Biography

Michael Friedman is a widely respected bassist, composer and educator.  Michael has been captivating audiences with his bass playing for years.  He is a powerful, energetic artist who is capable of going in a variety of musical directions.  “His bass playing is as in the pocket as it gets,” wrote Jonathan Widran of the Los Angeles Jazz Scene.  “A Colorado mainstay,” wrote Bret Saunders of the Denver Post & KBCO Radio.  Michael has become one of the brightest performers on the contemporary jazz/R & B scene.

A native of Denver, Michael’s musical career began when he was voted best instrumental student of his senior high school class and selected for several all-city and all-state music honors.  He continued to earn accolades from Downbeat Magazine and the International Association of Jazz Educators.  By then, his path as a professional musician was set.  His talent and eminent musical skills led him to a scholarship at the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver, where he studied under James Carroll, principal bass player of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.  Michael is known as a former player and co-founder of the successful smooth jazz group, Dotsero.  Michael entertained audiences with Dotsero throughout America for 20 years.    Michael is a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, the American Federation of Musicians, Denver Musicians Association and the Colorado Music Association.

Friedman’s style for writing and playing songs can best be described as a strong blend of jazz, pop and funk.  He has performed with various artists at the Catalina Island Jazz Festival, Cancun Jazz Festival, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Winter Park Jazz Festival and Cherry Creek Arts Festival.  Michael also has performed his solo rendition of the Star Spangled Banner at Major League sporting events.  He has further expanded his repertoire by producing children’s classic tunes with a variety of jazz styles.  This resulted in the creation of Swingset Jazz, a CD inspired by his son whose face is featured on the cover of the recording.  This album has received accolades from Parents’ Choice and Westword’s Best of Denver.  Michael’s latest offering is called Seize The Day -  a collection of ten funky, sensual, contemporary jazz originals.  The recording contains honest, heartfelt songs carried by saxophone, guitar and keyboards over powerful bass and drum grooves. 

Friedman has conducted educational workshops that have encouraged young people to excel in the arts.  He also has lent his talents to many charitable organizations including the United Way, St. Anthony Health Foundation, Bonfils Blood Center, Habitat for Humanity, the Denver Children’s Hospital, the Children’s Museum of Denver and the Denver School of the Arts.

Michael Friedman Jazz Quintet

Bass player Michael Friedman leads an energetic contemporary jazz quintet of accomplished musicians that will get you movin’! The music is a blend of jazz, pop, and funk. The other instruments are keyboards (Justin Adams), drums (Darrin Johnson), sax and flute (Dave Thrush) and guitar (Michael Abbott).

Michael has composed and recorded 21 songs that were distributed nationally, including several radio hits. He has toured throughout the U.S. and is primarily known as a former player and co-founder of the band Dotsero.

SONG SAMPLES:

Sample

MICHAEL FRIEDMAN SONG LIST

Contemporary Jazz Originals

Santorini
Right Place, Right Time
When We’re Together
Glass Reflections
Water Colors
Another Summer
Lucky Day
Every Day With You
Late at Night
Jabberwocky
Ready or Not
Now and Then
Ooga Booga
Midnight Mood

Pop Covers

Love is the Seventh Wave (Sting)
We’ll Be Together Tonight (Sting)
Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing (Stevie Wonder)
You are the Sunshine of My Life (Stevie Wonder)
When Days are Dark (Sipho Gomede)

Jazz Standards

The Song is You – Kern/Hammerstein
Body and Soul – Green
Daahoud – Clifford Brown
Dolphin Dance – Herbie Hancock
Israel – John Carisi
Beautiful Love – Victor Young
Spain – Chick Corea
I Love You – Cole Porter
Donna Lee – Charlie Parker
In A Mellow Tone – Duke Ellington
Peri’s Scope – Bill Evans
Afro Blue – M. Santamaria
Nardis – Miles Davis
In Your Own Sweet Way – Dave Brubeck
La Samba – Ray Obiedo
Stolen Moments – Oliver Nelson
Stella By Starlight – Victor Young
The Days of Wine and Roses – Henry Mancini
Red Clay – Freddie Hubbard
Softly As In A Morning Sunrise – Hammerstein/Romberg
Blue In Green – Miles Davis

Holiday Songs

Christmas Time is Here
The Christmas Song
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Winter Wonderland
Let it Snow
Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
Rudolph
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
White Christmas

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