Released 10 years ago
When You Wish Upon a Star
Bill Frisell · 2016
63 min · 16 tracks · jazz
A reflective tapestry of cinematic melodies, blending jazz improvisation with Americana influences across evocative soundscapes.
Top tracks — play these first
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To Kill a Mockingbird, Pt. 1 Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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You Only Live Twice — This track features lush guitar tones and delicate phrasing that encapsulate Frisell's signature sound while honoring the original film score's haunting elegance.
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Moon River — With a gentle yet poignant arrangement, this rendition showcases Frisell’s capacity to evoke deep emotions through minimalist yet expressive guitar work.
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The Godfather — Frisell's interpretation transforms this iconic theme into a meditative piece, illustrating his ability to blend narrative storytelling with improvisational flair.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalFrisell's reinterpretation of cinematic themes showcases strong composition and craft, though its impact remains niche.
What we noticed
- The album features a series of thematic pieces, each drawing from classic film scores, with a focus on melodic improvisation.
- Several tracks utilize extended techniques on guitar, such as harmonics and slides, which contribute to the atmospheric quality of the music.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- nostalgic cinematic soundscapes
- wave-like pacing with peaks
- introspective afternoon listening
- haunting guitar melodies
- dynamic journey of emotions
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy tracks
- prefer straightforward song structures
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — Continues thematic exploration but may not be the most accessible entry point.
- Themes
- cinematic soundscapes· nostalgic film themes· Americana influences
- Career context
- When You Wish Upon a Star marked Bill Frisell's continued exploration of thematic and cinematic interpretations, following his acclaimed album 'Guitar in the Space Age' from 2014. By 2016, Frisell had established himself as a key figure in contemporary jazz, known for his unique style that fuses various genres, including folk and classical influences.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Pat Metheny· John Abercrombie· Julian Lage
Tracklist
- 1 To Kill a Mockingbird, Pt. 1 Start here 3:10
- 2 To Kill a Mockingbird, Pt. 2 4:52
- 3 You Only Live Twice 5:10
- 4 Psycho, Pt. 1 1:58
- 5 Psycho, Pt. 2 2:07
- 6 The Shadow of Your Smile 5:10
- 7 Bonanza 1:35
- 8 Once Upon a Time in the West (Theme) 4:09
- 9 Once Upon a Time in the West (As a Judgement) 4:30
- 10 Once Upon a Time in the West (Farewell to Cheyenne) 4:35
- 11 When You Wish Upon a Star 3:08
- 12 Tales From the Far Side 4:59
- 13 Moon River 3:46
- 14 The Godfather 9:32
- 15 The Bad and the Beautiful 2:56
- 16 Happy Trails 1:49
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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