Don Friedman is a jazz pianist who was born on May 4, 1935 in San Francisco.
Don Friedman at The Kitano Jazz Lounge, September 2009
His parents loved classical music and they owned a piano. Don started playing piano at age four and took lessons from age five from a private teacher named Katherine Swint. Though he had no exposure to jazz at this time, Don taught himself to improvise. His family moved to the San Fernando Valley when he was fifteen. At age 17, Don remembered going to the Hollywood Palladium to hear the bands of Les Brown, Stan Kenton and Billy May and that started his love for Jazz. The Stan Kenton soloists Lee Konitz, Conte Candoli and Frank Rosolino inspired Don as he transformed his focus from classical music to Jazz.
Don studied at Los Angeles City College and also studied Jazz on his own by playing along with records of Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins and Miles Davis. Don played with various groups in the mid 50s in the Los Angeles area including Shorty Rogers, Chet Baker, Buddy Collette, Ornette Coleman and Scott LaFaro. Don made his first records as a sideman at this time with trumpeters Hank DeMano and Jack Millman. In 1956 Buddy DeFranco hired Don for a tour that included gigs in Birdland and Basin Street in New York.
Don went back to California to live for a year or so and then decided to move to New York City in 1958. He had met many musicians and had made several contacts in New York from his tour with DeFranco. Don thrived in the great and diverse jazz scene at that time. He played with most of the great players of that time and began to build his great reputation as a talented pianist. Don had known the legendary bass player Scott LaFaro in Los Angeles and the two friends shared a loft apartment at the time. The two formed a great partnership as room-mates, friends and fellow jazz pioneers.
During this period in New York City, Don played in many settings including his own trio and with artists such as Pepper Adams, Booker Little, Jimmy Giuffre, Charles Lloyd, Chuck Wayne and Herbie Mann. Don made his first recordings as a leader for producer Orrin Keepnews at Riverside records from 1961 through 1964. The first three were with his trio and the fourth was a Quartet with guitarist Attila Zoller. Those records were highly acclaimed at the time; three of them won 5 stars, the top rating at Down Beat, while the fourth won 4 stars. By 1965, Friedman had won a New Star Award in Down Beat's annual Critics' Poll. Late in the 60s Don began his association with Clark Terry, working in his Big Band. Don also began teaching at NYU as well as leading a jazz ensemble there.
Since the 60s, Don has continued in New York City, working as a Jazz pianist and educator. He has toured the US as well as Europe and Japan frequently with many diverse groups. Don continues to draw critical acclaim for his music and respect from his peers. He has been praised for his lyrical style and his technical virtuosity. Friedman is at home playing swing with the likes of Ruby Braff or Clark Terry or free jazz with Attila Zoller or the cooperative group Reflexionen.
In Japan, Don Friedman is referred to as a "very well know Jazz musician", and he made many records that have only been released in Japan. While in the US Don is still underrated, he is clearly one of the living treasures of modern Jazz.
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