Simony Kill Bill

On this double CD, Bear Family Records® is the first label to present all commercial recordings of the great Bill Carter released between 1953 and 1961, including recordings he made as a singer with Western Swing bandleader Big Jim DeNoone.

What can you expect but good things from a date featuring three players of such high pedigree. With Dave Holland and Elvin Jones representing the steadfast rhythm sections of old, and with Frisell's post-modern tones being among the finest voices moving jazz forward, a date like this should easily yield some classic moments. But Frisell comes up with only partial melodies and bare bones sketches for the band to play. Jones sounds at times utterly bored with his rhythm duties, desperate for a chance to stretch out. Frisell himself is often hesitant. Henry Mancini's "Moon River" and Stephen Foster's century-and-a-half old "Hard Times" together offer brief glimpses of levity, but cannot save the set entirely.

On this double CD, Bear Family Records® is the first label to present all commercial recordings of the great Bill Carter released between 1953 and 1961, including recordings he made as a singer with Western Swing bandleader Big Jim DeNoone.