Bill Frisell begins an eight-set residency at Yoshi's in Oakland, California, tomorrow night with fellow guitarist Russell Malone. The two performed together for the first time last night for the jazz series at the St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in what Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk of the Grand Rapids Press describes, in his 3-1/2 star review, as a "singular evening of comparing and contrasting electric-guitar styles." Read the review at mlive.com.

Frisell played a duo set of a different sort late last month for the 51st annual Monterey Jazz Festival, held September 19-21 in Monterey, California. Covering the festival for All About Jazz, writer Larry Taylor names Frisell's performance with drummer Matt Wilson among his "personal highlights from the festival." Taylor says:

Frisell displayed his unique perspective, combining jazz with folk and country to come up with a Coplandesque landscape. With kindred soul Wilson on drums, as well, the duo unearthed gems, such as their tantalizing take on "When You Wish Upon a Star." After their ingenious canoodling back and forth, the audience roared in joyful surprise when the familiar melody was finally revealed.

Label mate Joshua Redman had opened the festival with "a rousing trio set, hearkening back to the Sonny Rollins' trio recordings from the late fifties." As Taylor describes that set:

With great help from Matt Penman on bass and Brian Blade on drums, Redman took the standards "Surrey with the Fringe on Top" and "East of the Sun," got under the melodies and on to improvisational heights to reveal hidden nuances in the old standards. The group was equally impressive with Redman originals.

For more All About Jazz coverage of the 51st annual Monterey Jazz Festival, visit allaboutjazz.