David Friesen
Anyone acquainted with David Friesen's exceptional music quickly thinks of his creative universe. Ocean-deep in his sensitivity to the human spirit, Friesen is compassionate and his music founded on integrity and the pursuit of excellence.
He began playing the ukulele and the accordion at 10, and a guitar professionally at 16. Born in Tacoma, Washington May 6, 1942, he was raised in Seattle. Friesen's first exposure to jazz was Slim Gaillard in an L.A. club when he was underage and playing guitar.
At 19, while stationed with the U.S. Army in Paris, he sat in with George Arvanitas, Johnny Griffin and Art Taylor. Then, in Copenhagen, he gigged with drummer Dick Berk and met Ted Curson in 1961. Back in the U.S., he became committed to the bass in 1964, practicing about ten hours a day. He was jamming in Seattle with local musicians - Larry Coryell and Randy Brecker were among his young compatriots - at such places as the Penthouse, where Miles, Coltrane and Bill Evans would perform; David would play opposite them and occasionally sat in with the visiting giants. Also, for two years Friesen played piano and bass at a coffee house called the llahngaelhyn owned by bassist Jerry Heldman.
After a long tenure touring with Elmer Gill, who played with Charlie Parker and the Lionel Hampton band; Friesen opened his own coffee house in 1973 in Portland where he and his family make their home. Word began to circulate and his gigs assumed a different perspective as he hooked up with John Handy and others. Jazz education also entered his sphere of interest, and he became a faculty member of the National Stage Band Camps for a couple of summers working with Marian McPartland, John La Porta, Phil Wilson, and the Jamey Aebersold combo clinics.
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April 02, 2019
David Friesen, Bassist And Pianist
January 01, 2019
All About Jazz Top 10 Tracks: December 2018
December 01, 2018
David Friesen is doing for the bass what Pythagoras did for triangles. —Patrick Hinely/Jazz Magazine
Bassist David Friesen is a Phenomenon, a player whose musicianship, tone, time and imagination are uncategorizable. —Nat Hentoff
One of the most eminent exponents of the instrument, he maintains an astonishing level of virtuosity. —Leonard Feather/Los Angeles Times
David Friesen's music is extremely complex while retaining a simple beauty, it's liltingly melodic, full of open space, and refreshingly peaceful. —Lee Hildebrand/San Francisco Music Express
Anyone who was lucky enough to see David Friesen live on stage, who could see how he bends in near contemplation over his unique instrument which has been manufactured in Austria, how he strikes the strings with his left(!) hand in order to drum complex rhythms on the body of the instrument with his right hand, now begins to understand: A creative search has come to its destination with great feeling
Primary Instrument
Bass
Location
Portland
Willing to teach
Advanced only
Credentials/Background
David Friesen is now accepting on skype or in person, bass students and students on any instrument for lessons and ensemble workshops. Workshop Format: Residents of Oregon and Washington David Friesen can be reached at [email protected] to acquire about lessons. Dan Waineo can be reached at [email protected] for those interested in the ensemble workshops in Portland, Oregon. Jerry Simons can be reached at [email protected] for those interested in the ensemble workshops in Seattle, Washington.
Clinic/Workshop Information
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