Floratone, the collaborative ensemble known for creating a sound described as “futuristic roots music,” is back with FLORATONE II which will be available everywhere  March 6th. The follow up to their highly acclaimed debut and their first for Savoy Jazz, Floratone features the core group of Bill Frisell on guitar, Matt Chamberlain on drums and percussion and producers Lee Townsend and Tucker Martine.

Together they continue to further the spirit of composition and improvisation born in a Seattle studio back in 2005. It’s a fertile collaboration they’ve nurtured and maintained over the years utilizing a distinctive methodology of inspiration—Bill and Matt laying down musical themes– and assemblage—Lee and Tucker with various accompaniment adding and augmenting the compositions into a fantastic groove.

With the additional contributions of cornetist Ron Miles, viola/violin player Eyvind Kang (both featured on Floratone’s debut), bassist Mike Elizondo and multi-instrumentalist Jon Brion, Floratone have taken their signature sound to a new level. The album is released hot on the heels of Frisell’s successful collection of John Lennon’s songs, “All We Are Saying,” which reached #2 on the Billboard Top Jazz chart and is currently # 14 on the contemporary jazz chart. Bill Frisell will be touring throughout the year (tour dates below).

Given the tremendous pool of talent appearing on FLORATONE II, it’s not surprising that the thirteen tracks that make up the album are redolent with musicality that spans many genres and perspectives.

Floratone is anchored by Bill Frisell whose identifiable guitar sound remains pliable and enables him to perform alongside an A-list of players within and outside of the jazz idiom and drummer/percussionist Matt Chamberlain who has performed alongside diverse artists such as Fiona Apple, Pearl Jam, Tori Amos and the Wallflowers to name a few.

When you then add producers and side players who have performed in every musical niche imaginable, it’s almost miraculous that it all comes together as a cohesive whole.

Floratone II Track Listing:

Confirmed 2012 tour dates:
2/24/2012 Portland OR, Portland Jazz Festival – Crystal Ballroom, “Not So Fast – The Music of Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant with Bill Frisell”and “Bill Frisell Plays the Music of John Lennon”
2/25/2012 Portland OR, Portland Jazz Festival – PCPA Newmark Theater, “Bill Frisell (solo)” and  ”Bill Frisell’s 858 Quartet  featuring Eyvind Kang, Hank Roberts and Jenny Scheinman”
3/10/2012 Phoenix AZ, The Compound Grill, Bill Frisell’s Beautiful Dreamers featuring Eyvind Kang andRudy Royston
3/11/2012 Los Angeles CA, Walt Disney Concert Hall, “Bill Frisell’s Beautiful Dreamers featuring Eyvind Kang and Rudy Royston”, w/ Kronos Quartet/Billy Childs Quartet
3/19/2012 Newtown CT, Edmond Town Hall, Bill Frisell and Sam Amidon
3/20/2012 Brattleboro VT, New England Youth Theatre, Bill Frisell and Sam Amidon
3/29/2012 Louisville KY, Clifton Center, Bill Frisell with Tony Scherr, Kenny Wollesen
3/31/2012 Columbus OH, Wexner Center for the Arts - Ohio State University, “The Great Flood – A film byBill Morrison, Music composed & performed by Bill Frisell with Ron Miles, Tony Scherr, Kenny Wollesen”
4/1/2012 Cleveland Heights OH, Nighttown, Bill Frisell with Ron Miles, Tony Scherr, Kenny Wollesen
4/19/2012 La Jolla CA, UC San Diego, “The Great Flood – A film by Bill Morrison, Music composed & performed by Bill Frisell with Ron Miles, Tony Scherr, Kenny Wollesen”
4/21/2012 San Francisco CA, San Francisco Jazz Festival, “The Great Flood – A film by Bill Morrison, Music composed & performed by Bill Frisell with Ron Miles, Tony Scherr, Kenny Wollesen”
6/23/2012 Boulder CO, Boulder Theater, All We Are Saying: Bill Frisell Explores the Music of John Lennon featuring Tony Scherr, Greg Leisz and Kenny Wollesen
8/4/2012 Newport RI, Newport Jazz Festival, All We Are Saying: Bill Frisell Explores the Music of John Lennon featuring Jenny Scheinman, Tony Scherr, Greg Leisz and Kenny Wollesen

For more information, visit:  www.savoyjazz.com

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/jazzuality/

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