Before We Were Born
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60843
Track Listing
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16:46
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23:02
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36:43
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45:27
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51:37
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613:18
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77:30
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82:08
News & Reviews
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Ahead of the long-awaited world premiere of Omar, the opera composed by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels, at the Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, SC, next Friday, Giddens has released her own recording of the song “Julie’s Aria” from the opera. The recording was made by Giddens with guitarist Bill Frisell and her frequent collaborator Francesco Turrisi. Omar is based on the life and autobiography of enslaved Muslim scholar Omar Ibn Said, who was forcefully brought to Charleston from Africa in 1807. “My work as a whole is about excavating and shining a light on pieces of history that not only need to be seen and heard," Giddens says, "but that can also add to the conversation about what’s going on now. This is a story that hasn’t been represented in the operatic world—or in any world.” Omar will also be performed by LA Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Boston Lyric Opera, San Francisco Opera, and Carolina Performing Arts at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
Cornetist, composer, and educator Ron Miles died at his home in Denver, Colorado, on Tuesday, March 8, due to complications from polycythemia vera, a rare blood disorder, at the age 58. He can be heard on several Nonesuch recordings, performing with Joshua Redman on the 2018 Grammy-nominated album Still Dreaming and with Bill Frisell on History, Mystery (2008), Blues Dream (2001), and Quartet (1996).
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About This Album
Downtown Manhattan avant-garde luminaries Julius Hemphill, Arto Lindsey, and John Zorn join Frisell on his Nonesuch debut. Declared the New York Times: "By following through on the implications of his unfettered sounds, Mr. Frisell has made his best album."
Credits
MUSICIANS
Bill Frisell, banjo (2-5), acoustic and electric guitars
Arto Lindsay, electric guitar (1, 7, 8), voice (8)
Peter Scherer, keyboards (1, 7), drum programming (1), keyboard bass (8)
Joey Baron, drums
Hank Roberts, cello (2-5, 6), voice (6)
Kermit Driscoll, electric bass (2-5, 6)
Julius Hemphill, Billy Drewes, alto saxophone (2-5)
Doug Wieselman, baritone saxophone (2-5)PRODUCTION CREDITS
Album produced by Lee Townsend
Mastered by Greg Calbi
Track 1, 7, 8 recorded at Skyline Studios, Platinum Island, and Creative Audio Recording, New York City, August 1988
Recording and Mixing Engineer: Roger Moutenot
Assistant Engineers: Pat Dillet, Oz Fritz, and Jason Baker
Produced by Peter Scherer and Arto Lindsay
Tracks 2-5 recorded at Power Station, New York City, September 1988
Recording and Mixing Engineer: James Farber
Assistant Engineer: Gary Solomon
Produced by Lee Townsend
Track 6 recorded at Sound on Sound Recording, New York City, September 1988
Mixed at Skyline Studios, New York City
Recording and Mixing Engineer: Roger Moutenot
Assistant Engineers: Michael McMackin and Paul Angelli
Produced by John Zorn
All songs composed by Bill Frisell. Tracks 1, 7, 8 arr. Bill Frisell, Peter Scherer, and Arto Lindsay; tracks 2-5 arr. Bill Frisell; track 6 arr. John Zorn. Track 8 lyrics by Arto Lindsay.
Art direction and design: Manhattan Design
Cover photography by Laura Levine
Executive Producer: Robert Hurwitz
More From
Downtown Manhattan avant-garde luminaries Julius Hemphill, Arto Lindsey, and John Zorn join Frisell on his Nonesuch debut. Declared the New York Times: "By following through on the implications of his unfettered sounds, Mr. Frisell has made his best album."
Downtown Manhattan avant-garde luminaries Julius Hemphill, Arto Lindsey, and John Zorn join Frisell on his Nonesuch debut. Declared the New York Times: "By following through on the implications of his unfettered sounds, Mr. Frisell has made his best album."
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Album produced by Lee Townsend
Mastered by Greg Calbi
Track 1, 7, 8 recorded at Skyline Studios, Platinum Island, and Creative Audio Recording, New York City, August 1988
Recording and Mixing Engineer: Roger Moutenot
Assistant Engineers: Pat Dillet, Oz Fritz, and Jason Baker
Produced by Peter Scherer and Arto Lindsay
Tracks 2-5 recorded at Power Station, New York City, September 1988
Recording and Mixing Engineer: James Farber
Assistant Engineer: Gary Solomon
Produced by Lee Townsend
Track 6 recorded at Sound on Sound Recording, New York City, September 1988
Mixed at Skyline Studios, New York City
Recording and Mixing Engineer: Roger Moutenot
Assistant Engineers: Michael McMackin and Paul Angelli
Produced by John Zorn
All songs composed by Bill Frisell. Tracks 1, 7, 8 arr. Bill Frisell, Peter Scherer, and Arto Lindsay; tracks 2-5 arr. Bill Frisell; track 6 arr. John Zorn. Track 8 lyrics by Arto Lindsay.
Art direction and design: Manhattan Design
Cover photography by Laura Levine
Executive Producer: Robert Hurwitz

60843
MUSICIANS
Bill Frisell, banjo (2-5), acoustic and electric guitars
Arto Lindsay, electric guitar (1, 7, 8), voice (8)
Peter Scherer, keyboards (1, 7), drum programming (1), keyboard bass (8)
Joey Baron, drums
Hank Roberts, cello (2-5, 6), voice (6)
Kermit Driscoll, electric bass (2-5, 6)
Julius Hemphill, Billy Drewes, alto saxophone (2-5)
Doug Wieselman, baritone saxophone (2-5)