Erik Friedlander is the foremost jazz cellist in the world today, a consummate artist that Billboard Magazine has lauded as "One of today's most ingenious and forward-thinking musical practitioners." Prowl is Friedlander's fourth CD with his group Topaz, which includes saxophonist Andy Laster and the amazing Takeishi brothers on electric bass and percussion. Prowl features eight original compositions based on vibrant African rhythms, and a haunting version of the traditional "A Closer Walk With Thee."
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Erik Friedlander's last release was a solo effort, 2004's excellent Maladror, a work that found Friedlander reacting musically to selected works by Isidore Ducasse. The cellist hasn't been sedentary these past few years; he's been working in new group
Adam Strohm, Dusted Magazine, April 5, 2006
When you hear the word "cello," what idea pops into your head? I'd love to say that I think of Erik Friedlander. The truth is that my thoughts go to two things: The Living Daylights, which stars Timothy Dalton and Maryam d'Abo, and the Bach
Mark Saleski, Blogcritics.org, March 6, 2006
The seeds for Topaz were sown in 1996 when Erik Friedlander was scoring the dances for his wife, Lynn Shapiro's New York show, which he later performed with Andy Laster and Stomu Takeishi. There was enough empathy between them to inspire Friedlander to wr
Jerry D'Souza, All About Jazz, March 9, 2006
One of the most highly regarded cellists in today's creative improvised music scene, Erik Friedlander has been integral to projects led by saxophonist John Zorn, pianist Sylvie Courvoisier and a host of others. But his prolific yield as a sideman has
Sean Patrick Fitzell, All About Jazz, March 1, 2006
With its African-inspired cover art and concentration on indigenous polyrhythms, Prowl presents cellist Erik Friedlander's Topaz quartet taking a virtual trip to the dark continent for a set of rhythmic excursions that are as adventurous as they are a
Troy Collins, All About Jazz, February 14, 2006
