I've posted 4 tracks from my Block Ice & Propane CD in anticipation of my gig at the SFMoMA this week...come on by if you're around.

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Erik Friedlander Solo at SFMoMA

April 24, 2008
8:00 p.m.
Phyllis Wattis Theater
In this performance cellist Friedlander showcases beautifully spare compositions from his new solo album accompanied by iconic images from his father, noted photographer Lee Friedlander. The album, Block Ice and Propane, is inspired by family road trips organized by the elder Friedlander when Erik was a child. During these long summer treks the Friedlander family would travel to Lee's photo shoots and teaching assignments in a 1966 Chevy pickup outfitted with a camper and all the necessary amenities, such as block ice and propane.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
151 Third Street (between Mission and Howard Streets)
San Francisco, CA 94103
Telephone: 415.357.4000
Fax: 415.357.4037
Map and directions

ACTION WEEK - tunes that reek havoc with fast tempos, body parts flying...

Three Desperate Men

I wrote this piece for an evening of choreography the original Topaz (trio with Andy Laster & Stomu Takeishi) accompanied back in 1998. I wanted something that get everyone’s attention and then leave the audience wondering what would happen next.

http://www.erikfriedlander.com/topaz1.htm

Sannul

A burning Masada piece with almost every bar in a different meter. Very tricky but, in the end, a whole lot of fun to play.

http://www.tzadik.com

Meditazione:

Teho Teardo and I collaborated on this CD working back and forth across the ocean--exchanging tracks and ideas until we had something we both liked.  I believe this track is from a live gig we did in Pordenone, home town of Pier Paolo Pasolini who inspired the CD.

http://www.erikfriedlander.com/projects.htmgiorni

NaNa

That’s Bryce Dessner starting the tune out (from The National) on classical guitar. This tune starts pretty but gets busy quickly. We recorded it as a quartet with Trevor Dunn, Satoshi Takeishi, Bryce and me with Joyce Hamman and Karen Milne on violin. Later we overdubbed all the extra violins.
http://www.erikfriedlander.com/projects.htmgrains

This weeks song list is all about A’s

Anhinga:

Like almost all the tracks on this CD Anhinga is based around an African rhythm which is played right out front by Satoshi on percussion. It’s called an "Agaya."  The sound of the cello and clarinet together has always been a favorite of mine and I think it adds to the sweetness of this tune.

Aberdeen:

A track I put together years ago when I first started experimenting with solo playing and recording in what is now my home studio. I can’t actually remember the impetus for the track. On a concrete level I have both acoustic and pick-up cello tracks that are mixed along with a percussion loop that is heavily EQ’d..and throw in a little tremelo too!

Aap Ki  

I discovered Googoosh one day in the World Music section of Tower Records (no defunct). She is an amazing singer who was very popular in the 70’s in Iran. After Khomani and the mulas came into power women were no longer allowed to sing, dance..be entertainers. She stopped performing but then later in life remarried and in 1999 left Iran on her first tour in many years. She now lives in Toronto. More info : http://www.googoosh.com/aboutgoogoosh.htm

http://www.erikfriedlander.com/efdisc.htmquake

Ahaniel

Another beautiful piece from John Zorn’s Book of Angels (Book II of Masada). Check the Tzadik site for more infomration. http://www.tzadik.com

(photo: by Mark Van S. --John Darnielle & Peter Hughes)

Shiver:

When I finally got a little comfortable with my DAW I decided it was time to create some many-layered, multi-tracked pieces using all the computer power I had as well as some of the great musicians I knew. This is one of those tracks. Appearing here are: Satoshi Takeishi, percussion; Lucia Pulido, vox; Matt Darriau, winds; Brad Shepik, guitars; Stomu Takeishi, elec. bass; Me, cello, samples, engineer, mixing. From 2001.

Home Alone

In the summer of 2001 writer Michael Greenberg and I put on a 6-part live radio drama at Tonic called "A Bledbury Tale" which Michael adapted from his own novel.  We had a great time working together and that led to other projects like this commission from now sadly departed "The Next Big Thing" - a PRI radio show that was broadcast out of WNYC studios in New York.  This is Michael reading about being left to care for his 4-year old son Brendan for two weeks.

You can read Michael’s column in the Times Literary Suppement of London every other week. His new memoir, "Hurry Down Sunshine" will be published later this year.

Mysto--Traveling 

From a soundtrack I created without any film. I wanted to work with my mandolin and I ended up creating a dark set of tracks that this is part of.

Amber:

A piece I improvised while performing a 30 minute improvised set for a 24-hour internet radio station in LA called DubLab (dublab.com).  It’s part of the Vanishing Point DVD. I love using the practice mute, something I learned from John Zorn--an amazing sound.

A burner I wrote for Topaz. Mixes together a simple groove with some more free-time elements--bouncing from one to the other. I always liked starting sets with this one.

Eiger

This is a soundtrack piece I worked on originally for some kind of ski video. I brought in Lucia Pulido for her gentle but soulful touch and also tracked myself a whole lot of times for a cello army in there as well.

Munifried

Maybe the first track Teho and I worked on together. He sent me some material he came up with and I edited and added cello tracks. Munifried went on to become part of a soundtrack for lavorare con lentezza a film by Guido Chiesa.

O Stern Mathematics

Maldoror was improvised one afternoon in Berlin under the direction of my friend the composer Michael Montes. He came up with the great idea of improvising using the poetry of Lautreamont. He kept them from me until the sessions and then one-by-one placed them in front of me. I would read the excerpt and then we would record.

Here is the excerpt for this track:

O stern mathematics, I have not forgotten you since your learned teachings, sweeter than honey, filtered

through my heart like a refreshing wave. From the cradle I instinctively aspired to drink from your

spring more ancient than the sun, and, most faithful of your initiates, still I continue to tread the

sacred court of your grave temple. There was a haze in my spirit, something indefinable, smoky-thick,

but I knew how to cross, religiously, the steps that led to your altar, and as wind drives off the

fritillary, so you have cleared this dim mist. In its place you set excessive coolness, a consummate

prudence, and an implacable logic.

Excerpts from Les Chants de Maldoror
Comte de LautrÈamont (1846-1870)
Translated by Alexis Lykiard

Life, In-Line:

A Topaz track from the cd, "SKIN."  I have always had a thing for 6/8 and this is just another example

of that preoccupation.  I get to play a lot of bass function on this and can hear an amazing electric

bass solo by Stomu Takeishi.  For more info: http://www.erikfriedlander.com/topaz1.htm

Iron Blue:

A piece commissioned by Marco Cappelli and his Extreme Guitar Project. I retuned the guitar so there is

a cello inside (C-G-D-A) the six strings--a real pain in the ass it turns out but Marco did an amazing

job along with producer Elliot Sharpe. For more info:  http://www.marcocappelli.com/

A Still Moment:

From my soundtrack CD "Eiger" First it was just cello and guitar but then I later added strings and

keyboards to fill it out a bit. Recorded in my home studio. Jennifer Choi and Joyce Hammann added many tracks of violins.

http://www.erikfriedlander.com/projects.htm

Bedlam

From the album "Quake" a record we made after arriving back from a few weeks on the road in Europe. The

band was in a good place--we hadn't tired of the music, it still had an edge, but we were totally loose

and brought that into the studio where it can be tough sometimes to play with abandon.  This track opens

after a big unison with a abstract group-prov featuring Stomu Takeishi up front and gradually works

itself into a fierce groove over which the front-line players take no prisoners...one of my favorites

from this record. http://www.erikfriedlander.com/projects.htm

Tunes for the week...

Hudson:

My mix of track Teho Teardo and I did for an Italian movie. More on Teho at www.tehoteardo.com. More Erik & Teho -  pick up "Giorni Rubati" our CD.

Elisha:

From my first Tzadik release called "The Watchman"  This group with Chris Speed (clar), Andrew D'Angelo (bass clarinet) and Drew Gress (bass) was my first real working band and we recorded twice making "chimera" for Avant as well as appearing on a Bacharach Tribute CD for Tzadik as well. We recorded live to stereo on the lower east side of New York. Recorded before heavy normalization so you'll need to turn up a bit!

Road Weary:

From "Block Ice & Propane" - originally inspired by some Faulkner text this improv went on to be retitled. The subtle live processing done by Scott Solter adds a lot to the atmosphere.  Go to www.blockiceandpropane.com for more info.

Hat And Beard:

Eric Dolphy tune--a tribute to Monk. Rearranged--fractured really to feature Topaz: Andy Laster, saxophone; Stomu Takeishi, bass; Satoshi Takeishi, percussion.

Here are some notes about the songs I have uploaded this week. Enjoy..

Little Niles:

I got this from an Oscar Pettiford recording. It's a Randy Weston tune. Very upbeat and elegant. I rearranged it so it's little more driving and a bit freer than the original version done by Pettiford with Lucky Thompson arranging. (see "The Oscar Pettiford Orchestra - Deep Passion")

Mysto - Ouverture:

I sometimes create soundtrack recordings without anyone asking..for fun. This is one of those tracks--plus I get to play a little guitar which is always fun.

I Am Filthy

A track from my CD "Maldoror" The whole CD was improvised using the poems of Lautreamont for inspiration. After recording I spent some time learning all the improvs so I could play live. This is a fun one to play because of the de-tuning of the C-string down to a low G (way down!). 

Howling Circle:

From my most recent Topaz CD called "Prowl" on Cryptogramophone Records. Almost every track on this CD was rooted in some basic African rhythm. This particular rhythm sounds kind of easy but it's actually quite difficult and took a while for Andy & I to get solid..Stomu and Sato didn't have so much trouble!