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David Anthony
David Friedman is considered to be one of the most influential vibraphonists in the history of the instrument.
About Me
David Friedman is considered to be one of the most influential vibraphonists in the history of the
instrument. Internationally renowned as a vibraphonist, marimbist, composer and jazz educator, he has
his own musical message, born of fascinatingly diverse musical influences.
Having worked with such varied musical personalities as Leonard Bernstein, Luciano Berio, Bobby
McFerrin, Wayne Shorter and Yoko Ono, few jazz musicians can claim as broad a spectrum of performing
and recording experience.
The list doesn`t stop there. Friedman has been heard either live or on recordings with, among others,
Joe Henderson, Horace Silver, Johnny Griffin, Hubert Laws, Jane Ira Bloom, Ron Carter and John Scofield.
Friedman’s vibraphone and compositions are both featured on Chet Baker’s award winning Enja release
Peace, with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Joe Chambers.
A dedicated and renowned educator, David Friedman founded the jazz program at Berlin’s University of
the Arts, and served as its head for sixteen years. He continues to perform masterclasses throughout
Europe, North America and Japan. His book, Vibraphone Technique, Dampening and Pedaling, is
considered to be the Bible of mallet instruction books.
In 1977, Friedman co-founded the unique vibe-marimba quartet Double Image, with Dave Samuels.
Their first recording, Double Image, was nominated for a German “Grammy”, and has just been re-
released as a special edition by Enja Records. Friedman’s Enja release Shades of Change, with pianist
Geri Allen, bassist Anthony Cox and drummer Ronnie Burrage, was voted by Downbeat magazine as
“One of the year’s best 20 CD’s”.
Friedman’s trio playing with star drummer Daniel Humair and bassist J.F. Jenny-Clarke, documented on
their 1992 live release Ternaire, showcases modern, interactive jazz improvisation, ranging from an
agressive driving swing to tender lyricism.
r-1050628-1188709528-jpegFriedman’s project with bandoneonist Dino Saluzzi, Astor Piazzola’s heir to
modern tango, is a synthesis of American jazz and ethnic improvisation. The gifted bassist Anthony
Coxcompletes the trio. Their 1996 CD release, Rios, on Intuition Records, has been called “a true work of
art” by the Chicago Tribune.
37_cover_frontOne of Friedman’s unique accomplishments is his solo mallet recording, which utilizes
multiple vibe and marimba overdubs to create richly textured soundscapes. The first recording of its
kind ever done by a mallet performer, it is aptly entitled Air Sculpture (Traumton Records). Jazz Friends
Review writes: “This music is made of the same fabric dreams are made of. This daring recording is
riveting.” Germany’s Die Woche callsAir Sculpture, “a humble masterpiece!”
wp2ac9e4b1_05_06Friedman’s project Other Worlds is a trio with an instrumentation and sound all its
own. Featuring the exciting French accordianist Jean-Louis Matinier and the brilliant American bass
virtuoso Anthony Cox, their CD, Other Worlds, was recorded in November 1996 for Intuition Records and
released in December 1997. It’s a spellbinding musical journey, featuring original compositions and
improvisational dialogues of incredible depth and beauty. Jazzthetik remarks: “You feel your ears being
drawn to the speakers as if by magic! Other Worlds is a true musical adventure”.
In addition, Friedman still finds time for special projects. He has been the featured guest soloist with
the NDR Big Band in a program of his original compositions. He continues to tour and record regularly
with Dave Samuels in the ground breaking mallet duo Double Image – a partnership that has endured
for more than 35 years. Sponsored by Yamaha, the duo is often featured at Percussive Arts Society
international events, and colleges and universities throughout the world.
In the summer of 2002, Friedman invited vocal virtuoso Bobby McFerrin to help celebrate the official
10th anniversary of the jazz department of the University of the Arts. One of the most exciting moments
of this sold-out concert event was a spontaneous duo with Friedman and McFerrin.
In 2003 Friedman formed his new trio, Tambour, with star German saxophonist Peter Weniger, and
bassist Pepe Berns. Their CD, Earfood, on Skip records, was released in January 2004 to rave reviews.
Just after the release of Earfood Friedman was asked by RBB (Radio Berlin Brandenburg) television to
moderate the 2004 Berlin Jazz Festival.
2005 saw David touring with Tambour and performing as a duo with Hungarian guitarist Férenc
Snetberger, as well as with Double Image.
In 2006 Friedman began a collaboration with the Norwegian publisher Norsk Musikforlag, and
celebrated this new partnership by composing a series of solo marimba pieces and several vibraphone
solo pieces, as well as compositions for mallet ensemble.
In August 2007 he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the art of
vibraphone playing and education at the KOSA International Percussion Festival, while in 2008 he was
recognized for his life’s work at the Ludwig Albert Marimba Festival in Belgium.
David’s CD with Tambour, Rodney’s Parallel Universe, for Skip Records, was released to critical acclaim in
March of 2007.
Retro, the stunning new CD collaboration with duo partner, saxophonist Peter Weniger, was released in
October of 2010 on Skip Records to rave reviews. It was immediately voted “CD of the month” by
Germany’s Jazz Podium magazine. Since then, Friedman and Weniger have been touring internationally
under the name Duo Élegance, introducing audiences to their uniquely intimate, and very personal
approach to improvised, ensemble jazz.
In Sept. 2014 David premiered Leah Muir’s concerto for improvised vibraphone and orchestra, ‘By the
Reflecting Pool’ with the Bruckner Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dennis Russell Davies.
The performance was the highlight of the ‘Ars Electronica’ festival in Linz, Austria. This work for
completely improvised vibraphone is the first of its’ kind in the history of solo performance with
orchestra.
In 2016 David premiered Leah Muir’s new composition for solo vibraphone, string orchestra and
percussion, ‘The Quanta of Sublimity’, in Lausanne, Switzerland.
That same year David was commissioned by the Landesmusikrat of Nordreinwestfalen to compose a
piece for 5 percussionists, to be premiered at the “Slash” crossover festival on Oct. 22nd 2017, in Essen
Germany.
David just recorded a new CD with his “Generations” band, featuring Clara Haberkamp, piano, Tilo Weber,
drums and Josh Ginsburg, bass, some of the most gifted young jazz players on the scene today.