Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Erik Friedlander: Oscalypso

Erik Friedlander: Oscalypso

By Troy Collins
October 27, 2015
View read count

As a veteran of the fertile 1990s Downtown NYC scene, cellist Erik Friedlander has been involved in myriad creative endeavors, including innovative sideman work with

Dave Douglas

trumpet
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Douglas and

" data-original-title="" title="">John Zorn, while leading his own unique ensembles, such as Chimera and Topaz. More recently, Friedlander has been performing solo and developing projects inspired by rural Americana, but he has never released an album of covers—until now.

Oscalypso features creative reinterpretations of nine of

Oscar Pettiford

bass
1922 - 1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Oscar Pettiford's most beloved tunes. Although Friedlander hasn't actually recorded Pettiford's compositions before, this effort can be heard as an extension of Broken Arm Trio (Skipstone, 2008), Friedlander's original tribute to the renowned contrabassist's groundbreaking cello experiments, which Pettiford first embarked upon in 1949 while recuperating from a broken arm.

Friedlander is joined on the frontline by saxophonist

Michael Blake

saxophone, tenor
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Blake, whose impulsive phrasing and breathy high notes contrast with the leader's classical form and pure tone, yielding multihued juxtapositions. Regularly engaging in deft interplay with Blake, Friedlander plucks, strums, and bows plangent refrains with lyrical sustain, while the saxophonist occasionally harmonizes on two horns simultaneously (ala

Rahsaan Roland Kirk

woodwinds
1935 - 1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Rahsaan Roland Kirk), reinforcing the program's nostalgic post-war ambience. Providing understated support, Friedlander's longstanding rhythm section of bassist

Trevor Dunn

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Trevor Dunn and drummer Michael Sarin lend the proceedings a suitably carefree, chamber-esque quality.

The engaging program encapsulates an array of styles and moods culled from Pettiford's songbook, ranging from the plucky "Cello Again" and jaunty "Cable Car" to the languid "Two Little Pearls." Venturing into exotic territory, the flamenco-infused "Tamalpais Love Song" and the tango-based "Sunrise Sunset" recall Friedlander's evocative work with Zorn, more so than Pettiford's customary bebop.

Brimming with gorgeous melodies, lush harmonies and captivating rhythms, Friedlander's beguiling arrangements provide a rich foundation for the group to test its improvisational mettle. Focusing on reconfigured classics rather than new compositions, Oscalypso is more than just a delightful homage to a renowned master—it is a signifier of Friedlander's skills as an imaginative interpreter of traditional jazz repertoire.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Bohemia After Dark; Oscalypso; Cello Again; Two Little Pearls; Pendulum At Falcon's Lair; Tricotism; Tamalpais Love Song; Cable Car; Sunrise Sunset.

Personnel

Erik Friedlander

cello

Eric Friedlander: violoncello; Michael Blake: sassofoni; Trevor Dunn: contrabbasso; Michael Sarin: batteria.

Album information

Title: Oscalypso | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Skipstone Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Art Lillard's On Time Trio at Sugarc...
< Previous

Requiem
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.