The Umbria Jazz Orchestra in the new Bill Frisell’s project
The New York label released a double disc and LP of Bill Frisell‘s project in which the great guitarist reinterprets some of his compositions, arranged by maestro Michael Gibbs – a true éminence grise of big bands arrangements – in a magnificent orchestral setting. The album was live recorded partly in Brussels with the Brussels Philharmonic and partly in Orvieto during the Umbria Jazz Winter Festival with the Umbria Jazz Orchestra under the musical direction of Manuele Morbidini. Frisell is joined by bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Rudy Royston.
Gibbs was one of Frisell’s former teachers at Berklee School of Music, the same college that has been offering its courses in Perugia during the Festival for 37 years.
The album marks an apical moment for the orchestra, which the Fondazione Umbria Jazz established on the initiative of the former Association. For over ten years, the orchestra has made possible a series of original projects that involved important names of modern jazz music: Ryan Truesdell, Joe Lovano, Quincy Jones, Wayne Shorter, Paolo Fresu, Kurt Elling, Gil Goldstein, Gregory Porter-Vince Mendoza, Ethan Iverson. The orchestra has always received unanimous praise for its quality and its ability to “fit in” the spirit of the compositions, which are generally far from simple.
Orchestras documents two outstanding concerts (both arranged by Michael Gibbs) for famous guitarists Bill Frisell’s longstanding trio with bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Rudy Royston: one featuring the Brussels Philharmonic, conducted by Alexander Hanson, and one with the Umbria Jazz Orchestra, under the musical direction of Manuele Morbidini.
The exclusive vinyl version for the Universal Music store adds a third LP, a bonus album featuring original recordings that will not be available anywhere else.
