Erik Friedlander @ Elastic 7/26/07

On July 26th, with his eight-year-old daughter in tow, Erik Friedlander played the intimate non-profit art space Elastic. The cellist, a staple of the New York scene and an integral member of John Zorn’s cadre, played two sets for the nearly sold out audience. 

Watch: Erik Friedlander - "Tough Guy"

His first set consisted of pieces from his newest release Block Ice & Propane, an effort many of his fans may find to be quite a departure from such previous works as Grains of Paradise and Matador. Whereas the latter are of a colder and more abstract nature, BI&P is far more accessible, lacking none of the artist’s previous virtuosity. Purportedly inspired by childhood trips to the southwest, the music draws from much of the musical argot one expects from the region while not appearing kitschy or overly quaint. And just as on BI&P, Friedlander’s live performance resonated a depth and warmness, which, blended with his long-honed and heralded technical prowess, kept the crowd in awe for the entire set.

For the second half of the evening’s events, Chicago jazz mainstay, drummer Tim Daisy, joined Friedlander onstage.  During their set of improvisations, Friedlander seemed to play more in the “outside” mode that many have come to expect of him, juxtaposing the colloquial and haunting melodies of the first set with his trademark paroxysms.  Daisy on the other hand, while showing a healthy amount of reverence for the veteran cellist, nonetheless did not allow himself to slip into the role of impassive accompanist.  But instead quickly found his pocket, and with adroit, often highly frenetic outbursts, helped catalyze the performance from a friendly intercity/scene duo to something unique and memorable. 

More times than not something is always found wanting in such scenarios. However, occasionally all the elements—the players, the crowd, the venue—coalesce into one entity, and for an hour or so everything is at once uncanny and ostensibly perfect. There was some of that on this night, a little reward for stopping off the beaten path for an evening.