On Unspeakable, guitarist Bill Frisell and producer Hal Willner (Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed) take a freewheelings, idiosyncratic approach to the modern art of music sampling, in a groove-and-soul based project. Frisell and Willner employ often obscure songs and sounds culled from vintage vinyl as the jumping off-point for their own sonic explorations, with choice fragments borrowed and integrated into original compositions. Unspeakable can have a fierce and infectious groove at times, and at others will adopt a more relaxed and reflective feel.
Bill Frisell - electric and acoustic guitars, loops
Hal Willner - turntables, samples
Tony Scherr - bass, guitar
Kenny Wolleson - drums
Don Alias - percussion
Steven Bernstein - trumpet
Briggan Krauss - baritone sax
Curtis Fowlkes - trombone
Adam Dorn - synth
The 858 Strings:
Jenny Scheinmann - violin
Eyvind Kang - viola
Hank Roberts - cello
produced by Hal Willner
engineered by: Eric Liljestrand
mastering by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, New York City
recorded and mixed at The Village, North Hollywood, CA
Assistant Engineers: Matt Marin, Darren Frank and Margit Pfeiffer
Horns recorded by Noah Simon at Jarvis Recording, New York City
Additional recording at Adam's Place, NY; and Eric's Place, LA
