Elvis Costello And Bill Frisell – Deep Dead Blue -Live 25 June 95 (1995)

I bought this online many moons ago, keen to hear a collaboration between Costello and American jazz guitarist, Bill Frisell, recorded at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, as part of the Meltdown festival, which Costello curated in 1995.

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it's a short set of songs, mostly Costello written (or co written), with a couple of classic covers on show.

Starting with Mingus's Weird Nightmare, it's a sparse but lovely sound, just Costello's vocals and Frisell's electric guitar, followed by Love Field, from EC's Goodbye Cruel World album. Next there's the first outing for Shamed Into Love, co-written with Rubén Blades, and later to appear on his album with Anne Sophie Van Otter. Lerner and Lowe's Gigi follows, again, a simple treatment but by Poor Napoleon (from Blood And Chocolate) it feels like time for something a bit more upbeat, and this does the trick.

There's a gentle rendition of Baby Plays Around, written with then partner Cait O'Riordan, the album concluding with the title track, written (for this occasion?) by Costello and Frisell.

Frisell's beautifully restrained guitar playing enhances the songs, being simultaneously integral to yet not overwhelming them. However, if I'm honest, Costello's ballads aren't my favourite area of his considerable work, and I suspect this was a much more interesting prospect live than it translates to on recording.

Link to full album (tracks in different order)

3* - a lovely document of two giants working together, but the ballads aren't really my thing