New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Savoy Jazz) Floratone, the collaborative ensemble known for creating a sound described as "futuristic roots music," is back with FLORATONE II--the follow up to their highly acclaimed debut and their first for Savoy Jazz. Floratone features the core group of Bill Frisell on guitar, Matt Chamberlain on drums and percussion and producers Lee Townsend and Tucker Martine. Together they continue to further the spirit of composition and improvisation born in a Seattle studio back in 2005. It's a fertile collaboration they've nurtured and maintained over the years, utilizing a distinctive methodology of inspiration with Bill and Matt laying down musical themes and assemblage, and Lee and Tucker with various accompaniment, adding and augmenting the compositions into a fantastic groove. With the additional contributions of cornetist Ron Miles, viola/violin player Eyvind Kang (both featured on Floratone's debut), bassist Mike Elizondo and multi-instrumentalist Jon Brion, Floratone has taken their signature sound to a new level. Bill Frisell will be touring throughout the year (tour dates below). FLORATONE II is available March 6th on Savoy Jazz.
Given the tremendous pool of talent appearing on FLORATONE II, it's not surprising that the thirteen tracks that make up the album are redolent with musicality that spans many genres and perspectives. Floratone is anchored by Bill Frisell whose identifiable guitar sound remains pliable and enables him to perform alongside an A-list of players within and outside of the jazz idiom and drummer/percussionist Matt Chamberlain who has performed alongside diverse artists such as Fiona Apple,
Pearl Jam,
Tori Amos and the
Wallflowers to name a few. When you then add producers and side players who have performed in every musical niche imaginable, it's almost miraculous that it all comes together as a cohesive whole.
FLORATONE II Track Listing:
1. The Bloom Is On
2. More Pluck
3. Snake, Rattle
4. Parade
5. Not Over Ever
6. Move
7. Do You Have It?
8. The Time, The Place
9. No Turn Back
10. The Time, The Place (Part 2)
12. Gimme Some
13. Grin And Bite
14. Stand By This
Confirmed 2012 tour dates:
2/24/2012: Portland, OR, Portland Jazz Festival - Crystal Ballroom, "Not So Fast - The
Music of
Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant with Bill Frisell"and "Bill Frisell Plays the
Music of John Lennon"
2/25/2012: Portland, OR, Portland Jazz Festival - PCPA Newmark Theater, "Bill Frisell (solo)" and "Bill Frisell's 858 Quartet featuring Eyvind Kang, Hank Roberts and Jenny Scheinman"
3/10/2012: Phoenix, AZ, The Compound Grill, Bill Frisell's Beautiful
Dreamers featuring Eyvind Kang and Rudy Royston
3/11/2012: Los Angeles, CA, Walt Disney Concert Hall, "Bill Frisell's Beautiful
Dreamers featuring Eyvind Kang and Rudy Royston", w/Kronos Quartet/Billy Childs Quartet
3/19/2012: Newtown, CT, Edmond Town Hall, Bill Frisell and Sam Amidon
3/20/2012: Brattleboro, VT, New England Youth Theatre, Bill Frisell and Sam Amidon
3/29/2012: Louisville, KY, Clifton Center, Bill Frisell with Tony Scherr, Kenny Wollesen
3/31/2012: Columbus, OH, Wexner Center for the Arts - Ohio
State University, "The Great Flood - A film by Bill Morrison,
Music composed & performed by Bill Frisell with Ron Miles, Tony Scherr, Kenny Wollesen"
4/1/2012: Cleveland Heights, OH, Nighttown, Bill Frisell with Ron Miles, Tony Scherr, Kenny Wollesen
4/19/2012: La Jolla, CA, UC San Diego, "The Great Flood - A film by Bill Morrison,
Music composed & performed by Bill Frisell with Ron Miles, Tony Scherr, Kenny Wollesen"
4/21/2012: San Francisco, CA, San Francisco Jazz Festival, "The Great Flood - A film by Bill Morrison,
Music composed & performed by Bill Frisell with Ron Miles, Tony Scherr, Kenny Wollesen"
6/23/2012: Boulder, CO, Boulder Theater, All We Are Saying: Bill Frisell Explores the
Music of
John Lennon featuring Tony Scherr, Greg Leisz and Kenny Wollesen
8/4/2012: Newport, RI, Newport Jazz Festival, All We Are Saying: Bill Frisell Explores the
Music of
John Lennon featuring Jenny Scheinman, Tony Scherr, Greg Leisz and Kenny Wollesen
9/22/2012: Monterey, CA, Monterey Jazz Festival, Bill Frisell's Beautiful
Dreamers + 858 Quartet
For more information, visit: www.savoyjazz.com
