BIll Frisell, photo by Michael WIlson

"When I was 16, I was listening to a lot of surfing music, a lot of English rock. Then I saw Wes Montgomery and somehow that kind of turned me around. Later, Jim Hall made a big impression on me and I took some lessons with him. I suppose I play the kind of harmonic things Jim would play but with a sound that comes from Jimi Hendrix", Frisell told Wire. Bill also lists Paul Motian, Thelonious Monk, Aaron Copland, Bob Dylan, Miles Davis and his teacher, Dale Bruning, as musical influences.

Greg Tardy, photo by Don Berryman

Kenny Wollesen grew up in Santa Cruz, California, moved to San Francisco early in his career and has since lived and worked in New York City. He has performed regularly with Bill Frisell as a member of his trios, the New Quartet and his septet with which he appeared on the album Blues Dream. He has played with John Zorn, Marc Ribot, John Medeski, Tom Waits, John Scofield, Jesse Harris and the Ferdinandos, Sean Lennon, Mitchell Froom, Big John Patton, John Lurie, Jim Hall, Jessica Williams and Myra Melford. In addition to his live performances with Frisell, he currently tours with trumpeter Steven Bernstein's group Sex Mob, and occasionally with Zorn's Electric Masada. He also leads his own band, The Wollesens.

Bassist Tony Scherr was born in New Haven, Connecticut and is self taught. He is best known as a bass player (both acoustic and electric), but he also plays slide and electric guitar. Tony has lived in New York for many years. He stays busy recording and touring in many bands including Sex Mob, Jesse Harris and the Ferdinandos, Joey Baron's Killer Joey and The Maria Schneider Orchestra. In addition, Tony has played with John Scofield, John Lurie and The Lounge Lizards, Dakota Staton, Woody Herman, Chris Brown and Kate Fenner, Slowpoke, Al Grey, Jon Faddis, The Village Vanguard Orchestra, Sophie B. Hawkins, Junior Cook, Brad Shepik & the Commuters, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Stanley Turrentine, Steve Kuhn and Tricky. Tony also writes and sings his own songs accompanying himself on guitar. This material can be heard on his self-produced CD entitled, Come Around. Tony has contributed to film scores by John Lurie, Evan Lurie, Howard Shore and with members of Sonic Youth.

ROn Miles, Photo by Andrea Canter

• Bill Frisell Quintet featuring Ron Miles, Tony Scherr, Greg Tardy & Kenny Wollesen
• 1/22/06 : Berkeley, CA @ Cal Performances
• 1/23/06 : Los Angeles, CA @ Jazz Bakery
• 1/29/06 : New York, NY @ Zankel Hall
• 1/31/06 - 2/2/06 : Minneapolis, MN @ The Dakota Bar & Grill