Michael Friedman
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Michael Friedman

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"Michael Friedman "Diamond Space""

This songwriter—and especially singer— is from Vancouver, Canada and you only have to listen once to his third disc (Diamond Space) to completely fall for it. Michael Friedman is gifted with a heavenly, beautiful voice, somewhere between James Taylor and Luka Bloom. He plays with a unique guitar style, rooted in folk, but laced with tufts of jazz and new age. He spent a great deal of his youth in Germany where he studied music—he is a diplomaed choir director—and upon his return to Canada, he has devoted himself to writing film and TV scores, as well as chamber music. As you can see, an all round gentleman, who reminds us repeatedly with this disc, of that other Canadian giant, Gordon Lightfoot. Friedman’s songs are not the obvious verse-refrain-verse pieces: they are rather, musical tales, where the lyrics are just as important as the music. Taken together with his phenomenal singing capabilities, you know you are dealing with something special here. Not for beginners, not for pop lovers, but something like ‘still-lifes’ for ‘mellow-maniacs’. Five of the sixteen numbers are miniscule instrumentals which, at first listening, and without the booklet, one wouldn’t guess are pieces unto themselves but rather extended intros. Nonetheless, they take their place on the disc, forming bridges between sung numbers. All this adds up to a cool final tally recommending this disc to people who want a musical change away from the trodden path.

- MazzMusikaS (NL)


"The Singer:"

"A terrific singer and accomplished musician." - Tom Harrison - Vancouver Province


"The Writer:"

"Friedman combines a very sharp compositional sensibility with a down-to-earth knack for writing insightful
songs about personal relationships, both within the framework of romance and in a greater societal context." - Alexander Varty - Georgia Straight


"The Player:"

"It's unlikely that stereotypical strummers would possess the peculiar blend of muscular agility and rhythmic
sensibility that characterizes Friedman's impressive right-hand technique…" - Alexander Varty - Georgia Straight


"The Performer:"

"…Breathtaking…" Freie Presse, Freiberg, Germany - Freie Presse, Freiberg


Discography

Diamond Space (2006) U1R-2045
FFM Cinematic (2005) U1R-2037
Angst Ridden Writer (1998)
I never knew what hit me until now (1995)

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Bio

His songs carried us through a flurry of emotions, often compelling us to sing along to
refrains we'd not heard before. ….Michael's set ended much too early …." Steve Parton - Cosmic Debris

The above quote is a typical reference to the songs and the presentation of Michael Friedman, one of the most stunning and unique performers to emerge from Canada's west coast music scene. At once a mixture of explosive musicality and close intimacy, expressive playing technique and stirring vocals, Michael makes full use of a passionate and powerful 3
1/2 octave voice, a stunning and eclectic "New Acoustic" guitar playing approach, and a vast range of musical genre. This
Singer and Guitarist is one of the most complete and respected of the performing Songwriters and has shared the stage
with an impressive list of varied and illustrious artists including: Pete Seeger, Christine Collister, Don Ross, Earl Robinson,
Spirit of the West, Stephen Fearing, Loreena McKennitt, Perth County Conspiracy, Randy Bachman, Silk Road Music,
Joseph "Pepe" Danza, Valdy, Bocephus King and many many more.

The Writer: "Friedman combines a very sharp compositional sensibility with a down-to-earth knack for writing insightful
songs about personal relationships, both within the framework of romance and in a greater societal context." Alexander
Varty - Georgia Straight
The Singer: "A terrific singer and accomplished musician." Tom Harrison - Vancouver Province
The Player: "It's unlikely that stereotypical strummers would possess the peculiar blend of muscular agility and rhythmic
sensibility that characterizes Friedman's impressive right-hand technique…" Alexander Varty - Georgia Straight
The Performer: "…Breathtaking…" Freie Presse, Freiberg, Germany
The Musician: "I am very impressed with the way you tune those guitars!" Jeff Berlin - Bassist

Born in Vancouver and raised in a family of musicians and artists, Michael Friedman began studying piano at age four and was exposed to folk, world, rock and classical music throughout his youth. At age eleven his family moved to Berlin, East Germany where his father enrolled at the Hanns Eisler Conservatory of Music to study Choral Conducting. While in Berlin, Michael began his life-long love and "obsession" with the guitar. After a few years of playing professionally in Toronto he would return to Berlin, to receive formal musical training in Guitar and Composition at that same distinguished conservatory. While based in Germany he toured extensively, performing in various countries as a solo artist as well as a member of several groups, becoming a respected member of the international music
community in Europe. Returning to Vancouver, Michael kept a busy schedule writing music scores for T.V. and Film, and giving guitar and songwriting instruction and workshops. In 1992, Michael became the Music Director for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's (CBC) Front Page Challenge and wrote over 120 compositions for this respected television production during its last three of 38 years. Michael continuously tours in Canada, USA and Europe in support of several acclaimed solo albums, (1995) and Angst Ridden Writer (1998). His third solo album Diamond Space is finally complete in its official release version (September 2006). In 2003, Michael began collaborating with German cellist and orchestral arranger Jens Naumilkat, taking his original songs to the symphonic stage. Michael has to date performed his works with the Neubrandenburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Mitteldeutsche Kammerphilharmonie, the Loh Orchestra of Sondershausen, and the Voigtland Philharmonic Orchestra. Michael also is a member of the abulous band "FFM" (Friedman, Fortin & Masich).