exposed

Nels Cline and Bill Frisell – Big Sur

When I heard that Nels will be playing with Bill Frisell in Big Sur , I freaked out. Luckily I could (easily) coerce my friends Phebbie and Josh to all attend as we would already be in Santa Cruz that weekend. It was, as I insisted mentally, necessary to be there – to realign the construction of our consciousness – on behalf of ourselves and as witness for humanity. What more could you dream of than being in the middle of beautiful Big Sur’s grand surrounding of giant redwoods listening to Frisell, Nels, and then BOTH? 

Bill solo

Nes and Bill duo

Nels and Bill

Bill and Nels

Event Promoter, Producer - Ian Brennan

David Breskin and Bill Frisell after show

Bill Frisell, David Breskin, Nels Cline, and Carla Bozolich

Nels listens to the playback

Going into this recording session, I knew immediately I was in on a very significant project. With my busy schedule of working full time, training afterward for a few hours each day, I still managed to show up to this most nights except the first one when Jon Brion and a ton of others were on the one day/side A session. But for the rest of 7 days, luckily for me, sessions like this go on a little late.  As long as I can physically reach the studio couch in Burbank, I’d be fine & happy.

Nels Cline in recording session

Nels was commissioned to write 39 pieces of music to accompany a series of painting be Ed Ruscha. It is to be released in 2 CDs along with the reproduction of the paintings in a form of a book. David Breskin – producer/poet – was writing poetry for each piece of painting. Musicians Scott Amendola, Devin Hoff, Alex Cline, Vinny Golia, Dan Clucas, Jeff Gauthier, Jessica Catron, Jeremy Drake, Brad Dutz, were the ones I caught up with. 

It has to be one of my favorite moments of the year.

Jeremy Drake's hand and guitar

Jeremy Drake - guitar

Jessica Catron on Cello

Dan Clucas on trumpet

Devin Hoff - bassist

Jeff Gauthier - violin

Alex Cline - percussion

Scott Amendola - drums

studying the chart