TheCompleteGuitarist]

I think Bill wins the "Show more leg because pants are too short" competition. Julian has something to learn from the old master.

[@MylesDavis]

They both have serious rock-star shoes, though. 😆

[@heinrichpeffenkoffer4894]

That's Frisell, he always starts a clash of generations.

[@JackTheSkunk]

No distortion....just beautiful clear, clean tones....so refreshing!!! Great guitar interplay.

[@mitchellbartolo9063]

Julian's signature guitars are so nice.

[@JAYDUBYAH29]

The additional hours needed to practice deliberately consistent atonal runs, intervals, arpeggios in that wild detour, on top of all the other mastery, is jaw dropping.

[@christianscazzieri]

"Halfway between Monk, Picasso, and Felix the Cat".

[@steveklein8283]

I saw Bill Frisell at the Musical Instruments Museum in Phoenix. 3 20 minute improvisations and a 15 improvised encore. I can't tell you why I liked it....but I loved it.....I'd love to know what this man hears.

[@mattdurell4170]

Two of my favorites; two of the best ever.

[@nogoogleplus]

Thanks for sharing this!!

[@traildoggy]

magic tone I have seen Bill live about 2 dozen times and have never been disappointed. I may have even left my body once or twice.

[@robmaurer]

Fantastic! 🔥🔥

[@frakognome4434]

Simply magic

[@manfredmelcher7803]

Wonderful beyond words…

[@guitarfortherestofus5110]

This put a smile on my face.

[@banjoturtle]

This brought a BIG smile to my face!

[@amidyrek5697]

Brilliant! I'm speechless.

[@danielshade710]

Oh god obviously hacks…naught…. Absolutely killing at any given moment!

[@seandangercampbell]

Amazing. What a wonderful match-up.

[@rnemchev]

Two of my favorite guitarists What a bliss!!

[@no59do56]

2 of the best 😊

[@tpbyers]

What a mind blowingly beautiful performance. Thank you for sharing😁

[@samuelhornmusik]

holy sh*t they're both so good. and so nice and well-humoured about it. so beautiful. just an absolute treat!!! ❤❤❤🔥🔥🔥

[@jamesblackthorne6324]

What a treat from two amazing guitarist staying true and with such lovely monkey business.

[@FingerstyleBrazil]

Sublime!

[@kevinberthoud9347]

I love it when the conversation is so fruitful; so beautiful. These compliment each other sooooo well. Oh man ... wowie! I bet Hank is humming along somewhere.

[@TheSecondOnion]

Amazing! Nice to see two guitar-heroes have so much fun playing together!

[@chooshchoosh]

So beautiful I did cry

[@elbdeltaguitarguru3032]

Thank you for this, Eric. Without you, I wouldn‘t be able to listen to this very beautiful and inspring music. Thank you very much.

[@gregstephenson414]

I had so many comments, then the video started. So cool. Both are so awesome. Being able to hear Hank Sr. through the jamming...Love it!

[@yannseven7096]

Inspiration infinie!

[@Garflips]

These guys need to get a room! Seriously awesome jazz communication but yeah, just call it love... music is love.

[@danthefave]

The best advertisement that Collings guitars could ask for

[@bluefish1875]

What are they?

[@danthefave]

@@bluefish1875 Both of these fellows are playing guitars made by Bill Collings

[@CBGypsy03]

@@danthefave beautiful guitars.

[@crow-dont-know]

I wish I could afford one!

[@gregarnold1696]

If the rest of us could communicate this well we might just pull it off 🎸🎸 Bill is one of the most interesting guitar players if you think of his covers it's all about guitar music he is gift

[@robertrushin7568]

That's some house!

[@dahag2996]

Not sure how that room contained so much sublime tone exuding from these two sages.

[@stuartweissman7306]

one sage...one young wizard...

[@cliffirddelbridge2810]

Wow Julian, that was some super fast crazy $hit. And Friz matches Julian with those super articulate and equally fast 3 notes. Super ears.

[@stuartweissman7306]

wish i owned that house. and some of the chords Mr. Lage just through in there.

[@postpunkhah]

The last 2 and a half minutes is 🔥

[@gregkoelling615]

Wow! In my next life I'll play as well. Maybe...I hope...

[@jarrilaurila]

Playful and sweet groove

[@dreamawaythemiles]

genius in action

[@jimclark9826]

It’s hard to imagine dinner and a duo like these two and yet, there they are. I’d love to go to a show with these two anywhere but the restaurant is a nice idea. Encore? Somewhere, sometime? Please tell me if anyone hears of such a delightful thing like this happening again.

[@bluesriot2]

one place i will never shop is the store whose ad broke in the middle of this amazing duet

[@TheSecondOnion]

Heroes!

[@fr397]

Such a deep/complex dive that is all blues!

[@2ChukBuk]

Yeah, this is working for me. Big time.

[@kimronningen]

I could have paid 1000$ to be in that room, and that kid just sleeps on the table! Life ain’t fair. Love the look on Bills face when Julian takes over the melody!

[@jamesbentua1545]

So true! Sure he’s one hell of a brat.

[@jimbonacum8917]

While this is an extraordinary performance I think if I had not read the title I would not have recognized the tune. After enjoying this you might try looking for the album of Hank Williams songs played by Roy Clark and Joe Pass. It is stylistically quite different than this performance but just as wonderful.

[@ericsanders5357]

I'd love to hear that album..

[@GuiitarBilly]

@ericsanders just checked Spotify and the Joe-Roy album is there. It takes a conventional approach, no outside stuff/you’re never guessing which song they’re playing. Always a treat hearing Joe do his special, musical thing to a 3 or 4 chord Hank tune …& Roy’s no slouch :-) It was recorded near the very end of Joe’s life and might have seemed an odd pairing on paper, but not on that fun recording. I absolutely love what Bill and Julian do in this video; all the clips from this evening are magical.

[@jimbonacum8917]

I’m glad folks are getting to hear Joe and Roy. Obviously it is a very different approach but variety is the spice of life and good music is good music regardless of the style

[@HM55-77]

Called improvising ?

[@displaychicken]

I have that album and absolutely love it

[@dylannelson501]

They go together like hot pizza and cold beer 🤌🏻

[@user-eb6un6pt3d]

Редкий случай, когда разные поколения так хорошо понимают друг друга, ну просто дует гигантов джазовой гитары.

[@Taylor314ce]

God and Jesus

[@Cutuclus]

Blues of the 2050's

[@hatephone]

julian LARGE and Billy boy going huge

[@sanbhusan21]

Julian enjoys so much while playing with Bill.

[@nevilleattkins586]

The only thing that stops Bill F from repeating each gorgeous phrase forever - is that there is another one along straight after.

[@steveklein8283]

Do these guys have good ears, or what? WOW!!!

[@bluesriot2]

wow

[@fredtanner9257]

Bill is winning the sock off

[@dangarner378]

Ooo just let let I.

[@francescosivelli]

The Master and the Pupil..

[@fromagefromage5157]

didn't know Alain Ducasse play guitar this good

[@jannienel7047]

😍

[@bewareofyikes]

çooooookkk iyi beeeeeeeeeeee

[@ch.2027]

damn this is some good weed

[@EctomorphEcstasy]

That's one helluva house! How do I get on the invite list? ;-)

[@frostmusic5360]

Hank Williams was playing a show with a sub guitar player one night. Apparently they got to the end of the first tune and Hank said "what the HELL are you playing there boy?" The sub replied, "Oh just a few 2 chords in front of the 5". Hank was livid..."well, I wrote the song, and I'm pretty sure I didn't put any goddam minor chords in it"

[@arale6460]

YOOOOO

[@andyryder5287]

Amazing music - separated at birth but not in music - quixotic but beautiful.

[@wehaveasituation]

What a pairing...someone invite Pat..

[@michaelfoxbrass]

Wait for it… 8:54

[@ciwanicha]

how about bill and nels?

[@1101964]

Too out there for me. Unrecognizable to my ears.

[@nugznmugz]

Well this is hip af

[@Baci302]

Anyone here know what guitars and amps these two men are using?

[@davidklein08]

Looks like both guitars are Julian signature models from Collings. Looks like Julian is playing a Princeton Reverb, idk about Bills amp.

[@jeffdixon847]

I don’t think Bill is playing a Lage signature is he? Isn’t that his Collings I-35 LC Deluxe that he’s had for a long time (earlier days without a Bigsby)? Julian is playing his signature Collings 470 JL which is an interpretation of a 50s Gretsch Jet with dyna sonic pickups.

[@davidklein08]

@@jeffdixon847 you are probably right - I am not super familiar with the Collings line

[@pallhe]

Anyone know what amp Bill is using here?

[@josephtravers777]

How far can you stretch 3 chords? Bill's intro

[@Luq_]

When I grow up I wanna be Julian's left hand

[@yuribillones5094]

You just don't wanna go there...

[@Luq_]

@@yuribillones5094 lul

[@Luq_]

he's right handed tho, I'd be holding the phone

[@yuribillones5094]

@@Luq_ how do you know? LUL #slippery#slope

[@Crispeacock]

You want to brush up against guitar strings all day?

[@GerardRebours]

Why not release a CD from that performance? Both of them seem to me to be better live than in studio. My only regret is that, although he plays wonderfully and in a unique way, Bill is not as bold now as he was some decades ago. Or, some may say, it's another kind of bolderness, but Julian is often the one to break the veil.

[@UR_Right24]

Is all of this improvised?

[@kellygrant3074]

I wonder how much they rehearsed, and how? The muse is fresh; I'm sure with talent like this, it could well be spontaneous creation on a well known theme, but they didn't just call it in the hallway?

[@zakkjones]

most likely it was called in the hallway :)

[@kellygrant3074]

@@zakkjones Thas cool too. (;

[@kellygrant3074]

@@zakkjones After further listen, you are likely correct. It is upon us to recognize genious sometimes. I just wish I could have given them some snare swishes.

[@tommyheg8258]

Usually people at this level don’t rehearse together. It’s more interesting to keep things up en an spontaneous

[@TheArtofBlues]

This is a shreds video.

[@kranmaster]

They had me up until the final two and a half minutes. Things got just a little too outside for me at that point.

[@christopher.hallissy]

What kind of amp is Bill playing thru?

[@albertceva1526]

Based on the color, a Fender Tonemaster Blonde Deluxe Reverb? Maybe.

[@michaelfoxbrass]

Someone else commented on another vid they thought it was a Mesa specially modified to sound like a Princeton.

[@cqmurphy]

@@michaelfoxbrass which is ironic cos mesa's started out as modded princetons.

[@jeffdixon847]

Yeah, not a Deluxe Reverb because only one channel. Looks more like a Princeton Reverb, but the logo looks great rectangular like a Mesa Boogie logo.

[@matthewchunk3689]

Are they allowed to talk when they're playing guitar?

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

Frisell an Lage share a compunction for clear warm note selection (with occasional and intentional dissonances) separate by undeniable control of sonic spaces. Many find this mix compelling. I have tried but still find it wearying and manipulative. I prefer to skate along top of the music rather than being harnessed to attend while being allowed nothing better to do than contemplate. Music which invites and does not compel is far more satisfying, long term. It's 'as though I'm being restrained and there is no hope of release to the point that I must turn it off before it ends.

[@jeffholladay]

Great tune, misleading title

[@cliffirddelbridge2810]

Bill can use less notes because he sings in his phrasing with space and air, just like any person would sing.

[@daskren2]

Genius x 2. And I don’t really like to use that word …

[@yantomanuel6919]

just play any ol crap....some one will rave about it.

[@oov55]

Gave it all I could = but ended up annoyed. Had to go listen to Pat Metheny play "And I Love Her" just to decompress. There's no hope here. Not sure I even heard some love. Simply not acceptable that this is all that could come out of such talented hands.

[@fennarios]

why theres no youth here? something to do with money? amazing musicians but this looks like a depressed cruiseship

[@JonFrumTheFirst]

The jazz audience has been getting smaller for decades - no new blood. I doubt anyone there was depressed - that's you.

[@peterdanner2336]

Also sounds strangely what newbies at guitar center sound like. 😂

[@nylonshredder]

Bill frisell = total noodling sound

[@ujan9837]

I suppose we're all only partially noodling in that case.

[@blairwatkins508]

but are the mannequins at the table listening?

[@barrycooper1631]

At least they wern,t talking

[@jaramemitchell6383]

im gonna be honest here, maybe its an emperor with no clothes kind thing.. I like both these guys and I really love this song, but I really really disliked this.

[@jaramemitchell6383]

For me it’s just too much of a departure from the melody.. if you didn’t know What The song was you wouldn’t be able to figure it out..and even knowing it … idk just too much imo.

[@charlespeterson3798]

Agreement, Hank wrote with tremendous emotional power.