"Fifty Miniatures for Improvising Quintet"

My new cd, 'Fifty,' is a collection of 50 miniature pieces-- little worlds-- some wild and free, some carefully constructed like line drawings, others lush watercolor landscapes. The piece was written during a particularly difficult time when my wife Lynn was suffering from an unexplained and worsening leg pain that eventually turned out to be a breast cancer recurrence. I found refuge from the difficult atmosphere by immersing myself in composing for the five instruments (violin, cello, piano, bass, drums) making use of style and orchestration, I experimented with the groupings, the length of the pieces, and the mood.

Composing became a fantastic escape for me during those months when we didn't know what was going on with Lynn's leg. I worked to write one miniature a day but often I'd get two or three done. It was exciting once I got in the groove and when you go through something like we did, it's important to try and carry on with your other life--the life that was there before the doctors and the hospitals impinged. When it all came together in the studio on that one long day at Kampo Studios, I was thrilled.

The CD is now available: iTunes/GetEriksMusic/Amazon/CDBaby

Jennifer Choi, violin; Erik Friedlander, cello; Sylvie Courvoisier, piano; Trevor Dunn, bass; Mike Sarin, percussion.

Produced by Erik Friedlander. Mixed & Edited by Erik Friedlander at Arconomics. Mastered by Steve Berson at Total Sonic Media. Recorded by Alan Ford at Kampo Studios in New York City on May 5, 2008.

Free Track | PRESS

Digital CD - Alchemy

I'm releasing a digital only version of the Alchemy LP that came out early this year on Hronir. The download has a bunch of extra tracks, here's some info:

Alchemy is an ancient process of protochemistry and witchcraft which attempted to turn base metals to gold. Alchemy, Erik Friedlander's latest digital release, reverses the process, grabbing the cello roughly and breaking it down to its most basic elements-the scratching rough sound of a cross-cut saw, or the wispy scattering of pitchless pizzicato notes, and its singing, melodic tone. In this, his 50th year, Friedlander presents us with a bird's eye look at his cello landscape: Each track has the cello as the central focus, whether starkly alone, or in cello choirs-layered using studio magic.

Scraping roughly, plucking like a guitar, or bowing arching improvisations, Friedlander infuses this new CD with an adventurous spirit. Alchemy, the second release of Friedlander's 50th, and most productive year yet, is a collection of cello-centric gems: an alchemy of sound and texture that celebrates the character of this 300 year old instrument, as well as the skills of the player, now in only his 50th year.

Free Tracks to check out:
Glow
Wag

"Lee Av," "Assasins or Bridge Blowers," "Wag," and "Out, Out" were recorded by Scott Solter, August 22-23, 2005 at Pueblo Studios, San Francisco, CA; mixed by Scott Solter at The Tiny Telephone, September 7, 2005. Keyboards and guitars for "Gentle Bonds" were recorded by Teho Teardo in Pordenone, Italy. All other tracks were recorded and mixed by Erik Friedlander at Arconomics during 2008-10.

Produced by Erik Friedlander
Erik Friedlander: cello, guitar, mandolin, keyboards, sample programming, mixing
Teho Teardo: keyboards, guitars (on one track)
Scott Solter: engineer and live processing
Design & Original Artwork by Candas Sisman
All compositions by Erik Friedlander (ASCAP) except "Gentle Bonds" which was written by Erik Friedlander & Teho Teardo

Available August 11, 2010 on

Single - Aching Sarah

I'm celebrating my birthday (the big 5-0) with a new single I recently completed featuring the trumpet work of Michael Leonhart. Enjoy and thanks for the support!

Listen/Download



Erik Friedlander, cello, electronics, piano programming; Michael Leonhart, trumpet, mellophone; Trevor Dunn, acoustic bass; Satoshi Takeishi, percussion.

"Aching Sarah" is part of Cutting-Room Floor Series -- movie characters are cut from a film, and with their lives only half-realized, walk in a kind of limbo, aimless and confused, with no way to live out the arc of their scripted lives.

New - Tumblr Blog

New Blog is up - see blog

First Light CelloCast

A short weekly cellocast broadcast in the early morning hours from Lower Manhattan in New York City. Grab a cup of coffee and your headphones for 2-3 minute morning musicburst.

Link for podcast website
Find it on iTunes

New 10" Vinyl "Alchemy" is Released

Erik Friedlander | Alchemy | 10" hr5217, 2010

I am very pleased to announce the release of a new 10" vinyl recording (I think the last vinyl I appeared on was Gramavision's Harvie S release, "Underneath It All") Alchemy is collection of solo pieces (some recorded by me, others by Scott Solter) and a few new works I created in my studio in NYC. There's a whole lot of territory on this vinyl and Candas Cisman outdid himself filling it with moody, beautiful original artwork...I can't wait to get my hands on this (still waiting)!

Erik Friedlander: cello, sample programming, mixing
Scott Solter: engineer and live processing
Rashad Becker: mastering and vinyl cut at D&M
Candas Sisman: design & original artwork
Limited edition: 500, vinyl only
To order for around 15 Euro + Shipping:

• Contact Hronir
• A-Music
• Drone Records
• Rumpsti-Pumsti

Tracklisting

A1 Glow
A2 Wag
A3 Lee Ave
B1 Assassins or Bridge Blowers
B2 Alchemy
B3 Halo
B4 Out

"Lee Av," "Assassins or Bridge Blowers," "Wag," and "Out" were recorded by Scott Solter, August 22-23, 2005 at Pueblo Studios, San Francisco, CA; mixed by Scott Solter at The Tiny Telephone, September 7, 2005; and mastered by Steve Berson at Total Sonic Media. "Glow," "Alchemy," and "Halo" were recorded and mixed by Erik Friedlander at Arconomics during 2008-9.

The title "Assasins or Bridge Blowers" is taken from Cormac MacCarthy's Child of God; "Wag" is from Dream Songs by John Berryman; "Out" from Robert Frost. Texts were used as jumping-off points for improvisation in the studio during the 2005 sessions (orig. for Block Ice & Propane)

www.erikfriedlander.com
www.csismn.com

New Mini-Site

"Taking Trips To America" Solo Show - Information Mini-Site

Music by Erik Friedlander
Images by Lee & Maria Friedlander
Films by Bill Morrison

Cellist Erik Friedlander draws on his experiences as a child traveling across the United States with his family during the 1960's and 70's to create Taking Trips To America, an engaging solo performance that brings together Erik's rich, Americana-inspired cello music, his own stories from now-distant road trips, images taken by his father, the photographer Lee Friedlander, and haunting road films contributed by film maker Bill Morrison (Decasia.).

Videos, Photos, MP3's, Rider & booking info.

link: http://erikfriedlander.com/epksolo/takingtrips.htm

Interview with Philip Bither of The Walker

I sat down with Philip Bither this past December 5. We had a free-wheeling conversation. Check it out (click on photo)!

Photos/Videos from BAT Tour

Photo Stream from Solo in Europe

Nice shots from @thomas

New EF Ad Page - Music for Advertisements

I get called every once in a while to write for an advertisement. I enjoy the process and love putting music to picture. Check out this new page that includes some of the advertisements I've written for. Erik Friedlander Spots (You'll need Quicktime installed to view it properly)

Giveaways - Recap

Here's a recap of the 'giveaways' that are posted at GetEriksMusic.com and here (see MEDIA & PROJECTS page)

- Live In Berlin
Stern Mathematics from "Maldoror"
Springtail - New track featuring meatal water bowls as percussion
Shiver, more info
Sahel Va Darya - from Topaz CD, SKIN
Rushmore from Block Ice & Propane
November from Topaz cd, Topaz
The Lower Nile, live at Saalfelden Festival 2009
Lacrime, from my duo CD with Teho Teardo
John Kelly Interview (Ireland)
Interview from Cleveland Museum of Arts
Home Alone, My piece with writer Michael Greenberg
Halo, 2009 creation
Glow, 2009 creation
Amber - from solo DVD "Vanishing Point"
Aberdeen, solo piece
3 Desparate Men, from Topaz

New Video Just Edited - "Night White"

From the recent Dartmouth live show. Here's "Night White" with films by Bill Morrison.

So far I've loaded up Block Ice, SKIN, & Broken Arm for streaming. Feel free to share the app -- hoover over the picture

Free Stuff - New Track Uploaded 7-7-09

Road Media - Saalfelden/Dolomiti Trip

Saalfelden - Broken Arm clip

NorthSea

Slideshow courtesy of William Veerbeek

New Block Ice Show

I will performing a new show this coming Summer and Fall starting August 1 at The Hopkins Center for Arts in Dartmouth. The new show, which will be directed by film-maker Bill Morrison, is an expansion of the Block Ice & Propane concert I experimented with first at Joe's Pub in New York. At that performance I projected a few images from the family trips that inspired the music.

Bill and I will be workshopping ideas here in New York and then up at Dartmouth. Some of these ideas include using more projected images, a set, as well as the premier of new pieces to go with the new program. The Block Ice show will be presented at The Hop in Dartmouth, PICA TBA festival in Portalnd, OR, The Walker Arts Center in Minneapolis and the Wexner Art Center in Ohio.

For more info check the calendar of gigs below.

Solo Tour in Europe

THE BROKEN ARM - New CD!

"An Accident Can Lead to Invention"

In 1949 Oscar Pettiford broke his arm playing baseball. He could still move his fingers even though his arm was in a sling, so he began experimenting with a cello a friend had lent to him. He tuned the cello like a bass only an octave higher and later made history

recording a series of cello-led projects including the great, under-recognized 1964 Fantasy release, "My Little Cello" featuring a photo of his newborn son whom he named Cello.

Erik Friedlander tosses away his bow for this new band, playing only pizzicato in a world steeped in the influences of Oscar Pettiford and the small group feel of Herbie Nichols.

Erik Friedlander, cello, Mike Sarin, drums, Trevor Dunn, bass
More Info:Broken Arm EPK

New Block Ice & Propane Music Book Published

Beautiful 36-page soft-cover book with:

• performance notes
• hand written original scores
• published cello parts and concert scores
• bowings & fingerings

New Digital Single - Flea

I have recorded and mixed a new single available in digital format only. The piece is called flea and it's fun, bouncing track infused with world rhythms & electronics

Erik Friedlander: cello, mandolin, vocalizing, drum/sample programming & keyboards; Satoshi Takeishi: clay pot

L I S T E N | B U Y T R A C K - $0.75

Candas Sisman

NY Times Review

Music Review | Erik Friedlander's Broken Arm Trio
Making the Cello Jazzy: It's All in the Pizzicato Pluck
By NATE CHINEN
Published: March 30, 2009
The cellist Erik Friedlander possesses a deep, singing tone on his instrument, and when he gives into it completely, he can be a heartbreaker.
Read More

JazzTimes Feature & Review of BAT

Lucked out with March 09 JazzTimes a nice feature by Eric Fine and an excellent review by A.D. Amorosi: "In other words, it's gorgeous, soulful and smart."

Strange Family Business

Last November my daughter and I collaborated on a birthday song for my wife. Later, on Christmas day, with the help of our friend Dick Connette we filmed this masterpiece (!)

Unreleased CD from CHIMERA Now Free Online

Inspired by a story from the Decameron

In 1996 I brought my band Chimera into the studio to record "Promises, Promises" (Bacharach) for a Tzadik release. Wanting to take advantage of having everyone in the studio I brought along a book of music which we recorded and never released.

The project is called IZA, a roughened up Isabella from The Decameron. In the story a virginal maiden falls for a young man who is then murdered by her brothers. Though she is never told she sees a vision and knows the truth. She recovers her lover's head which she hides in a pot where she grows a basil plant...which she waters with her tears.

Chris Speed, clarinet; Andrew D'Angelo, bass clarinet; Drew Gress, bass and Erik Friedlander, cello.

Get Tracks!

Happy Holidays

Hurry Down Sunshine

In 2000 I collaborated with my friend, writer Michael Greenberg, on a radio-style drama which we performed live at Tonic downtown. It was a wild three months of harried back-and-forth as Michael finsihed episodes and I would score them. We would rehearse the actors during a quick run-through a few hours before show time, keeping our "direction" to a few quick thoughts about pacing the lines (Michael) and how to cue off the music (me).

I responded to Michael's sense of drama and his ability to create a character with just a few quick lines and so I wasn't surprised when I read his latest book, Hurry Down Sunshine, and was completely engrossed. I highly recommend it!

Hurry Down Sunshine is a memoir which tells the story of the extraordinary summer when, at the age of fifteen, Michael Greenberg's daughter was struck mad. It begins with Sally's sudden visionary crack-up on the streets of Greenwich Village, and continues, among other places, in the out-of-time world of a Manhattan psychiatric ward during the city's most sweltering months.

Music by Erik Friedlander. The Broken Arm soon available on SkipStone Records.

Podcast! BowTech

I'm hosting a podcast with violin maker Ron Fletcher about the technology of string instruments - how they are put together, how they work, repairs & maintenance. Episodes #1-3 are online and you can listen to it at http://bowtech.podbean.com. Let us know what you think: your questions and your comments are welcome.

Commissions for MAYA Trio on Youtube

The MAYA Trio commissioned two pieces from me: one, an arrangment of "Pucha, pucha.." a Sephardic folk song and the other, an original piece entitled, "Ritual." You can hear this great trio on Youtube..check it out!

Contemporary Jewish Museum Commission

I just completed mxing and mastering "50 Gates of Understanding." It is a 50-part piece(50 miniatures) scored for Sylvie Courvoisier (pno), Trevor Dunn (bs), Mike Sarin (dr), Jennifer Choi(vln) with me on the cello. The work is part of the "Aleph-Bet" sound project the John Zorn curated and will be heard in the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco after it opens this June 6.

Preview Mixes:
Miniature #8
Miniature #16

My Irish Times

I just returned from Ireland (May 16) where I had a lovely time performing two shows: one in Cork in the south of Ireland and the other in Dublin.

Check out the interview I did with John Kelly, the genial and knowledgeable writer and radio host (push ahead to the 28 minute mark) at RTE, Ireland's national radio.

Irish Times Review by Ray Comiskey

To call Erik Friedlander's astonishing solo cello concert a virtuoso exhibition would be only partly accurate. A virtuoso? Clearly. But an exhibition? That is hardly the way to describe a performance in which, in the first set in particular, there was a sense of someone straining the bounds of the possible on the instrument in pursuit of a musical equivalent of impressionism...[read more]

Free Lessons!

"Free Lessons" are on vacation. I will announnce more dates soon.

Erik Friedlander Basics: Who is This Guy and Why Am I Here?

Website confusing you a bit? Here's some basic info about me, the site, what to listen to..etc.

General Info | Listening | Almanac

Blogging

Check out my blog at http://cellomakeitcount.blogspot.com/

This week two posts about making your own CD: 1) Be an Indie Artist; 2)Mastering with Steve Berson

San Bernardino - from Heretic Pride

I mentioned last month that I did a bunch of arranging/playing for the new Mountain Goats CD, "Heretic Pride" including a wall-to-wall cello arrangement for "San Bernardino." You can get a free low-rez play of the track here! Push the little play arrow. Check out this CD, it's great!

Andrew D'Angelo -- Help is Needed!

Saxophonist/composer Andrew D’Angelo suffered a major seizure on January 25 while driving in Brooklyn, NY. Tests in the hospital revealed a large tumor in his brain. He needs help paying for the surgery and the treatment to come. You can help him out using PayPal -- More Info

Broken Arm Makes A Record

My friends in the Broken Arm Trio: Mike Sarin (drums), Trevor Dunn (bass), Scott Solter (engineer) and I convened at the very homey Excello Studios where we recorded a new CD. We finished around 15-16 tunes which will be coming out this year on my label SkipStone Records.

More Info soon...

Year End Awards for Block Ice & Propane!

Block Ice One of "The Best Jazz Albums of 2007"

"..haunting, lulling, adventurous, and disorientingly magical. Friedlander combines a modern classicist's sense of harmony—Copland's open chords, but also Crumb's gnarly grit—with rhythmic nods toward early folk and blues. Is it jazz? I'll leave that to the philosophers. It's great music by a great jazz musician; that should be enough." --for Slate By Fred Kaplan [read more]

Critic Steven Dollar ranks Block Ice 6th best CD for 2007.

New Lessons Posted

Two new lessons have been posted:

• "Curved Fingers"
• "Get A Grip"

Check the Make It Count Mini-Site

Block Ice & Propane..& the iPhone!

Last July, as part of a mini-tour supporting the release of Block Ice & Propane I played at The Lily Pad, a small club in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A friend of mine, cellist Josh Gordon, came to the show and brought along his friend, filmmaker, Errol Morris who enjoyed the music and bought a copy of the CD. As it happens, Morris ended up working on a new series of spots for the Apple iPhone and he found that my piece, "Yakima", worked well with the stylish testimonial, real-person-on-the-street work he created. [read more]

New Video on the Web

Spoof of the iPhone Ad from SNL

Poet in the House - Pushcart Prize

My wife, Lynn Shapiro, has written poem that was published in RATTLE a literary magazine from the West Coast. It was announced that she won the Pushcart Prize for this poem. You may read a small excerpt and comments at the Rattle editor's blog. Or buy the amazing collection using the link here to the left.

Review from Pitchfork

"Airstream Envy" jolts open with a shriek of pure panic. Erik Friedlander's bow grates across the strings of his cello, wrenching notes into a stunted, disdainful exclamation. Imagine Friedlander-- now one of the world's top cellists with a Rolodex of collaborators from John Zorn and Laurie Anderson to John Darnielle and Courtney Love-- as a boy from New York's hinterlands, maybe 14 or 15 years old, out West in an RV sitting atop a 1966 Chevrolet pick-up truck. [ read more]

Pictures from the 1960-70's

I am putting together a new solo show using images from the family trips that inspired many of the song titles on Block Ice & Propane. I dug through boxes of photos to rescue a few that are now online and ready for viewing. Check out the Family Archives!

Block Ice Remix - "Rushmore"

Months before I went into the studio to record Block Ice I sent my friend Teho Teardo some of my home studio versions. Teho took "Rushmore" and created this magic remix: Rushmore (remixed by Teho Teardo)

Studio360 Segment

Hear my most recent interview with Kurt Andersen and PRI's Studio360: Listen! We talked about being 'on the road' and I even improvised a piece after hearing a segment from Kerouac novel.

Erik Friedlander: Volac: Book of Angels Volume 8 [#7363]

Volume 8 in the continuing Book of Angels series is an intimate and breathtaking recital by one of the world’s most accomplished cellists. A vital member of the Masada family from the very beginning, Erik Friedlander has hypnotized audiences both here and in Europe with his own bands Topaz, Broken Arm and Grains of Paradise. Stepping out in a special solo project, Erik shows off his remarkable technique in ten compositions from Zorn’s lyrical Book of Angels. This is Erik at his best. Rich, romantic, gripping music to both challenge and soothe the savage beast.

NPR - All Things Considered Interview

I hopped the Amtrak to DC for a nice chat with Jacki Lyden of NPR's All Things Considered. It aired Saturday, August 4 on your local stations. Listen Now!

Block Ice & Propane EPK

check out mp3's at my new VIRB.COM site.

The press is coming in...[read Block Ice press]

The New Yorker writes...

The downtown cellist Erik Friedlander showcases a magnificent new solo album, "Block Ice & Propane," which is inspired by family road trips he took as a child. Friedlander's father, Lee, is a photographer, who, when Erik was young, would pack up his family for long summer treks to photo shoots and teaching assignments in a '66 Chevy pickup with a camper on top and the amenities of the album's title. The beautifully spare compositions vaguely recall Ry Cooder's score for "Paris, Texas" while revealing the cello to be, at least in Friedlander's hands--a versatile instrument that can sound like a steel-string guitar one moment and an air horn the next.

House Keeping:Link Repaired

I inadvertantly disabled one of the cello lessons for quite a long while. I just discovered the mistake and have enabled the pages. Here's the link if you want to check it out. The "Olympic Cello Workout"

Broken Arm In Italy - Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who came to our gigs in Italy. You can download a live recording of The Broken Arm Trio right here.

For some beautiful pics from our Rocca Brivia by Dario Villa gig go here: http://www.dariovilla.net/concerts/brokenarmtrio.html

Prenda il disco "Broken Arm: Live in New York City"

New Solo CD: "Block Ice & Propane" - UPDATE!

Instead of a quick job we have decided to do a full 6-panel digipak w/booklet. In addition, there will be a record release performance at Joe's Pub on July 17. A new website will go along with the new CD..more info to come.
Hear Sample

New Downloads: Broken Arm Live in New York City

Recorded live in 2005 at 'Mo Pitkins on the Lower East Side of New York. The recording has 9 tracks, all originals, featuring: Mike Sarin, drums; Kermit Driscoll, bass; Erik Friedlander, cello. We sold out of this CD on our tour in Europe but you can pick it up now as a download. Enjoy!

Buy Tracks | Listen: Spinning Plates | Broken Arm Page

New Review of "Giorni Rubati" from Downtown Music Gallery

ERIK FRIEDLANDER & TEHO TEARDO - Giorni Rubati:

Music Inspired By The Poems OF Pier Paolo Pasolini (Bip-Hop 34; EEC) "This record is a total breath of fresh air. A collaborative effort between Erik Friedlander on cello and Teho Teardo on electronics, inspired by the poetry of Pier Paolo Pasolini, "Giorni Rubati" successfully demonstrates how a duo record which straddles the balance of the acoustic/electric improvisation duo dichotomy should be made - each player actively contributes to the evolution of the music, yet neither steps on the other's toes unless it's in (a rather friendly and sportsmanlike) provocation.

Erik sounds fantastic in this setting - laying down (and often overdubbing multiple) thick, richly toned and oft-melodic lines, scrapes, and scuffles amidst a forest of electronic drones, ticker-tape flickers of ping-ponging rhythms, and clouds of static, with the occasional voice appearing amidst this wilderness to recite spoken fragments which never overshadow or detract from the music. This is precisely the sort of record which I love to appear here in the shop - it easily makes waste of genre categorizations and debates of improv versus composition, and achieves that all-too-rare goal of featuring a little something for everyone whilst never dumbing itself down to pander to a particular listener base. Simply stunning, and without question one of the year's best records - and bonus points for the shredtastic (hidden) cover of the Normal's "Warm Leatherette", which closes out the disc and crazily, actually, REALLY works. Bravo, gents!" - Mikey IQ Jones.

See all "Giorni Rubati" press

Find Friedlander at DMG

New Downloads

In 1999 the very first Topaz recording was released on SIAM Records. There are still copies available but now you can download the CD on the Buy Page!

In 2000 my band Topaz recorded SKIN. About a year later SIAM records went out of business. Mike Landy was kind enough to let me have most of the remaining stock which has since sold out (thanks!). I'm pleased to now offer this CD as a download. Both of the SIAM records Topaz CD's were recorded to 2" analogue tape and mastered at Sterling Sound by Ted Jensen so they sound amazing! Check out the BUY page.

Sample: Life, In Line - $0.75 - Listen

JUKEBOX

Use this jukebox to play some of my music (early stuff!)..still working on it but you can give this a whirl. It's on Shuffle Mode, here are the tunes:

• Turbine from Chimera (Avant)
• Silver Like Dust from The Watchman (Tzadik)
• November from Topaz (SIAM)
• Sahel Va Darya from SKIN (SIAM)
• Grains of Paradise Sampler from Grains of Paradise (Tzadik)
• Wire from QUAKE (Cryptogramophone)

Robert Grossman On The Web

You've seen his work in The NY Times, The Nation, The New Yorker...all over. Check it out Robert Grossman's new website.

New Recording Just Out:
Ned Rothenberg's Inner Diaspora

Featuring his band Sync -- Jerome Harris, bass, guitar; Samir Chatterjee, tabla; with special guests Mark Feldman, violin; Erik Friedlander, cello.

Notes from Tzadik Website:
Ned Rothenberg's intensely personal take on Radical Jewish Culture interprets the inner Diaspora as a place of learning and growth. Featuring his acclaimed trio Sync with guest string players Mark Feldman and Erik Friedlander (Masada String Trio, Bar Kokhba) the music is rich in rhythmic invention, instrumental color and lyricism. Drawing upon his extensive experience in world music, Ned explores the possibilities of 21st century Jewish culture through the nuances of scales, modes and feelings of alienation and belonging.

Teho Teardo & Erik Friedlander CD
Released on Bip-Hop Records

In 2004 I began a trans-Atlantic collaboration with Italian electronics composer Teho Teardo. We exchanged ideas by passing tracks back and forth and remixing each other's contributions. Our first finsihed track ended up in Teho's soundtrack for "Lavorare Con Lentezza", a film by Guido Chiesa ... [more]

• MP3 : Red Flag
• MP3 : Ricordi

More Info on the PROJECTS Page

Blogging Cello Lessons

Post a 1-minute lesson request at my new Blog. The MakeItCount Blog is an online cello lessons hub. Anyone can post a 1-minute request for answers to a specific cello-related problem. I will post my own video response with tips and suggestions. Others can comment or post a short video follow-up.
Here's the first post with all the info: "Here's the Idea.."

Interview by Paul Olson Online Now!

Erik Friedlander: Complexity, Simplicity and Arc by Paul Olson -- READ INTERVIEW

Paul Olson lives in Chicago, idolizes Clint Eastwood, Toshiro Mifune and Fred Astaire, and doesn't like the president much..[more about Paul]

PROWL

The TOPAZ Story

In January of 1996 I was scoring the dances for my wife's N.Y. season and juggling different ideas for the group's instrumentation. I had been listening to a variety of 70's funk and fusion (Headhunters, Earth, Wind & Fire) and so electric bass and alto saxophone seemed like a natural choice. I invited Stomu and Andy ..read more about the CD

Free Download of Howling Circle at AllAboutJazz.Com

IRON BLUE, For Solo Guitar

Guitarist Marco Cappelli has released his "Extreme Guitar Project" which contains a piece I wrote called IRON BLUE.

• Excerpt #1: beginning
• Excerpt #2: end

For more info you can go to the Mode Records Website The CD is produced by Elliott Sharp and has pieces by: Marc Ribot, Ikue Mori, Anthony Coleman, Elliott Sharp, Otomo Yoshihide, Mark Stewart, Annie Gosfield, Nick Didkowsky & David Shea.

Amber - New Video

Video excerpt from my DVD "Vanishing Point". The audio is a recording from the studios of DubLab in Los Angeles

PocketMod

Turn one piece of blank 8x10 and turn it into a pocket organizer..simple and cool.

Check Out Pandora

A free personalize streaming internet music service which uses a sophisticated music typing concept called the "music genome project" to select new music you may have not hear before .

Listen to the "Erik Friedlander" station..

Short Film, "The Gates"

In 2005 Christo and Jeanne-Claude installed 7503 gates into Central Park. See my short visit to the park one snowy morning. The Gates Page

Online Lessons Posted -- MAKE IT COUNT

This new series of short video lessons that are geared towards making the best use of your practice time: tips and tricks that will help you make technical progress in short, focused mini-sessions. There are now 4 lessons up. The newest is PIZZICATO:

1. Pizzicato
2. Long Bows
3. Live Sound
4. The Hotel Room Warmup

Also check out the "Make It Count" Boards where you can post questions about the videos or report your own experiences.

Interview Online

One Finale Note (Jazz & Improvised Music Webzine) just published an interview I did with Troy Collins a few months back

New WMV Teaser Posted of SKIN DVD

I've posted a new "teaser" showing clips from the SKIN DVD. Check out this short highlight reel at the Media Page or view video.

This video was created while Topaz was signed to SIAM Records and documents the 2-day recording session at Clinton Studios in New York City. Special guests: Amira Mor, Marlon Barrios, dancers; The Atlas Cello Quartet; Alexander Fedoriouk, cimbalom.

Broken Arm Tour

The Broken Arm Trio on tour in Europe was a great success. Thanks to everyone who came out to see us. I'll be posting some live MP3's as they come in from some of the venues along with pics.

Live in Grottazolina, Italy - Tam Tutta un'Altra Musica - TamClub (photo by Battista Tofoni)

Broken Arm Page

Masada String Trio Review

AllAboutJazz.com Review of Masada String Trio CD, "Azazel, Book of Angels Volume 2"

Solo Tour 2004

Click on the map of the USA for clips at every venue of the tour: click me

Additions to Media: Live in Krakow, Poland

The Grains of Paradise band performed live in Krakow, Poland last year. Check out photos and MP3's of the concert

Krakow Page or see other live concert listings on the Media page.

Interview on WNYC's Leonard Lopate Show

Listen! (mp3)

All in the Family (click to go to wnyc)

Photographer Lee Friedlander's work was the subject of a retrospective at MoMA (2005) Meanwhile, his son Erik Friedlander is enjoying a successful career as a jazz cellist. They'll tell us what it's like having two high profile artists in the same family, and they'll share their thoughts on using different forms of media to communicate their artistic ideas.

Music: Erik Friedlander's "Flight's of Starlings," "Here Comes the madwoman" and " O Stern Mathematics" from album "Maldoror"