Erik Friedlander
Erik Friedlander (born July 1, 1960) is an American cellist and composer based in New York City. A veteran of New York City's experimental downtown scene, Friedlander has worked in many contexts, but is perhaps best known for his frequent collaborations with saxophonist John Zorn. Friedlander grew up in a home filled with art and music: his father is photographer Lee Friedlander, noted for the cover photographs he took for Atlantic Records.
Erik Friedlander
Nomo michael hoefner · CC BY 3.0
- Born
- 1960 · New York City.
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- cellist · composer · musician · bandleader
- Fields
- jazz · post-bop
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Erik Friedlander (born July 1, 1960) is an American cellist and composer based in New York City. A veteran of New York City's experimental downtown scene, Friedlander has worked in many contexts, but is perhaps best known for his frequent collaborations with saxophonist John Zorn. Friedlander grew up in a home filled with art and music: his father is photographer Lee Friedlander, noted for the cover photographs he took for Atlantic Records.
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Erik Friedlander (born 1960) is a bandleader, cellist and composer, among other activities, of American nationality. The bandleader was born in New York City. The work spans jazz and post-bop.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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museum · ae258659-2e98-4edb-ae69-fc3db144377e · wikidata · Q862074 · wikipedia · Erik Friedlander
In this article
As sideman
As sideman
With Laurie Anderson Life on a String (Nonesuch, 2001) With Cyro Baptista Beat the Donkey (Tzadik, 2002) Banquet of the Spirits (Tzadik, 2008) Infinito (Tzadik, 2009) With Uri Caine Wagner e Venezia (Winter & Winter, 1997) With Nels Cline Lovers (Blue Note, 2016) With Sylvie Courvoisier Abaton (ECM, 2003) With Dave Douglas Five (Soul Note, 1996) Convergence (Soul Note, 1999) With Mark Feldman Book of Tells (Enja, 2001) With Benny Golson One Day, Forever (Arkadia Jazz, 1999 [2001]) With Myra Melford The Same River, Twice (Gramavision, 1996) Above Blue (Arabesque, 1999) With Mike Patton Pranzo Oltranzista (Tzadik, 1997) With Jamie Saft A Bag of Shells (Tzadik, 2010) With Wadada Leo Smith Lake Biwa (Tzadik, 2004) With Dar Williams Mortal City (Razor & Tie, 1996)
Filmography
Filmography
Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites (2003) Spade (2014) Thoroughbreds (2017) Oh Lucy! (2017)
Erik Friedlander at Joe's Pub, 7/17/07.
Missy from Brooklyn, New York City · Erik Friedlander
Erik Friedlander live at Saalfelden 2009
Davide Leonardi
Discography
He is of Jewish descent from his father and of Finnish descent through his paternal grandmother. His father's fondness for R&B and jazz helped shape Friedlander's taste in music. He graduated from Columbia University in 1982. Friedlander started playing guitar at age six and added cello two years later. Apart from his work with Zorn, Friedlander has worked with Laurie Anderson, Courtney Love, the Mountain Goats, and Alanis Morissette, and is a member of the jazz/fusion quartet Topaz. He created the original music for the historical documentary Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites.
Chimera (with Chimera) (Avant, 1995) The Watchman (with Chimera) (Tzadik, 1996) Topaz (with Topaz) (SIAM, 1999) Skin (with Topaz) (SIAM, 2000) also released on DVD Grains of Paradise (Tzadik, 2002) Quake (with Topaz) (Cryptogramophone, 2003) Maldoror (Brassland, 2003) Eiger (SkipStone, 2006) Prowl (with Topaz) (Cryptogramophone, 2006) Schio Duomilaquatro (Stella Nera, 2006) Giorni Rubati (Bip-Hop, 2006) Block Ice & Propane (SkipStone, 2007) Volac: Book of Angels Volume 8 (Tzadik, 2007) composed by John Zorn Broken Arm Trio (SkipStone, 2008) Vanishing Point (A Road Journal DVD) Alchemy (SkipStone, 2010) 50 Miniatures for Improvising Quintet (SkipStone, 2010) Chamber Quintet (with Marcin Oles and Bartlomiej Oles) Bonebridge (SkipStone, 2011) American Power (SkipStone, 2012) Claws and Wings (SkipStone, 2013) Nothing on Earth (SkipStone, 2014) Nighthawks (SkipStone, 2014) Illuminations (SkipStone, 2015) Oscalypso (SkipStone, 2015) Rings (SkipStone, 2016) Artemisia (with Throw A Glass) (SkipStone, 2018) With John Zorn Redbird (Tzadik, 1995) Filmworks IV: S&M + More (Tzadik, 1997) Filmworks VI: 1996 (Tzadik, 1997) Filmworks VIII: 1997 (Tzadik, 1998) Music for Children (Tzadik, 1998) The String Quartets (Tzadik, 1999) The Big Gundown: 15th Anniversary Special Edition (Tzadik, 2000) Madness, Love and Mysticism (Tzadik, 2001) Filmworks X: In the Mirror of Maya Deren (Tzadik, 2001) Cobra: John Zorn's Game Pieces Volume 2 (Tzadik, 2002) Filmworks XII: Three Documentaries (Tzadik, 2002) Filmworks XIII: Invitation to a Suicide (Tzadik, 2002) Filmworks XIX: The Rain Horse (Tzadik, 2008) Filmworks XX: Sholem Aleichem (Tzadik, 2008) What Thou Wilt (Tzadik, 2010) The Concealed (Tzadik, 2012) Fragmentations, Prayers and Interjections (Tzadik, 2014) As a member of Bar Kokhba 1998 The Circle Maker (Tzadik) 2005 50th Birthday Celebration Volume 11 (Tzadik) 2008 Lucifer: Book of Angels Volume 10 (Tzadik) As a member of Masada String Trio 1998 The Circle Maker (Tzadik) 2002 Filmworks XI: Secret Lives (Tzadik) 2003 50th Birthday Celebration Volume 1 (Tzadik) 2005 Azazel: Book of Angels Volume 2 (Tzadik) 2010 Haborym: Book of Angels Volume 16 (Tzadik)
Primary material
Documents and archives
Institutional database
- MusicBrainz artist record for Erik Friedlander
Scholarly · MetaBrainz Foundation
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q862074: Erik Friedlander
Scholarly · Wikimedia Foundation
reference work
- “Erik Friedlander”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Sisario, Ben. An Avant-Gardist's View of America, as Seen From the Back Seat. The New York Times. 17 July 2007.
- 2.Hadba-Groom, Vitoria. Lee Friedlander. TheArtStory.
- 3.Parhizkar, Maryam. Cellist Erik Friedlander '82 Plays an Uncommon Tune. Columbia College Today. April 2011.
- 4.Layne, Joslyn. Biography: Erik Friedlander. AllMusic.
- 5.IMDb. Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites (TV Movie 2003) – Full Cast & Crew – IMDb.
- 6."Cellist Erik Friedlander's best recording as a leader is also one of the most distinctive jazz-with-strings albums ever made." – Ed Hazell, The Boston Phoenix
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
Institutional database
MusicBrainz artist record for Erik FriedlanderMetaBrainz Foundation
VerifiedInstitutional database
Wikidata, structured authority record Q862074: Erik FriedlanderWikimedia Foundation
Verifiedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
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