Amit Friedman
Saxophonist & Composer
Biography
Saxophonist and composer Amit Friedman is among the leading musicians in the Israeli jazz scene.
He is a recipient of the honorary Israeli “Prime Minister Award for Jazz Composition”
Freidman's music is rooted in the jazz tradition and incorporates elements of world music and especially Middle Eastern music.
The catchy compositions, which blend sophistication and simplicity, communicate with a wide range of audiences.
His debut album "Sunrise" (Origin Records) was on the BEST ISRAELI JAZZ OF THE DECADE list by Columbus Magazine.
The album is comprised wholly of original material performed by a jazz sextet of top musicians as well as string quartet.
The album received ample airtime and enthusiastic reviews all around the world and ranked at the top of jazz album lists in leading US magazines. "Sunrise" was the top selling jazz album in 2012 in Israel and its title track entered the list of "most played songs" in the popular 88FM radio station.
On 2016, Friedman released his second album, "Long Way To Go" which continues in the musical vein of "Sunrise". His sextet is joined by three guest singers for original and fresh collaborations – Claudia Acuna (Chile-USA), Ravid Kahalani (Yemen Blues) and Tamar Eisenman (New York).
In the liner notes to "Unconditional Love," Amit recent release, Amit recounts the story of his late father taking him, as a young teen, to New York and a night at the Blue Note. Implied is a great sense of gratitude for all of those influencing his life, and with the album's dedication to his father, offers the inspiration behind this collection of performances.
Friedman performs and records regularly with first rate musicians from Israel and abroad.
He has also collaborated with Israel's leading pop musicians and spent three years playing and musical directing the band in the successful late night TV show, "Tonight with Lior Shlein".
Alongside his work as an instrumentalist, composer and arranger, Friedman is highly active as an educator, working to advance jazz among young people.
" Friedman has a knack for memorable melodies enmeshed in sophisticated and lively arrangements "
All About jazz
" Many Jazz albums have a joyful sound, but rarely one as inspiring as Sunrise..."
Dave Sumner, Bird is the Worm
"Here’s a guy that keeps with the jazz groove and sounds, but adds some exciting new ideas along the way....Quite alluring!"
George W. Harris, jazz weekly
"Here’s a guy that keeps with the jazz groove and sounds, but adds some exciting new ideas along the way....Quite alluring!"
George W. Harris, jazz weekly
