Dave Frishberg

Born: March 23, 1933

It's difficult to find a category for Dave Frishberg's songs. The New York Times described him as "the Stephen Sondheim of jazz songwriting", and The London Daily Telegraph called him "a Woody Allen of song".

Long known as one of the outstanding pianists in jazz, Frishberg has since the early 1980s established himself as an internationally recognized composer and lyricist as well as a solo performer with a loyal following in both jazz and cabaret circles. Four of his albums have won Grammy nominations for best jazz vocal.

Frishberg's unclassifiable but ever-identifiable songs, including cult classics Peel Me A Grape, I'm Hip, You Are There, My Attorney Bernie and Heart��s Desire, are now widely performed and have been recorded by Blossom Dearie, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Michael Feinstein, Diana Krall, Bette Midler, Suzannah McCorkle, Tony Bennett,and many others. The New York Times critic Stephen Holden wrote about Frishberg, "Few contemporary writers have produced as many songs that have been embraced by nightclub cognoscenti. In the refinement of his language, he is equalled only by Stephen Sondheim among contemporary American songwriters."

Mark Winkler: Hold On

by Pierre Giroux
September 7, 2025

Throughout his extensive career, Mark Winkler has been a steadfast presence on the Los Angeles jazz scene, earning a reputation as one of the most versatile and captivating vocalists in contemporary jazz. With Hold On, his 22nd album, Winkler continues to demonstrate that artistic growth and creative curiosity remain central to his work. While many artists ...

Bob James & Dave Koz, Meredith d'Ambrosio, Yelena Eckemoff Georgia Mancio & Alan Broadbent, Celebrating Sister Rosetta Tharpe & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
March 31, 2025

This show includes new releases from Bob James & Dave Koz, Meredith d'Ambrosio, Yelena Eckemoff plus a single from Georgia Mancio & Alan Broadbent, with birthday shoutouts to Berta Moreno, Meredith d'Ambrosio, Nat King Cole, Dave Frishberg, Deanna Witkowski, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Marian McPartland, Amina Claudine Myers and Eliane Elias. Happy listening and please support the ...

In Perfect Harmony: The Lost Album

By Chet Baker

Label: Jazz Detective
Released: 2024
Track listing: This Can't Be Love; Just Friends; Too Blue; But Not for Me; Historia de un Amor; Once I Loved; You Fascinate Me; When I Fall in Love; I Cried for You; I'm Old Fashioned; Evil Blues.

Angela Verbrugge: Somewhere

by Katchie Cartwright
November 27, 2024

Based in Victoria, British Columbia, Angela Verbrugge keeps a busy schedule as a singer, touring in Canada and farther afield. In addition to performing, she writes songs--jazz songs, new standards--with lyrics that are engagingly personal and funny, containing the occasional acerbic twist. As a lyricist, she often speaks to the quotidian. Her texts are a perfect ...

Yana Purim: Intimate Jazz, Deep Feelings And Raw Emotion

by Trevor Spiro
November 4, 2024

You're sitting in your happy chair at home, just mooching a magazine, when the phone rings. It's a good friend you haven't seen in a long time, and she would like to see you for old time's sake. She turns up and it's like the last few years never existed--you talk heart to heart about old ...

Sarah Manning, Keith Jarrett, and Marc Ribot

by Jerome Wilson
June 26, 2024

This older program, from November 2021, is eclectic enough to include saxophonists Sarah Manning and Kevin Sun, guitarists Marc Ribot and Jakob Bro, and singers Dave Frishberg and Sarah Vaughan. Please excuse the slight glitches at the beginning. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & ...

Chet Baker & Jack Sheldon: In Perfect Harmony: The Lost Album

by Pierre Giroux
April 26, 2024

In Perfect Harmony: The Lost Album presents an intriguing collaboration between trumpeters Chet Baker and Jack Sheldon. Derived from a newly unearthed studio session from 1972 and released on the Jazz Detective label, it was co-produced by Zev Feldman and film producer Frank Marshall. Backed by a stellar ensemble featuring Jack Marshall (guitar), Dave Frishberg (piano), ...

Sarah Vaughan Centennial, New Releases By Monty Alexander, Martin Budde, Danae Olano, Kelly Green & More

by Mary Foster Conklin
April 1, 2024

Women's History Month continues with new releases from Monty Alexander, Martin Budde, Danae Olano, Allison Adams Tucker and Kelly Green, with birthday shoutouts to Deanna Witkowski, Eliane Elias, Marian McPartland, Sarah Vaughan (100!), Meredith d'Ambrosio, Miki Yamanaka, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Virginia Schenck, among others. Thanks for listening and please support the artists you hear by ...

The Jazz Cruise 2024

by Katchie Cartwright
February 21, 2024

Celebrity Summit The Jazz Cruise Miami, Labadee, Puerto Plata, St. Thomas January 18-25, 2024 Founded by Anita E. Berry in 2001, The Jazz Cruise has been offering patrons a yearly action-packed weeklong jazz experience at sea with some 100 world-class musicians in 200 hours of programming ...