KUVO host Victor Cooper interviews his former classmate and band mate, guitarist Bill Frisell

In his interview with renowned guitarist Bill Frisell, KUVO host Victor Cooper reminisces about the first time he heard Wes Montgomery’s “Bumpin on Sunset.” 

It was 1968 at Denver’s East High School where Cooper first heard Montgomery’s iconic song strummed by fellow classmate, Frisell. Frisell later asked Cooper to join his R&B/jazz group The Soul Merchants, who went on to win a talent contest. Hear the full interview above. 

A graduate of East High School and the University of Northern Colorado, Frisell has been a leading jazz guitarist since the late ‘80s. Known for producing unique sounds from his instrument, Frisell spans numerous musical genres including progressive folk, classical, country, world fusion, experimental rock, grindcore and more. 

In his mind, there’s not need to segregate musical categories because it’s all just music! 

As The New York Times put it, “It’s hard to find a more fruitful meditation on American music…Mixing rock and country with jazz and blues, he’s found what connects them: improvisation and a sense of play…Mr. Frisell plays up the pleasure in the music and also takes on another often-avoided subject, tenderness.”

A recent inductee into East High School’s Angels Hall of Fame, Frisell will be performing a homecoming show of sorts at the East High School Auditorium Jan. 21 at 7:30 pm. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the school’s Music Scholarship Fund. 

To learn more or buy tickets, click here

  Photo credit: YouTube.com

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