Bill Frisell @ QPAC Review

Bill Frisell
Tim is a Brisbane-based writer who loves noisy music, gorgeous pop, weird films, and ice cream.

Jazz guitar genius Bill Frisell brought his band to Brisbane’s QPAC (9 June) for a night celebrating the songs of his favourite films.


Bill has appeared on hundreds of recordings, but his playing style is unique enough to spot. Joined by double bassist Tom Morgan, drummer Rudy Royston and vocalist Petra Hayden, Bill put his stamp on classic songs from a host of movies.

When Bill and his band step on to the stage, the first thing Bill does is introduce each of them but not himself. Instead he introduces himself by picking up his guitar and using his pedals to create a symphony of twinkling notes. Petra begins to sing ‘Moon River’ from ‘Breakfast At Tiffany's' over the top, making the song sparkle like a starry night.

From there, Bill launches from ‘Moon River’ to the stars when he plays with the pedals scattered in front of him like toys to warp his guitar. Bill’s curiosity with the way he can manipulate the sound of his instrument created some interesting sounds.

Even though I couldn’t identify the tune being played, it was marvellous to hear where Bill’s mind would lead him. An idea for an addition to the show would be to let the audience know what the song is and maybe his thoughts. I’m sure Bill would offer some insights as delightful as his musicianship.

Throughout the show Bill stood back and watched as each musician took the lead on different songs. Bill smiled throughout Rudy’s drum solo, his face lighting up with pleasure during certain fills the drummer always surprises him. While Bill is a slow and steady guitarist, he has surrounded himself with some talented musicians who can keep up with his imagination.

The group closed the show with a rendition of the classic James Bond theme ‘You Only Live Twice’. Bill’s guitar twang masterfully recreated the famous string motif of the song, with Tom and Rudy giving a light touch while Petra’s voice became sultry.

The band returned for what I guess was a post-credits sequence and a performance of the Burt Bacharach and Hal David tune ‘What The World Needs Now Is Love’. It was a lovely way to end the night, highlighting the need to stay right until the end when you’re in the presence of Bill Frisell.

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