Michael Friedman

Michael Friedman

“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 octave voice, a stunning and eclectic "New Acoustic" guitar playing approach, and an extensive range of musical genre. For years Michael has taken his music to enthusiastic audiences in Europe and North America. Of late he has also been performing with several Symphony Orchestras in Germany. 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, Pierre Benssusan, Inti-Illimani, Perth County Conspiracy, Jim Byrnes, Valdy, Bill Henderson, Damhnait Doyle, Silk Road Music, Tim Williams, Brent Titcomb, Veda Hille, Dale Kavanagh, Kate Hammet-Vaughan, Christine Duncan, Corbin Keep, Don Alder 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

A Brief Biography

Born in Vancouver, Canada 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. His father played flute in various orchestras, and also led a folk music group. 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, “I Never Knew What Hit Me Until Now” (1995), “Angst Ridden Writer” (1998) and “Diamond Space” (2006). Between 1995 and 2000 Michael toured in tandem with guitarist Don Ross completing a dozen road trips through Europe and Canada that became known as the “Heavy Wood” tours. In 2000, Michael co-founded the now defunct band “FFM” (Friedman, Fortin & Masich) together with singers/songwriters Mark James Fortin and Sam Masich. 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, and the Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra. Presently, there are plans in the works for concerts with the Youth Orchestra of Brandenburg – considered the top youth orchestra in Germany.
Michael is presently (2010) working towards completing his fourth solo album tentatively titled “Random Acts of Tuning”.

Affliations:
Vancouver Musician’s Association AFM Local 145
SOCAN