Erik Friedlander

American cellist and composer

Erik Friedlander
Background information
Born (1960-07-01) 1 July 1960 (age 63)
OriginNew York City, New York, U.S.
GenresAvant-garde jazz, classical, chamber jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
Instrument(s)Cello
Years active1980s–present
LabelsBrassland
Websiteerikfriedlander.com
Musical artist
Eric Friedlander, Moers Festival, 2012

Erik Friedlander is an American cellist and composer based in New York City.[1]

A veteran of New York City's experimental downtown scene, Friedlander has worked in many contexts, but is perhaps best known for his frequent collaborations with saxophonist John Zorn.

Friedlander grew up in a home filled with art and music: his father is photographer Lee Friedlander, noted for the cover photographs he took for Atlantic Records. He is of Finnish descent through his paternal grandmother.[2] His father's fondness for R&B and jazz helped shape Friedlander's taste in music. He graduated from Columbia University in 1982.[3]

Friedlander started playing guitar at age six and added cello two years later. Apart from his work with Zorn, Friedlander has worked with Laurie Anderson, Courtney Love and Alanis Morissette, and is a member of the jazz/fusion quartet Topaz.[4]

He created the original music for the historical documentary Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites.[5]

Discography

  • Chimera (with Chimera) (Avant, 1995)
  • The Watchman (with Chimera) (Tzadik, 1996)
  • Topaz (with Topaz) (SIAM, 1999)
  • Skin (with Topaz) (SIAM, 2000) also released on DVD
  • Grains of Paradise (Tzadik, 2002)[6]
  • Quake (with Topaz) (Cryptogramophone, 2003)
  • Maldoror (Brassland, 2003)
  • Eiger (SkipStone, 2006)
  • Prowl (with Topaz) (Cryptogramophone, 2006)
  • Schio Duomilaquatro (Stella Nera, 2006)
  • Giorni Rubati (Bip-Hop, 2006)
  • Block Ice & Propane (SkipStone, 2007)
  • Volac: Book of Angels Volume 8 (Tzadik, 2007) composed by John Zorn
  • Broken Arm Trio (SkipStone, 2008)
  • Vanishing Point (A Road Journal DVD)
  • Alchemy (SkipStone, 2010)
  • 50 Miniatures for Improvising Quintet (SkipStone, 2010)
  • Chamber Quintet (with Marcin Oles and Bartlomiej Oles)
  • Bonebridge (SkipStone, 2011)
  • American Power (SkipStone, 2012)
  • Claws and Wings (SkipStone, 2013)
  • Nothing on Earth (SkipStone, 2014)
  • Nighthawks (SkipStone, 2014)
  • Illuminations (SkipStone, 2015)
  • Oscalypso (SkipStone, 2015)
  • Rings (SkipStone, 2016)
  • Artemisia (with Throw A Glass) (SkipStone, 2018)

With John Zorn

  • Redbird (Tzadik, 1995)
  • Filmworks IV: S&M + More (Tzadik, 1997)
  • Filmworks VI: 1996 (Tzadik, 1997)
  • Filmworks VIII: 1997 (Tzadik, 1998)
  • Music for Children (Tzadik, 1998)
  • The String Quartets (Tzadik, 1999)
  • The Big Gundown: 15th Anniversary Special Edition (Tzadik, 2000)
  • Madness, Love and Mysticism (Tzadik, 2001)
  • Filmworks X: In the Mirror of Maya Deren (Tzadik, 2001)
  • Cobra: John Zorn's Game Pieces Volume 2 (Tzadik, 2002)
  • Filmworks XII: Three Documentaries (Tzadik, 2002)
  • Filmworks XIII: Invitation to a Suicide (Tzadik, 2002)
  • Filmworks XIX: The Rain Horse (Tzadik, 2008)
  • Filmworks XX: Sholem Aleichem (Tzadik, 2008)
  • What Thou Wilt (Tzadik, 2010)
  • The Concealed (Tzadik, 2012)
  • Fragmentations, Prayers and Interjections (Tzadik, 2014)

As a member of Bar Kokhba

As a member of Masada String Trio

As sideman

With Laurie Anderson

With Cyro Baptista

With Uri Caine

With Nels Cline

  • Lovers (Blue Note, 2016)

With Sylvie Courvoisier

  • Abaton (ECM, 2003)

With Dave Douglas

  • Five (Soul Note, 1996)
  • Convergence (Soul Note, 1999)

With Mark Feldman

With Benny Golson

With Myra Melford

With Mike Patton

With Jamie Saft

With Wadada Leo Smith

  • Lake Biwa (Tzadik, 2004)

With Dar Williams

Filmography

  • Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites (2003)
  • Spade (2014)
  • Thoroughbreds (2017)
  • Oh Lucy! (2017)

References

  1. ^ Sisario, Ben (17 July 2007). "An Avant-Gardist's View of America, as Seen From the Back Seat". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  2. ^ Hadba-Groom, Vitoria. "Lee Friedlander". TheArtStory. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  3. ^ Parhizkar, Maryam (April 2011). "Cellist Erik Friedlander '82 Plays an Uncommon Tune". Columbia College Today. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  4. ^ Layne, Joslyn. "Biography: Erik Friedlander". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  5. ^ "Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites (TV Movie 2003) – Full Cast & Crew – IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Cellist Erik Friedlander's best recording as a leader is also one of the most distinctive jazz-with-strings albums ever made." – Ed Hazell, The Boston Phoenix

External links

  • Erik Friedlander official site
  • Erik Friedlander on Brassland Records
  • Cryptogramophone homepage
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