Ryland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American musician, songwriter, film score composer, record producer, and writer. He is a multi-instrumentalist but is best known for his slide guitar work, his interest in traditional music, and his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.
William Richard Frisell is an American jazz guitarist, composer and arranger. Frisell first came to prominence at ECM Records in the 1980s, as both a session player and a leader. He went on to work in a variety of contexts, notably as a participant in the Downtown Scene in New York City where he formed a long working relationship with composer and saxophonist John Zorn. He was also a longtime member of veteran drummer Paul Motian's groups from the early 1980s until 2011. Since the late 1990’s, Frisell's output as a bandleader has also integrated prominent elements of folk, country, rock ‘n’ roll and Americana.
James Lee Keltner is an American drummer known primarily for his session work. He was characterized by Bob Dylan biographer Howard Sounes as "the leading session drummer in America".
Wayne Horvitz is an American composer, keyboardist and record producer. He came to prominence in the Downtown scene of 1980s and '90s New York City, where he met his future wife, the singer, songwriter and pianist Robin Holcomb. He is noted for working with John Zorn's Naked City among others. Horvitz has since relocated to the Seattle, Washington area where he has several ongoing groups and has worked as an adjunct professor of composition at Cornish College of the Arts.
Gregory Brian Leisz is an American musician. He is a songwriter, recording artist, and producer. He plays guitar, dobro, mandolin, lap steel and pedal steel guitar.
Viktor Krauss is an American musician who plays acoustic and electric bass. He has released solo albums and has worked as a sideman with many musicians, including his sister, singer and fiddler Alison Krauss.
My Name Is Buddy: Another Record by Ry Cooder is the thirteenth studio album by Ry Cooder. It is the second social-political concept album by Ry Cooder. Cooder has described it as the second in a trilogy that began with Chávez Ravine and concluded with I, Flathead. The album is packaged in a small booklet that includes a brief story and drawing to accompany each song. Both the songs and the stories relate tales from the viewpoint of the characters, Buddy Red Cat, Lefty Mouse, and Reverend Tom Toad. The liner notes ask listeners/readers to join them as they "Journey through time and space in days of labor, big bosses, farm failures, strikes, company cops, sundown towns, hobos, and trains... the America of yesteryear."
Lee Townsend is an American independent music producer, curator, artist manager and co-owner of Songtone, specializing in recordings of singer-songwriters, contemporary composers, improvising musicians, and cross-cultural musical collaborations. He is also a psychotherapist in private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Is That You? is the second album by Bill Frisell to be released on the Elektra Nonesuch label. It was released in 1990 and features performances by Frisell, keyboardist Wayne Horvitz and drummer Joey Baron, who were all members of Naked City at this time.
Where in the World? is the third album by Bill Frisell to be released on the Elektra Nonesuch label. It was released in 1991 and features performances by Frisell, cellist Hank Roberts, bassist Kermit Driscoll and drummer Joey Baron.
This Land is the fifth album by Bill Frisell to be released on the Elektra Nonesuch label. It was released in 1994 and features performances by Frisell, alto saxophonist Billy Drewes, trombonist Curtis Fowlkes, clarinetist Don Byron, bassist Kermit Driscoll and drummer Joey Baron.
Nashville is the ninth album by Bill Frisell to be released on the Elektra Nonesuch label and his first to be recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. It was released in 1997 and features performances by Frisell, bassist Viktor Krauss, Jerry Douglas on dobro, Ron Block on banjo and Adam Steffey on mandolin, with guest appearances from Robin Holcomb on vocals and Pat Bergeson on harmonica.
Gone, Just Like a Train is the tenth album by Bill Frisell to be released on the Elektra Nonesuch label. It was released in 1998 and features performances by Frisell, bassist Viktor Krauss and drummer Jim Keltner. The cover art is by comics artist Jim Woodring.
Blues Dream is the 13th album by Bill Frisell to be released on the Elektra Nonesuch label. It was released in 2001 and features performances by Frisell, steel guitarist Greg Leisz, trumpeter Ron Miles, alto saxophonist Billy Drewes, trombonist Curtis Fowlkes, bassist David Piltch and drummer Kenny Wollesen. The cover photograph was taken by George A. Tice in 1974 at Kresson Road, Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
The Willies is the 15th album by Bill Frisell to be released on the Elektra Nonesuch label. It was released in 2002 and features performances by Frisell, Danny Barnes on banjo, pump organ & harmonica and bassist Keith Lowe.
The Intercontinentals is the 16th album by Bill Frisell to be released on the Elektra Nonesuch label. It was released in 2003 and features performances by Frisell, Sidiki Camara, Vinicius Cantuaria, Christos Govetas, Greg Leisz and Jenny Scheinman.
Unspeakable is a 2004 album by American jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, his 22nd album overall and his 17th to be released on the Elektra Nonesuch label.
East/West is the 18th album, first double CD and first live album by Bill Frisell to be released on the Elektra Nonesuch label. Released in 2005, it features performances by Frisell, Viktor Krauss and Kenny Wollesen which were recorded at Yoshi's in Oakland, California on December 9, 2003 and performances by Frisell with Tony Scherr and Kenny Wollesen recorded on May 11, 2004 at the Village Vanguard in New York City. An additional second set of material from both the "East" and "West" venues was made available as a downloadable album Further East/Further West.
Disfarmer is the 21st album by Bill Frisell to be released on the Nonesuch label. It features music written to accompany a retrospective of photographs taken by Mike Disfarmer.
Miracle Mile is an album by American keyboardist and composer Wayne Horvitz's band The President recorded in 1992 and released on the Elektra/Nonesuch label.
