Don Friedman

Donald Ernest Friedman (May 4, 1935 – June 30, 2016) was an American jazz pianist. He began playing in Los Angeles and moved to New York in 1958. In the 1960s, he played with both modern stylists and more traditional musicians.

Early life
Friedman was born on May 4, 1935, in San Francisco. Both of his parents immigrated to the United States: his father, Edward Friedman, was from Lithuania, and his mother, Alma Loew, was from Germany. He began playing the piano at the age of four, switching from classical music to jazz after his family moved to Los Angeles when he was fifteen. His early jazz piano influence was Bud Powell. Friedman briefly studied composition at Los Angeles City College.

Later life and career
On the West Coast, Friedman performed with Dexter Gordon, Chet Baker, Buddy DeFranco, and Ornette Coleman. He was also a member of Clark Terry's big band.

Friedman moved to New York permanently in 1958. In the 1960s, Friedman played with both modern jazz and more traditionally orientated musicians. The former included Coleman, Eric Dolphy, Jimmy Giuffre, Booker Little, and Attila Zoller; the latter included Bobby Hackett and Herbie Mann. Friedman's first album as a leader was A Day in the City, in 1961. Some of his early albums received top ratings from DownBeat, which also gave him its critics' poll New Star award. He was also an educator in New York. He had many fans in Japan.

Friedman married three times; the first two ended in divorce. He died of pancreatic cancer, at home in the Bronx on June 30, 2016. Survivors were one daughter, actress/writer, Lynn Adrianna Freedman, and a granddaughter.

As a member
Reuben Hoch and Time (with Reuben Hoch and Ed Schuller)
 * Of Recent Time (Naim, 2006)

As sideman
With Booker Little
 * Out Front (Candid, 1961)
 * Booker Little and Friend (Bethlehem, 1961)

With Herbie Mann
 * Herbie Mann Live at Newport (Atlantic, 1963)
 * My Kinda Groove (Atlantic, 1965) – rec. 1964
 * Our Mann Flute (Atlantic, 1966) – rec. 1960-66
 * The Beat Goes On (Atlantic, 1967) – rec. 1964-67

With Eiji Nakayama
 * Conversation (Art Union, 1986)
 * Sweet View: Eiji Nakayama Don Friedman Live in Japan (Jazz Road, 1987)
 * Legend of the Lake (Jazz Road, 1988)

With Dave Pike
 * Manhattan Latin (Decca, 1964)
 * The Doors of Perception (Vortex, 1970) – rec. 1966

With Yuko Shigeno
 * Shiny Stockings (Space Shower Music, 2011)
 * Circle Waltz with Don Friedman (24 Jazz Japan, 2013)

With Hiromi Shimizu
 * Waltz Tenderly (Jazz on Top, 2008)
 * Live at Jazz on Top (Jazz on Top, 2010) – live

With Clark Terry
 * It's What's Happenin' (Impulse!, 1967)
 * In Concert: Live (Etoile, 1973) – live rec. 1970
 * Portraits (Chesky, 1989) – rec. 1988
 * Live on QE2 (Chiaroscuro, 2001) – live rec. 1999
 * Friendship (Eighty-Eight's, 2002) – also with Max Roach

With others
 * Buddy Collette, Nice Day with Buddy Collette (Contemporary, 1957) – rec. 1956–57
 * Shauli Einav, "Generations" (Posi-Tone, 2013)
 * Bruno De Filippi, In New York With Don Friedman Trio (Carosello, 1992)
 * Herb Geller, At The Movies (Hep Jazz, 2007)
 * Lee Konitz, Lee Konitz Meets Don Friedman (InsightAttila Zollers, 1994) – rec. 1992
 * Hank De Mano, Listen to The Hank De Mano Quartet (Freeway Jazz, 1956)
 * John Handy, No Coast Jazz (Roulette, 1960)
 * Joe Henderson, Tetragon (Milestone, 1968) – rec. 1967-68
 * Elvin Jones, And Then Again (Atlantic, 1965)
 * Don Lanphere, Into Somewhere (Hep, 1983)
 * Charles Lloyd, Discovery! (Columbia, 1964)
 * Nicole Pasternak, In A Word (Garagista Music, 2005)
 * Sal Salvador Quintet, In Our Own Sweet Way (Stash, 1983)
 * Grady Tate, She Is My Lady (Janus, 1972)
 * Attila Zoller, The Horizon Beyond (EmArcy, 1965)