Saxophonist and composer Tim Armacost and pianist and composer
David Berkman of The New York Standards Quartet will pay tribute to the late
Don Friedman with a performance at The Kitano on August 27. Armacost and Berkman will be joined by an
A-list rhythm section featuring Ed Howard on bass and Victor Lewis on drums.
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| David Berkman |
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| Tim Armacost |
The late
pianist/composer Don Friedman was a dear friend and inspiration to
Armacost. "Don was a great
inspiration for me not just as a musician, but as an example of how to live
life. He was passionate about the music
he played, he enjoyed time with Marylin, his wife of 26 years, he was active as
an educator for more than 40, and he was an accomplished and competitive
athlete, literally until a few months before he passed away. He continued to compose, and stayed creative
to the end of his life. When he got sick,
I never heard him complain - he only expressed frustration about not having the
strength to practice the piano for longer than a short while," said
Armacost.
Armacost and
Berkman are founding members of the New York Standards Quartet (along with
bassist Ugonna Okegwo and drummer Gene Jackson), whose mission has always been
to interpret standards and traditional jazz tunes in a way that would allow
audiences to connect and be engaged, while at the same time, playing in the
contemporary jazz style the members have developed through their many decades
on the New York jazz scene. Their new album Power of 10 celebrates the 10th
anniversary of the band, and shines a spotlight on the group's incredible
ability to explore music, together. Tim Armacost explains further, "David
was explaining what being a band for 10 years means: that the result of staying
together is that we've become totally familiar with each other's playing. When
one of us is going for something new, reaching for a different take on a tune,
or just pushing the moment forward, everyone hears it immediately. You can feel
what the other players are thinking. So when one of us gets inspired and starts
a search, or finds a new angle on a tune, everyone jumps in to see where the
music will go, or moves over and makes a space for something different to
happen. Participating in those moments of discovery is intensely exciting, and
that spark is what gives the music its life."
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