October 15

8p Block Ice & Propane

Erik Friedlander, cello

Cellist Erik Friedlander draws on his experiences as a child traveling across the United States with his family during the 1960's and 70's to create Block Ice & Propane, an engaging solo performance that brings together Erik's rich, Americana-inspired cello music, and his own stories from now-distant road trips.

10p Volac

Erik Friedlander, cello
Music by John Zorn

Volume 8 in the continuing Book of Angels series is an intimate and breathtaking recital by one of the world’s most accomplished cellists. A vital member of the Masada family from the very beginning, Erik Friedlander has hypnotized audiences both here and in Europe with his own bands Topaz, Broken Arm and Grains of Paradise. Stepping out in a special solo project, Erik shows off his remarkable technique in ten compositions from Zorn’s lyrical Book of Angels. This is Erik at his best. Rich, romantic, gripping music to both challenge and soothe the savage beast.

October 16

8p Claws & Wings (premiere)

Sylvie Courvoisier, piano
Ikue Mori, electronics
Erik Friedlander, cello

This new work is written in memory of Erik’s late wife. He, along with his daughter, were left to ponder how to make sense of the loss, and how to move on. The music strongly resonates with Erik’s mind-set at the time: meditating on a life lost, regaining his balance, and then moving forward with optimism. Claws & Wings (World Premiere) is dedicated to this ongoing process.

10p Mass Cello

Meghan Burke, cello
Erik Friedlander, cello
Greg Heffernen, cello
Christopher Hoffman, cello
Nioka Workman, cello
Jeffrey Ziegler, cello

New and old works for multiple celli - this will be a fun night! Works by Julius Hemphill, Imogen Heap, Friedlander, Verdi, and Led Zeppelin.

October 17

8p Broken Arm Trio

Michael Sarin, drums
Trevor Dunn, bass
Erik Friedlander, cello

In 1949 bassist Oscar Pettiford broke his arm playing baseball. He could still move his fingers even though his arm was in a sling, so he began experimenting with a cello a friend had lent to him. He tuned the cello like a bass only an octave higher and later made history recording a series of cello-led projects including the great, under-recognized 1964 Fantasy release, "My Little Cello" featuring a photo of his newborn son whom he named “Cello.” Erik Friedlander tosses away his bow for this new band, playing only pizzicato in a world steeped in the influences of Oscar Pettiford and the small group feel of Herbie Nichols.

10p Oscar Pettiford Project

Special Guest Michael Blake, tenor saxophone
Michael Sarin, drums
Trevor Dunn, bass
Erik Friedlander, cello

A special tribute to jazz bassist (and cellist!) Oscar Pettiford. When you are an improvising cellist, there is not so much history to look back upon and contemplate. Unlike saxophone players or guitar players who have a long line of titans to measure themselves against, jazz cello players are more or less on their own. However, there is Oscar Pettiford. Pettiford tuned the cello like a bass so he’d be instantly familiar with where the notes lay, and he was passionate about the instrument, using it often in crucial sessions under his name--if it was an Oscar Pettiford recording the cello was often there in a central role. Joining the Broken Arm Trio is special guest Michael Blake on tenor, performing Pettiford works like Tamalpais and Night at Falcon’s Lair, as well as Friedlander originals.

October 18

8p Chimera

Erik Friedlander, cello
Chris Speed, clarinet
Andrew D’Angelo, bass clarinet
Christopher Tordini, bass

Friedlander’s first working band. This amazing acoustic improvising quartet will reunite to perform for the first time since the late 90s, performing works from Chimera (Avant) and The Watchman (Tzadik) "..a mesmerizing tour through the dark corridors of modern jazz."

10p Topaz

Andy Laster, saxophone
Erik Friedlander, cello
Satoshi Takeishi, percussion
Stomu Takeishi, bass

Friedlander’s working band until 2006, the Topaz quartet will perform from their 4 releases including the Cryptogramophone releases, Prowl and Quake. "Prowl presents cellist Erik Friedlander's Topaz quartet for a set of rhythmic excursions that are as adventurous as they are accessible."

October 19

8p/10p Bonebridge (preview new CD)

Erik Friedlander, cello
Doug Wamble, slide-guitar
Trevor Dunn, bass
Michael Sarin, drums

Friedlander will preview their new cd, “NightHawks” Bonebridge turns to the American South for inspiration. Taking a cue from his teenage passion for The Allman Brothers Band, Johnny Winter, and Southern rock in general, Friedlander brought in slide-guitar player and Memphis native Doug Wamble to share the front line of this new quartet. Wamble joins a honed unit as Friedlander, Mike Sarin (drums) and Trevor Dunn (bass) have played together in New York City for years, most recently in the Broken Arm Trio. “Mr. Friedlander, an ingenious cellist who makes an art of soulful rusticity.“

October 20

8p Nothing On Earth (premiere)

Shoko Nagai, piano, accordion
Satoshi Takeishi, percussion
Erik Friedlander, cello

A new trio formed to record music for the soundtrack Friedlander composed for Nothing on Earth, a new film by Mick Angus which follows photographer Murray Fredericks to the stark and beautiful landscape of the glaciers in Greenland. Friedlander, Nagai and Takeishi capture the mood as Fredericks relocates his work to the Greenland Icecap - atop a melting glacier and under the solar storms of the Aurora Borealis - he finds himself alone in a landscape he's never been, in a place he doesn't understand, hoping this time he hasn't taken his quest too far.

10p No Compass: Solter Resets Friedlander (premiere)

Scott Solter, electronics
Erik Friedlander, cello

Producer Scott Solter has worked with numerous indie artists, including Spoon, The Mountain Goats, John Vanderslice, Lazarus, The Forms, Pattern is Movement, Superchunk, Okkervil River, Liam Singer, and St Vincent. He and cellist Erik Friedlander team up to bring you the first live performance of No Compass, the five-track remix EP released earlier this year. Friedlander and Solter have worked together since they met in 2006 working with The Mountain Goats on the Sunset Tree project. Their first effort together was Block Ice & Propane, Friedlander’s 2007 solo release.

The Bonebridge band will release our second CD to be called "Nighthawks" I just finished mastering it with Steve Berson and it's sounding great.

"Nighthawks" sessions: photo by Katie Kline

In September of 2012 New York City, and much of the Eastern USA, was hit by Hurricane Sandy. It quickly became quite serious. Downtown where I live we got off easy as we were plunged into darkness and without power for 5 days, whereas many in the area lost their houses or were flooded and ruined. I quickly adapted to life following the sun: up early and when the sun set, I’d light a few candles and try to do more work, and then bleary-eyed head to sleep. My neighborhood was eerie and dark as there were no street lights, traffic signals or any stores and restaurants open. About every 10 or 15 minutes or so a police car would make an appearance, boldly driving through the black with emergency lights spinning but no siren. It was in this odd environment of quiet and menace that I began work on Nighthawks.

Erik Friedlander Week at the Stone Oct. 15-20