Erik Friedlander

Cellist Erik Friedlander is a composer and an improviser, a first-call studio player and a jazzbo. A veteran of NYC's downtown scene, his 12 CDs as a leader recently include, Block Ice & Propane, his solo cello reinterpretation of American roots music; The Broken Arm Trio, a trio tribute to jazz bassist Oscar Pettiford; and Volac, a romantic collection of virtuoso solo cello pieces by John Zorn. Erik has performed on 100's of recordings and soundtracks including work with Laurie Anderson, The Mountain Goats, Ennio Morricone, and Courtney Love.

Friedlander started studying music at an early age, beginning at age 5 with folk guitar and then, at age 8, cello lessons. He grew up in a house filled with music as his father, an avid music lover, made countless mix tapes. Erik's desire to actively participate in the swirl of music styles he grew accustom to hearing led him to find new ways to play the cello. His compositions and his improvising style attempt to blend the traditions of classical and popular music styles with an always evolving vision of what a cellist can be pushed to accomplish.

Erik maintains a website the includes video lessons and exercises, free podcasts, and travel and amplification advice. He will be releasing “50 Miniatures for Improvising Quintet” later this year and “Alchemy”, a 10” LP of solo works, was just released in Germany. He will be touring in the USA and Europe including concerts at La Coruna and Ferrol, Spain with the Masada String Trio; an appearance at the Montreal Jazz Festival, and solo concerts at the re:Flux Festival in New Brunswick and the Kilkenny Arts Festival in Ireland.