5.04.1935, San Francisco – Don Friedman comes into the world. Don’s parents were in love with classical music and there was a piano in their house. Being four years old kid, Don began learning the piano playing with his parents help. When he was 5, Katherine Swint, the private instructor was hired. Those days Don’s got his first lessons of improvisation, although he had no jazz impact.
At 15, Friedman with relatives changed the place of residence for San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles. About some time after that Don starts Hollywood Palladium leading to have a possibility of listening to the groups of famous musicians of those days. That formed his immense love for jazz music.
The inspiration for transforming his focus from usual tones to the jazz ones Don took from Lee Konitz and Conte Condoli. Friedman’s got a music education in a City College, moreover by himself performing tracks he listened from the tape. To the fifth decade of the 20-th century LA became West Coast Jazz capital and Don, as he was working near the city with his bands, was playing a huge role over there. During those days his closest teammates have always been Ornette Coleman, Shorty Rogers, Scott LaFaro, and Chet Baker.
In 1956 Friedman starts hit first tour. During that journey Don made a crucial decision to move to New York from CA in 1958. He conquered everyone with his performances those days. While playing with the best musicians of his trend, Friedman built a strong reputation of a professional piano player.
Around that days famous Scott LaFaro arrived to NY. Friedman and LaFarro had become neighbors, fellows and just the best friends. Don was involved to a lot of performances , together with particular trio and specialists, for example, Charles Lloyd, Pepper Adams and Chuck Wayne.
He firstly recorded a tune nearly the first half of the 60-s. His earliest LPs were with his trio. Attila Zoller guitar player, the closest friend, was featured on the fourth. People like those records so much: some of them got an award in Down Beat (its best evaluating), and the fourth one – four stars prize. By the middle of the 60-s Friedman had been called a great New Star in Down Beat’sl.
In the end of 1960s Don started a business, being a part of Clark Terry’s music group. He became the head of the University orchestra, and was teaching local students. From those days Don has kept on being there a pianist and a professor, visiting USA, Europe and sometimes Japan. Because of Don’s melodious manner of playing, professionaism and authority of solitary performances he still was a favorite guy for critics whilst got competitor’s esteem.
Friedman gave some usual concerts at his native-land with his fellows, and modern jazz with youthful Turks. Connoisseurs grab his plates in USA, Japan, where he has just enormous fan army, and allover the Europe. Not so long time ago his new trio came back from the Japan-tour.