Erik Friedlander
Encyclopedia
Erik Friedlander is an American cellist and composer based in New York City
.
A veteran of NYC's experimental downtown scene, Friedlander has worked in many contexts, but is perhaps best known for his frequent collaborations with saxophonist/composer John Zorn
. The LA Times wrote, "Friedlander's performance clearly positions him as the first potential star performer on his instrument."
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
. His father's fondness for R&B and jazz
helped shape Friedlander's taste in music.
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.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
A veteran of NYC's experimental downtown scene, Friedlander has worked in many contexts, but is perhaps best known for his frequent collaborations with saxophonist/composer John Zorn
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
. The LA Times wrote, "Friedlander's performance clearly positions him as the first potential star performer on his instrument."
Friedlander grew up in a home filled with art and music: his father is photographer Lee Friedlander
Lee Friedlander
Lee Friedlander is an American photographer and artist. In the 1960s and 70s, working primarily with 35mm cameras and black and white film, Friedlander evolved an influential and often imitated visual language of urban "social landscape," with many of the photographs including fragments of...
, noted for the cover photographs he took for Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. His father's fondness for R&B and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
helped shape Friedlander's taste in music.
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
Laurie Anderson
Laura Phillips "Laurie" Anderson is an American experimental performance artist, composer and musician who plays violin and keyboards and sings in a variety of experimental music and art rock styles. Initially trained as a sculptor, Anderson did her first performance-art piece in the late 1960s...
, Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
and Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
, and is a member of the jazz/fusion quartet Topaz.
Discography
- Chimera (with Chimera) (AvantAvant RecordsAvant Records was a record label based in Japan specializing in avant-garde and experimental music. The label was started by composer and saxophonist John Zorn in 1992, as an offshoot of the DIW label...
, 1995) - The Watchman (with Chimera) (TzadikTzadik RecordsTzadik Records is a record label based in New York City specialising in avant-garde and experimental music. The label was established by the eclectic composer and saxophonist John Zorn in 1995; Zorn is the executive producer of all Tzadik releases...
, 1996) - Topaz (with Topaz) (SIAM, 1999)
- Skin (with Topaz) (SIAM, 2000)
- Grains Of Paradise (Tzadik, 2002)
- Quake (with Topaz) (CryptogramophoneCryptogramophone RecordsCryptogramophone Records is a Los Angeles-based jazz record label which was formed in 1998 by violinist Jeff Gauthier to document the music of his late friend and musical companion, bassist Eric von Essen...
, 2004) - Maldoror (BrasslandBrassland RecordsBrassland is an artist-operated independent record label started in 2001 by Alec Hanley Bemis and Aaron and Bryce Dessner. On their 10th anniversary, The Guardian said of it that it is at "the centre of New York's other music scene."...
, 2004) - Eiger (SkipStone Records, 2006)
- Prowl (with Topaz) (Cryptogramophone, 2006)
- Schio Duomilaquatro (Stella Nera, 2006)
- Giorni Rubati (Bip-Hop Records, 2006)
- Block Ice & Propane (SkipStone, 2007)
- Volac: Book of Angels Volume 8Volac: Book of Angels Volume 8Volac: Book of Angels Volume 8 is an album by Erik Friedlander performing compositions from John Zorn's second Masada book, "The Book of Angels".-Track listing:# Harhazial - 4:36# Rachsiel - 2:39# Zumiel - 1:40...
(Tzadik, 2007) - Broken Arm Trio (SkipStone, 2008)
- Vanishing Point (A Road Journal DVD)
- Alchemy (SkipStone, 2010)
- Fifty Miniatures for Improvising Quintet (SkipStone, 2010)
- Skin DVD (with Topaz)
- Chamber Quintet (with Marcin OlesMarcin OlesMarcin Oles is a jazz and free improvisation bass player, composer and record producer. He is the twin brother of Bartlomiej Oles....
and Bartlomiej OlesBartlomiej OlesBartlomiej Brat Oles is a jazz and free improvisation drummer, composer and record producer. He is the twin brother of Marcin Oles and Art-director of the Polish independent Jazz Label Fenommedia....
) - Pranzo OltranzistaPranzo OltranzistaPranzo Oltranzista is Mike Patton's second solo project. It is subtitled "Musica da Tavola per Cinque" , and is based on "Futurist Cookbook" by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, written in 1932...
(with Mike PattonMike PattonMichael Allan "Mike" Patton is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the metal/experimental rock band Faith No More. He has also sung for Mr...
) - Filmworks X: In the Mirror of Maya DerenFilmworks X: In the Mirror of Maya Deren-Track listing:# "Drifting 1" - 2:13 # "Dancing" - 5:12 # "Kiev 1" - 3:57 # "Teiji's Time" - 2:16 # "Nostalgia 1" - 3:41 # "Filming" - 5:51 # "Mirror Worlds" - 1:50 # "Nightscape" - 2:27 # "Nostalgia 2" - 4:21...
(John Zorn compositions, Filmworks series) - Bonebridge (SkipStone, 2011)
As a member of Bar Kokhba
- 1998 - The Circle Maker | Zevulun - Disc 2 by Bar Kokhba Sextet |
- 2005 - 50th Birthday Celebration Volume Eleven
- 2008 - Lucifer: Book of Angels, Volume 10
Other projects
- He created the original music for the historical documentary Kingdom of David: The Saga of the IsraelitesKingdom of David: The Saga of the IsraelitesKingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites is a 2003 historical documentary that was produced for PBS. The documentary features original music by Erik Friedlander, and is narrated by an all-star voice-cast which includes F...
(PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
)