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.
Seeing Friedman play bass is not to be missed. The excitement
he generates, full of passion and power of his musical artistry,
is exceptional. His energy is infectious. For
Michael Friedman, the future is very bright indeed.
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
"Wow! You guys really know how to throw a party!
All of us connected with the Colorado Avalanche can't thank you enough for
the great job you did orchestrating the celebration at City Hall for
our
Stanley Cup Champions
"