A Day in the City + Circle Waltz (2 LPs on 1 CD)

2 LPs on 1 CD
24 BIT
DIGITALLY REMASTERED
STEREO
After an early period as a sideman in Los Angeles, in early 1960 Don Friedman moved to NYC, where he soon revealed himself as a pianist of extraordinary originality, and a thoroughly schooled musician of modern compositional persua- sion. Ample proof of this is on Friedman s first two albums for Riverside "A Day in the City" and "Circle Waltz" where his playing has a similarly generous and lyric charm as Bill Evans', albeit with a more angular, fragmented style than Evans' limpid, flowing one.
A Day in the City is an altogether brilliant achievement in both conception and execution. The music is descriptive and evocative of the varying moods of city life suggested by the six subsidiary titles, each of them characterized by a specific rhythm feeling.
Circle Waltz reinforced the impression of him as a composer and improviser of impeccable taste, warmth, and quiet, controlled power. And though he can swing hard, as in Sea s Breeze, his most successfully personal mood is in the more lyrical vein of Loves Parting.
Noteworthy, too, is the valuable work of his sidemen; Chuck Israels is a strong guiding force in the rhythm section, and Joe Hunt or Pete La Roca contribute consis- tently to the undoubted success of both albums.