Skip to main content
Friedman Banner

 

David Friedman is considered to be one of the most influential vibraphonists in the history of the instrument. Internationally renowned as a vibraphonist, marimbist, composer and jazz educator, he has his own musical message, born of fascinatingly diverse musical influences.

Having worked with such varied musical personalities as Leonard Bernstein, Luciano Berio, Bobby McFerrin, Wayne Shorter and Yoko Ono, few jazz musicians can claim as broad a spectrum of performing and recording experience.

The list doesn`t stop there. Friedman has been heard either live or on recordings with, among others, Joe Henderson, Horace Silver, Johnny Griffin, Hubert Laws, Jane Ira Bloom, Ron Carter and John Scofield. Friedman’s vibraphone and compositions are both featured on Chet Baker’s award winning Enja release Peace, with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Joe Chambers.

A dedicated and renowned educator, David Friedman founded the jazz program at Berlin’s University of the Arts, and served as its head for sixteen years. He continues to perform masterclasses throughout Europe, North America and Japan. His book, Vibraphone Technique, Dampening and Pedaling, is considered to be the Bible of mallet instruction books.

In 1977, Friedman co-founded the unique vibe-marimba quartet Double Image, with Dave Samuels. Their first recording, Double Image, was nominated for a German “Grammy”, and has just been re-released as a special edition by Enja Records. Friedman’s Enja release Shades of Change, with pianist Geri Allen, bassist Anthony Cox and drummer Ronnie Burrage, was voted by Downbeat magazine as “One of the year’s best 20 CD’s”.

Cover Image
Friedman Cover Photo

Contributed Content

Some content may be restricted to
Registered Members, or
Subscribing Members.
Content type Authored
Blues workout Video Embed 04/13/2024 - 12:29
Improvised lines -V Audio Player 10/01/2023 - 11:51
“Dreamsville” -V Video Embed 07/23/2023 - 22:22
“Very Early”, Bill Evans. Video Embed 09/07/2022 - 06:45
Oleo -V Video Embed 04/30/2022 - 03:34
ISRAEL Quick and dirty video. Video Embed 03/28/2022 - 09:03
Everything I love -V Video Embed 03/03/2022 - 16:12
Fairy Tale -V Audio Player 06/08/2021 - 04:49
"You must believe in spring" Michel Legrand -V Audio Player 04/17/2021 - 11:40
Rhythm Changes, only lines -V Audio Player 02/26/2021 - 15:15
"I Remember April" latin piano accompaniment Audio Player 02/16/2021 - 18:48
I remember April Audio Player 02/12/2021 - 20:34
David Friedman Plays Windows Video Embed 02/10/2021 - 11:55
Berlin Blues -V Audio Player 03/15/2020 - 17:14
How My Heart Sings -V Audio Player 01/04/2020 - 10:45
Bebop Line practice -V Audio Player 12/18/2019 - 05:46
Bebop Changes -V Audio Player 12/15/2019 - 06:39
"A Christmas Gathering" Blog entry 12/11/2019 - 06:10
"When You Wish Upon A Star", sung by Martina Bárta -V Audio Player 12/03/2019 - 10:35
Joy Spring -V Audio Player 12/02/2019 - 04:11
Memory of the Witchita Lineman (Louder Version) -V Audio Player 10/24/2019 - 12:57
Memories of the Witchita Lineman -V Audio Player 10/24/2019 - 04:36
"Little B's Poem" by Bobby Hutcherson -V Audio Player 07/03/2019 - 10:59
Martina Bárta/David Friedman "I'm Glad There Is You" Video Embed 05/11/2019 - 11:44
"If I only had a Brain" by Harold Arlen, from "The Wizard of Oz" -V Audio Player 04/18/2019 - 04:44