Fiery, intense – just two words to describe internationally renowned West Coast singer-songwriter and guitarist Michael Friedman, who returns for an encore performance Friday at Vernon’s Bean Scene coffee house.
Earlier last fall, Vernon fans were thrilled with Friedman’s passionate and powerful three-octave voice, stunning “new acoustic” guitar playing, and complex exploration of musical genres.
Friedman’s expressive playing and stirring vocals moved the audience to both enthusiastic applause and joyful song as they joined him on the moving tune River Swim Mountain Climb.
While Friedman’s original lyrics touch the heart, listeners will also enjoy his entertaining anecdotes with their wry and witty observations about life as a musician and life in general.
Friedman’s original compositions and impressive performances garner rave reviews whenever he plays. The Georgia Straight praised Friedman’s “sharp compositional sensibility” and “a down-to-earth knack for writing insightful songs about personal relationships, both within the framework of romance and in a greater societal context.”
Friedman has recorded several acclaimed solo albums including I Never Knew What Hit Me Until Now (1995), Angst Ridden Writer (1998), and Diamond Space (2006).
This gig previews some new tunes from his upcoming CD, which Friedman is recording with producer John Ellis, producer for Jane Siberry, Barney Bentall, Ridley Bent, and others.
Touring to enthusiastic audiences in Europe and North America for many years now, Friedman has shared the stage with an impressive list of artists including the legendary Pete Seeger, Don Ross, Jim Byrnes, Spirit of the West, Stephen Fearing, Perth County Conspiracy, Valdy, and many more.
Vancouver-born Friedman was raised in a family of musicians and artists, exposing him to a wealth of music including folk, world, rock, and classical. He began studying piano at age four. When he was 11, the family moved to Berlin, Germany where his father studied choral conducting at the Hanns Eisler Conservatory of Music. It was in Berlin that Friedman began his life-long love and “obsession” with the guitar.
Friedman studied guitar and composition at the same distinguished conservatory as his father. While based in Germany, he toured extensively as a solo artist and as a member of several groups, becoming a respected member of the international music community in Europe.
Upon returning to Vancouver, Friedman branched out into writing music scores for television and film, and giving guitar and song writing instruction and workshops. He was also music director for the CBC’s Front Page Challenge during its last three years, writing more than 120 compositions for this Canadian classic.
In 2003, Friedman began a unique collaboration with German cellist Jens Naumikat, taking his original songs to the symphonic stage. To date, Friedman has performed his works with the Neubrandenburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Mitteldeutsche Kammerphilharmonie, the Loh Orchestra, and the Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra.
“A terrific singer and accomplished musician,” according to The Vancouver Province, Friedman’s performance promises an evening of extraordinary power and emotion.
Friedman plays the Bean Scene’s new upstairs venue, Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20/adult, $10/student and are available at the Bean Scene, at the door or call 250-503-1965 for more information. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
