snooze fest
I have been following Frisell since his ECM years and all of those albums out shine most of his current material. His playing has mellowed with age. What put Frisell on the map in the first place, his loops and delays and unique approach is almost gone. Check out Naked City or his ECM albums and you will hear his screaming, otherworldly tones that are almost all gone. He has taken the guitar to further places than anyone since Hendrix, and that is all gone. The reviewers of this album must discover his earlier more aggressive exploring of the guitar, still ethereal and supportive yet more urgent and rockin'. I highly recommend Mark Johnson's Bass Desires with Scofield, or Frisell's Lookout for Hope or Before We Were Born. I guess I'm not into his country and americana leanings which other musicians do better -

Alternately playful and contemplative
This is my first exposure to the music of jazz guitarist Bill Frisell and I have to say I was thrilled. EAST WEST is comprised of two live sets, with one recorded in 2004 at Yoshi's in Oakland, California (WEST) and the other recorded in 2003 at The Village Vanguard in New York, New York (EAST). Overall, this album is a fine recording of some highly atmospheric, guitar-led jazz, with just a tiny hint of the avant-garde here and there along with some blues. A mix of significantly altered cover tunes and group originals are included on this 2-CD set.

Bill (electric guitar, acoustic guitar and loops) is joined by Viktor Krauss (electric bass guitar WEST), Tony Scherr (electric/acoustic bass EAST) and Kenny Wollesen (drums EAST and WEST). All of these guys are talented musicians and their gift for improvisation never fails to amaze. There is an excellent group dynamic and ensemble sound, which is a result of the fact that these guys really listen to one another.

Bill has a unique style that is virtuosic, yet understated and at times, atmospheric. His use of a clean tone on the electric works well, particularly in the quieter sections. Although his technique is dazzling, Bill's use of space and silence is even moreso. The use of tape loops is also unusual in this setting but they are very effective - in fact, I am reminded somewhat of Robert Fripp. What I liked the most was that for just a trio, this music is very interesting and employs a range of dynamics and a lot of unusual tone color is introduced with the tape loops. There also seems to be a subtle difference between the two sets, with WEST being a bit more playful and loose and the EAST set being a bit jazzier and maybe even a little bit more serious.

You would never know that this is a live recording. The sound quality is excellent and the (small) audience can only be heard at the end of each track.

All in all this is a fine album that features the superb jazz guitar of Bill Frisell and is certainly one of the more interesting albums of this type that I have heard.

samuel beckett meets gene autry
it's that marvelous 'sentimental' nostalgia coupled to a sickly sour dissonance that gives his music such rapture - truly an american amalgam of the 'primitve' and exotic - and it's so pretty too.

My favourite Frisell album so far
This is the Bill Frisell album I've been waiting for. I've quite a number of his other albums mind, but while they're all excellent in their own right, I find I always have to be in a particular frame of mind to really enjoy them. The music and the sound of his guitar is always great but I tend to find the songs all rather single-minded, almost to the point of monotony. He's a completely different animal whenever he guests on other people's albums, where in my opinion he tends to be a lot more expressive and adventurous but on his own albums, well...

But this one is totally different. He sounds more animated, more expansive and there's a lot more tenderness and warmth in his playing than usual. Incredibly well produced by Lee Townsend - you wouldn't know it was a live recording if it wasn't for the applause from the audience - the "west" part of the album was recorded at Yoshi's in Oakland, California in May 2004, with Frisell on guitar and loops, Viktor Krauss on bass and Kenny Wollesen on drums, while the "east" part was recorded at The Village Vanguard in December 2003, with Frisell on electric and acoustic guitars and loops, Tony Scherr on bass and acoustic guitar and Kenny Wollesen again on drums.

Maybe Friesell sounds so different and so much better (to me, at least) because he's playing in front of a live audience? Both venues are world renowned but they are relatively small and very intimate. Whatever. All I know for sure is that it's jolly good stuff and if I were to suggest a Bill Frisell album to anyone, it would now be this one. Most definitely.

this cd changed my life
literally....I had been a guitar player for a few years and I got thrills here and there when I heard certain guitarist. I even heard Bill Frisell's Blues Dream and I was really into that BUT when I heard East/West I just said "I want to do that!" This cd is monumental! I really can't even explain what this cd has done to me in words. Tracks like pipe down, big shoe, and master's of war struck a real emotional spot in me. Those are my gems, although I have alternated. But on top of that the rest of the songs are also phenomenal. The voicing used on my man's gone now, crazy, people are very bill evan's like and simply beautiful. Frisell is just amazing and I am constantly pleased with everything this guy has released from day one and still going! I can't wait for the live cd of the unspeakable orchestra!