Erik Friedlander – Block Ice & Propane
Solo cello over the past few decades has brought forth works ranging from David Hollands angular jazz improvisations to David Darlings near-New Age atmospherics. The unadulterated acoustic warmth of cello, bowed or plucked, is in the same range as the human voice, giving further intimacy to the solitary instrument. Erik Friedlanders latest is a mixture of travelogue and remembrance. He created thirteen pieces, some beautifully constructed compositions, others improvised, adhering a distinct core and establishing a clear, memorable identity. The set is based on his familys travels across America in a camper during the 1960s and 70s (his father is noted photographer Lee Friedlander). The vastness of the continent and the potent emotional resonance of the experience have brought forth a work that evokes everyone from John Fahey to Aaron Copland.