Legendary guitarist Bill Frisell leads all-star ensemble
After decades of shaping the sound of modern American guitar, Grammy-winning musician and composer Bill Frisell gathers a constellation of close collaborators for “In My Dreams,” a deeply personal concert shaped by shared history and creative kinship. Frisell and friends bring the new touring project to the Center for the Arts on Friday, April 3, at 7:30 p.m.
This musical family reunion brings together a unique sextet featuring Jenny Scheinman on violin, Eyvind Kang on viola, Hank Roberts on cello, Thomas Morgan on bass, and Rudy Royston on drums. Though their deep musical history goes back decades, the musicians had never performed together in this particular configuration. Together, they travel wide expanses of American music, delivering jazz and Americana staples, as well as Frisell originals, including the newly released title track “In My Dreams.”
The performance is accompanied by luminous projections of paintings by visual artist Carole D’Inverno, Frisell’s wife and longtime creative partner, whose imagery deepens the work’s dreamlike atmosphere.
About the artists
Bill Frisell
Bill Frisell’s music catalog has been cited by Downbeat as “the best recorded output of the decade.” In recent years, Frisell has forged a distinctive and fruitful collaboration with the Blue Note label, including the February 2026 release of “In My Dreams,” as well as the Grammy-nominated “Orchestras,” “FOUR,” "Valentine," and "HARMONY."
Frisell is known for his distinctive guitar tone, which is warm, spacious, cinematic, and often layered with gentle effects that create rich, atmospheric soundscapes. His music moves fluidly across jazz, folk, country, and rock traditions, forming a voice that is unmistakably his own.
Recognized as one of America’s 21 most vital and productive performing artists, Frisell was named an inaugural Doris Duke Artist in 2012. He is also a recipient of grants from United States Artists and Meet the Composer, among others. In 2016 he was a beneficiary of the first FreshGrass Composition commission to preserve and support innovative grassroots music. He served as one of its resident artistic directors of San Francisco Jazz when it opened in 2013.
Frisell is the subject of a documentary film by director Emma Franz, entitled “Bill Frisell: A Portrait,” which examines his creative process in depth, as well as an extensive biography by Philip Watson, “Beautiful Dreamer: The Guitarist Who Changed the Sound of American Music.”
Jenny Scheinman
Jenny Scheinman is a violinist, fiddler, singer, and writer of songs with and without words. Scheinman grew up on a homestead in Northern California and has been performing since she was a teenager. She has worked extensively with some of the most innovative jazz artists in the world such as Jason Moran, Brian Blade, Nels Cline, and Marc Ribot. She has also toured and recorded with numerous American songwriting legends, including Lucinda Williams, Bruce Cockburn, Rodney Crowell, Lou Reed, Robbie Fulks, and Ani Difranco.
Scheinman is featured on the original cast recording of Anais Mitchell’s hit musical, “Hadestown.” In March of 2015 she premiered a multimedia performance at Duke University, “Kannapolis: A Moving Portrait,” which she presented at the center in 2017. Scheinman has released 11 albums of original music.
Eyvind Kang
Eyvind Kang’s recent albums are “Azure” (with Jessika Kenney, 2023), “Sonic Gnostic” (2021), and “Ajaeng” (2020). He has performed with musicians including Bennie Maupin and Laurie Anderson and teaches at CalArts.
Hank Roberts
With a career spanning over 50 years, improvisational cellist and composer Hank Roberts has performed internationally with an array of celebrated musicians. Roberts' playing is featured on many recordings, including dozens of his own as a leader and collaborator. He performs on a regular basis with the Hank Roberts Trio alongside drummer Ashley Ickes and pianist Chad Lieberman.
Thomas Morgan
Thomas Morgan is a double bass player with a unique approach to the instrument and an exceptional musical understanding. Morgan has played on over 100 recordings and toured all over the world as a member of bands led by Jakob Bro, Craig Taborn, Masabumi Kikuchi, Paul Motian, Charles Lloyd, Dan Weiss, Jim Black, John Abercrombie, Dave Binney, Steve Coleman, Henry Threadgill, and Tomasz Stańko, among many others.
Rudy Royston
Rudy Royston has been a professional teacher, drummer, and percussionist for almost 20 years. He grew up playing drums in church and found his voice under his greatest influence, Colorado’s celebrated trumpeter Ron Miles. He has taught, recorded, and performed all styles of music, from jazz to marching percussion. Royston has performed with many of today’s finest jazz musicians, including Javon Jackson, Les McCann, David Gilmore, Ben Allison, Jason Moran, and JD Allen, to name a few.
This performance is supported in part by gifts from Dr. E. Fred Carlisle and Mrs. Elizabeth A. Obenshain and Faye Marcum, Casey Marcum, and LeAnna Pearson-Marcum.
Donor support makes it possible for the Center for the Arts to present world-class performances and meaningful engagement opportunities for students and the community. Learn how you can help support this work.
Tickets
Tickets are $25-65 for general audience and $10 for students and youth 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased online; at the Center for the Arts box office, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; or by calling 540-231-5300 during box office hours.
Venue and parking information
The performance will be held in the center’s Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, located within the Street and Davis Performance Hall at 190 Alumni Mall. Convenient parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street and in downtown Blacksburg. Find more parking details online.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Jonathan Boulter at least 10 days prior to the event at 540-231-5300 or email jboulter@vt.edu during regular business hours.
