Personnel: Bill Frisell (acoustic & electric guitars, banjo); Hank Roberts (vocals, cello); Kermit Driscoll (bass); Joey Baron (drums). Recorded at Power Station, New York, New York in March 1987. Listening to Bill Frisell's 1987 session, LOOKOUT FOR HOPE, on its re-issue in 2008, it's striking how consistently it fits in with the guitarist's 21st-century work. That is not to say Frisell hasn't evolved in the intervening years--he is still one of the most restless and progressive musicians in contemporary jazz. Rather, LOOKOUT contains the elements that make Frisell quintessentially Frisell. By merging sometimes simple guitar elements with rich effects and angular sonic architecture, Frisell achieves wonders, which are conjured here with the help of drummer Joey Baron, bassist Kermit Driscoll, and cellist Hank Roberts, all of whom lend dark, complex balance to the leader's lines. Surprising, unsettling, and absorbing, this set sounds as fresh today as it did on its release.
Disc 1: Lookout For Hope (6:30) Little Brother Bobby (7:04) Hang Dog (2:26) Remedios The Beauty (6:23) Lonesome (4:40) Melody For Jack (3:28) Hackensack (2:57) Little Bigger (3:16) Animal Race (2:02) Alien Prints (6:28)