Ciné-Concert: Le sang d'un poêt a film by Jean Cocteau (1930)
National gallery of art Presents
Matthew Nolan and Erik Friedlander Improvise a soundtrack to Jean Cocteau’s The Blood of a Poet
Matthew Nolan is a Dublin based musician, composer, academic and curator. He has produced new work in collaboration with some of the finest musicians around, both Irish and international. He has worked on commissions from a range of prestigious performing arts institutions, including National Gallery of Ireland, BAM and Film at Lincoln Centre in New York, The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., Kilkenny Arts Festival, Bram Stoker Festival, and the St Patrick’s Festival. His most recent projects were presented at MoLI in Dublin as part of their Ulysses centenary project and at the New York Film Festival. 2024 will see the release of Pomes Penyeach by Universal Music, produced in collaboration with Adrian Crowley and based on James Joyce’s short book of poetry.
Erik Friedlander has released over 20 CD's as a leader and has composed music for ads, dance works, documentaries and films. His most recent work is the film, “Baby Ruby” by first-time director Bess Wohl (2022). Other work includes “The Romanoffs” the series by Mad Men creator Matt Weiner; a special spot for America’s Got Talent and the feature films Oh Lucy! (2017), directed by Atsuko Hirayanagi and Thoroughbreds (2018), directed by Cory Finley. Other films scored by Friedlander include the documentary Nothing On Earth, directed by Mick Angus, the feature film Future Weather by Jenny Deller, the short film Spade by Mandi Riggi, and the PBS 4-part special “The Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Isrealites.”
Two extraordinary musicians tackle the signature surrealist film by Jean Cocteau, "Le sang d'un poète" (1930). Daring and bold the two sympatico players bring a modern take on this timeless classic.
Benefit for Tzadik Records
A BENEFIT FOR TZADIK RECORDS
Limited Run, the online distributor for Tzadik’s direct-to-consumer mail order projects has declared bankruptcy owing the label $70,000. To help rebalance this loss these kind musicians have generously offered to make these three concerts benefits for Tzadik.
Please come, donate, and help Tzadik continue its mission to support and document new music in the 21st century.
A three-night run bringing together master improvisers to perform in multiple configurations and combinations, organized by and featuring John Zorn with Ikue Mori, Wendy Eisenberg, Dave Douglas, Sean Ono Lennon, Peter Evans, Kalia Vandever, Miles Okazaki, and many others.
Derek Bailey was a dear friend and mentor, whose passion for pure improvisation inspired generations of musicians from a wide variety of backgrounds. For these three nights we return to the Improv Night tradition that began as benefits for The Stone, and that have been, in many ways, inspired by Derek Bailey’s legendary Company Weeks.
Each evening will present a rotating kaleidoscope of master improvisers, who will then divide into smaller improvisational units—each concert promising a unique and exciting experience.
Please join us in this heartfelt tribute to the art of improvisation, to the ever-thriving, ever-expanding Downtown Scene, and to the spirit of Derek Bailey and Company.
—John Zorn
THURSDAY JAN 25
John Zorn sax
Ned Rothenberg sax
Jim Staley trombone
Michael Nicolas cello
Miles Okazaki guitar
Simon Hanes guitar, bass
Selendis Sebastian Alexander Johnson vibes
Arturo O’Farrill piano
Anna Abondolo bass
Nava Dunkelman percussion
Kenny Wollesen drums
FRIDAY JAN 26
John Zorn sax
Jon Irabagon sax
Peter Evans trumpet
Dave Taylor bass trombone
Erik Friedlander cello
Wendy Eisenberg guitar
Sae Hashimoto vibes, percussion
Brian Marsella piano
Jorge Roeder bass
Henry Fraser bass
David Weinstein electronics
SATURDAY JAN 27
John Zorn alto sax
Kalia Vandever trombone
Dave Douglas trumpet
Micah Thomas piano
Sean Ono Lennon guitar
Josh Modney violin
Jay Campbell cello
Luke Stewart bass
Ikue Mori electronics
Billy Martin percussion
Brian Chase drums
Performance with Sylvie Courvoisier @The Stone
January 24th, Wednesday at the Stone 55 W13th Street (The New School)
8:30 pm
duo/trio/quartet
Ikue Mori (electronics) Ned Rothenberg (reeds) Sylvie Courvoisier (piano) Erik Friedlander (cello)
Oct 28 - "Electric Snowfall"
OCTOBER 28 - “Electric Snowfall”
Erik FriedlaNDER, CELLO;
Ikue Mori, laptop; Kevin Norton, vibes
OCTOBER 26 - "Floating City" with Mark Helias, Sara Serpa, Wendy Eisenberg
with Mark Helias, Bass; Sara Serpa, vocals; Wendy eisenberg, gtr.
The Throw (Unhinged)
OCTOBER 25 - Erik Friedlander's "The Throw"
with Mark Helias, bass; Ches Smith, drums
Special Trio performance, Unhinged
The Throw @ Lilypad
This great band is coming to Boston for one performance only Sunday night May 7, at 930p. The band featuring Uri Cain on piano; Mark Helias on bass; and Ches Smith on drums is an explosive, fun band to come and hear. Don’t miss it!
Erik Friedlander’s new album A QUEENS’ FIREFLY (Skipstone Records, out April 29, 2022) finds the miraculous within the routine, taking inspiration from the small moments of life to create an overflow of joy and optimism.
While writing the tracks that would come to make up A Queens’ Firefly, Friedlander was struck by a Virginia Woolf quote from To The Lighthouse:
“What is the meaning of life? That was all – a simple question… The great revelation perhaps never did come. Instead, there were little daily miracles, illuminations, matches struck unexpectedly in the dark.”
Woolf’s quotation can apply to music as well – music is given meaning by musicians arranging and performing it. But outside the frame of any particular piece is the magic of the chemistry between musicians, which percolates and creates those ‘daily miracles.’ Friedlander composed a collection of songs that gives the musicians a structure for improvisation and sets the stage for fireworks. The band plays with a loose fearlessness that encourages spontaneous eccentricities and moments of synchronicity that were unforeseen, even by its players.
$20 at the door
The Throw @ Hawks & Reed
This great band is coming to Western MA for one performance only Saturday night May 6, at 730p. The band featuring Uri Cain on piano; Mark Helias on bass; and Ches Smith on drums is an explosive, fun band to come and hear. Don’t miss it!
Erik Friedlander’s new album A QUEENS’ FIREFLY (Skipstone Records, out April 29, 2022) finds the miraculous within the routine, taking inspiration from the small moments of life to create an overflow of joy and optimism.
While writing the tracks that would come to make up A Queens’ Firefly, Friedlander was struck by a Virginia Woolf quote from To The Lighthouse:
“What is the meaning of life? That was all – a simple question… The great revelation perhaps never did come. Instead, there were little daily miracles, illuminations, matches struck unexpectedly in the dark.”
Woolf’s quotation can apply to music as well – music is given meaning by musicians arranging and performing it. But outside the frame of any particular piece is the magic of the chemistry between musicians, which percolates and creates those ‘daily miracles.’ Friedlander composed a collection of songs that gives the musicians a structure for improvisation and sets the stage for fireworks. The band plays with a loose fearlessness that encourages spontaneous eccentricities and moments of synchronicity that were unforeseen, even by its players.
The Throw @ Firehouse 12 In New Haven, CT
Firehouse 12 presents
Erik Friedlander’s THE THROW
Northeast Tour with The Throw
My band The Throw will be going on a short tour of the Northeast in May. The band features Uri Caine on piano, Mark Helias on bass, Ches Smith on drums and me on cello. We’ll be playing tunes from our latest record A Queens’ Firefly as well as some other good stuff!
May 5 - Firehouse 12 in New Haven, CT
The Throw European Tour 2022
My band The Throw will be touring Europe in November, dates below!
11.04.2022 WIEN/Austria - Porgy & Bess Jazz & Music Club
11.05.2022 PANCEVO/Serbia - PANCEVACKI JAZZ FESTIVAL
11.08.2022 ROMA/Italy - CASA DEL JAZZ
11.09.2022 TOURS/France - Le Petit Faucheux
11.10.2022 TOURS/France masterclass
11.11.2022 VILLACH/Austria - Parkhotel Villach, Bambergsaal
11.14.2022 BOZEN/Italy - Carambolage
11.15.2022 HALL/Austria - Kulturlabor Stromboli
11.16.2022 DACHAU/Germany - Kultur-Schranne
11.17.2022 MADRID/Spain - Teatro Fernan Gomez/Centro Cultural de la Villa
Encounters and Collisions at Duke University
On October 15th I’ll be joining vocalist Sara Serpa, saxophonist Caroline Davis, and pianist Marta Sanchez to present Sara Serpa’s new work “Encounters and Collisions.” The concert will take place at the Nelson Music Room at Duke University. More details here.
Zürcher Gallery
On September 28th, I’ll be performing at Zürcher Gallery in Manhattan. I’ll be joined by Mark Helias on bass and Satoshi Takeishi on percussion. More details here. This should be a really good one!
$20 at the door.
Phillip Officer: “Let Me Sing And I’m Happy” at Birdland
On September 26th, I’ll be joining cabaret singer Phillip Officer at Birdland. For tickets and more info follow this link.. “Let Me Sing And I’m Happy” will celebrate a coterie of great writers and artists who have influenced Officer’s musical journey, including Peggy Lee, Carole King, Stephen Sondheim, The Beatles, Irving Berlin, Cher, and Johnny Mercer. Hope to see you there!
The Pharmacy Gallery
On August 27th, I’ll be performing solo at The Pharmacy Gallery in Springfield, IL. From 5-9pm, there will be an exhibition of artist Paul Fox, and I will be performing from 7-9pm in the space.
$5 suggested donation, if you’re in the Springfield area I hope to see you there!
Sentinel European Tour 2021
My new band Sentinel will be touring Europe in October, dates below!
10/01/2021 Kulturzentrum Leibnitz, Austria
10/03/2021 Lantaren Venster, Rotterdam
10/04/2021 Jazzclub Unterfahrt, München
10/05/2021 Stadttheater Wels, Austria
10/06/2021 Kulturlabor Stromboli, Austria
10/07/2021 Centro d'Arte degli Studenti dell'Università di Padova, Italy
10/08/2021 Alte Gerberei, Austria
10/09/2021 Stadtgarten – Europäisches Zentrum für Jazz und Aktuelle, Germany
Sentinel European Tour 2021
My new band Sentinel will be touring Europe next February, dates to be announced soon!
The Throw European Tour 2020
2/3/2020 Institut Francais, Berlin, Germany
2/4/2020 NOSPR Chamber Hall, Katowice, Poland
2/5/2020 Muziekcentrum De Bijloke, Gent, Belgium
2/6/2020 Stadtgarten/Musiktriennale, Köln, Germany
2/7/2020 AMR, Geneva, Switzerland
2/8/2020 Pinnochio Jazz Club, Florence, Italy
The Stone Brooklyn at happylucky no. 1 (Night 2)
At the end of October, I’ll be playing two shows at happylucky no. 1 in Crown Heights, as part of the Stone’s Brooklyn concert series. The second night will see me joined by Guilherme Monteiro on guitar, and Ben Goldberg on clarinet. 8pm, $20 at the door, you know the drill!
Lineup:
Erik Friedlander, cello
Guilherme Monteiro, guitar
Ben Goldberg, clarinet
The Stone Brooklyn at happylucky no. 1 (Night 1)
At the end of October, I’ll be playing two shows at happylucky no. 1 in Crown Heights, as part of the Stone’s Brooklyn concert series. The first night will see me joined by Stomu Takeishi on bass and Ches Smith on drums. 8pm, $20 at the door, you know the drill!
Lineup:
Erik Friedlander, cello
Stomu Takeishi, bass
Ches Smith, drums
Sara Serpa Portugal Tour
I'll be joining singer Sara Serpa for a tour of Portugal in mid-October:
October 16: Bragança Jazz Festival
October 17: Masterclass at Escola Superior Musica Lisboa
October 18: Villa Roma, Sintra
October 19: Centro Cultural de Belém
Lineup: Sara Serpa, vocals; Ingrid Laubrock, saxophones; Erik Friedlander, cello
Nightcap at the Kaplan Penthouse
Join me for a late night solo set at the Kaplan Penthouse on Saturday October 5th. Tickets are $25. I go on at 10:30p, and there will also be sets by Shelley Hirsch and Samora Pinderhughes. Should be an excellent night, hope to see you there!
Brian Marsella @ The Stone
I’ll be playing with pianist Brian Marsella on October 4th as part of Brian’s week long residency at The Stone. Concert starts at 8:30, $20 at the door. Hope to see you there!
Lineup:
Brian Marsella, piano
Erik Friedlander, cello
John Zorn at Biennale Industrii
I’ll be performing as part of a 9-hour John Zorn marathon at Katowice, Poland’s Bienalle Industrii on September 28th. More info TBA.
John Zorn at San Sebastian Jazz Festival
I’ll be performing a cello duo with Mike Nicholas as part of John Zorn’s Bagatelles marathon at the San Sebastian Jazz Festival. Tickets and info here.
John Zorn at North Sea Jazz Festival
I’ll be performing in John Zorn’s Bagatelles marathon at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam on July 12th. Tickets and info here.
John Zorn in Paris
I’ll be performing in a cello duo with Mike Nicholas as part of John Zorn’s Bagatelles marathon at New Morning in Paris on July 11th. Tickets and info here.