Disfarmer

Disfarmer was an outsider artist who became famous for his Depression-era photographs of families, farmers, and individuals around his hometown of Heber Springs, AK. This 2009 Nonesuch CD by Bill Frisell is the score commissioned by the Wexner Center for the Arts to accompany a retrospective of the artist's work.

Bill & producer Lee Townsend assembled the guitarist's "country" band for the occasion: violinist Jenny Scheinman; bassist Viktor Krauss; and steel guitarist & mandolinist Greg Leisz. There are 26 cues in this score - sparse, skeletally melodic variations on old-timey parlor music; country blues; and country music, with a few, such as "That's All Right, Mama", done as fusions of hillbilly boogie & square dance music. There's also a version of Hank Williams' "Lovesick Blues" that's a showcase for the atmospheric power of Greg's steel guitar, which adds to the melodic shades of the tune. Most of this set, however, falls into moody, extremely minimal music that is haunting in nature - much like the figure of Disfarmer himself, who scared many of the residents of Heber Springs with his strange and imposing presence.

Personnel: Bill Frisell (guitars, loops & music box); Greg Leisz (steel guitar + mandolin); Jenny Scheinman (violin); Viktor Krauss (bass instrument + upright bass).