Sara Serpa Celebrates the Release of “Encounters & Collisions”

A reflection on change and loss, Encounters and Collisions portrays episodes from Sara Serpa's life since moving from Portugal to the US.

“I think so many times about how we deal with change and loss. From moving to another country, to giving birth or grieving a loved one, my different reactions have often surprised me. And yet, life is change in itself. Sometimes drastic, most of the times subtle, we all go and move through constant change. We lose ourselves, countries, landscapes and cities, loved ones, thoughts and emotions. I wrote this music for someone else’s story only to realize I was writing my own story.” – Sara Serpa 

Sara Serpa voice/composition
Ingrid Laubrock saxophones
Angelica Sanchez piano
Erik Friedlander cello

A native from Lisboa, Portuguese Sara Serpa is a singer, composer, improviser, who through her practice and performance, explores the use of the voice as an instrument. Serpa has been working in the field of jazz, improvised and experimental music, since moving to New York in 2008. Literature, film, visual arts, nature and history inspire Serpa in the creative process and development of her music. Described by the New York Times as “a singer of silvery poise and cosmopolitan outlook,” and by the JazzTimes magazine as “a master of wordless landscapes,” Serpa started her recording and performing career with jazz luminaries such as Grammy-nominated pianist, Danilo Perez, Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow pianist, Ran Blake, and Greg Osby. Her ethereal music draws from a broad variety of inspirations including literature, film, visual arts as well as history and nature. As a leader, she has produced and released eleven albums, the latest being Night Birds (2023), Intimate Strangers (2021) and Recognition (2020).

Marty Ehrlich at ROULETTE!

A noted improvisor and multi-instrumentalist, Ehrlich will lead his septet in a new large-scale work combining composition, improvisation and poetry. The performers will include Sara Schoenbeck (bassoon) Ron Horton (trumpet); Erik Friedlander (cello); Matt Pavolka (bass); Satoshi Takeishi, percussion; poet Erica Hunt; and the composer on woodwinds.

Come hang out with Erik Friedlander at my listening party to celebrate "Dirty Boxing" - and it's all for free! Dive into the full album with me, chat about how it all came together, share behind-the-scenes tales, and get into the nitty-gritty of the mix and mastering. It's going to be a great time, and I'd love to have you join me!

National gallery of art Presents

Matthew Nolan and Erik Friedlander Improvise a soundtrack to Jean Cocteau’s The Blood of a Poet

Matthew Nolan is a Dublin based musician, composer, academic and curator. He has produced new work in collaboration with some of the finest musicians around, both Irish and international. He has worked on commissions from a range of prestigious performing arts institutions, including National Gallery of Ireland, BAM and Film at Lincoln Centre in New York, The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., Kilkenny Arts Festival, Bram Stoker Festival, and the St Patrick’s Festival. His most recent projects were presented at MoLI in Dublin as part of their Ulysses centenary project and at the New York Film Festival. 2024 will see the release of Pomes Penyeach by Universal Music, produced in collaboration with Adrian Crowley and based on James Joyce’s short book of poetry. 

Erik Friedlander has released over 20 CD's as a leader and has composed music for ads, dance works, documentaries and films.  His most recent work is the film, “Baby Ruby” by first-time director Bess Wohl (2022). Other work includes “The Romanoffs” the series by Mad Men creator Matt Weiner; a special spot for America’s Got Talent and the feature films Oh Lucy! (2017), directed by Atsuko Hirayanagi and Thoroughbreds (2018), directed by Cory Finley. Other films scored by Friedlander include the documentary Nothing On Earth, directed by Mick Angus, the feature film Future Weather by Jenny Deller, the short film Spade by Mandi Riggi, and the PBS 4-part special “The Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Isrealites.”

Two extraordinary musicians tackle the signature surrealist film by Jean Cocteau, "Le sang d'un poète" (1930).  Daring and  bold the two sympatico players bring a modern take on this timeless classic.  

January 24th, Wednesday at the Stone 55 W13th Street (The New School)

8:30 pm
duo/trio/quartet
Ikue Mori (electronics) Ned Rothenberg (reeds) Sylvie Courvoisier (piano) Erik Friedlander (cello)

OCTOBER 28 - “Electric Snowfall”

Erik FriedlaNDER, CELLO;

Ikue Mori, laptop; Kevin Norton, vibes

“Haywire”

with Wendy Eisenberg, GTR

with Mark Helias, Bass; Sara Serpa, vocals; Wendy eisenberg, gtr.

OCTOBER 25 - Erik Friedlander's "The Throw" 

with Mark Helias, bass; Ches Smith, drums

Special Trio performance, Unhinged

Firehouse 12 presents

Erik Friedlander’s THE THROW

8:30pm show: $20

10:00pm show: $15

Get ticket info here

On October 15th I’ll be joining vocalist Sara Serpa, saxophonist Caroline Davis, and pianist Marta Sanchez to present Sara Serpa’s new work “Encounters and Collisions.” The concert will take place at the Nelson Music Room at Duke University. More details here.

On September 28th, I’ll be performing at Zürcher Gallery in Manhattan. I’ll be joined by Mark Helias on bass and Satoshi Takeishi on percussion. More details here. This should be a really good one!

$20 at the door.

On September 26th, I’ll be joining cabaret singer Phillip Officer at Birdland. For tickets and more info follow this link.. “Let Me Sing And I’m Happy” will celebrate a coterie of great writers and artists who have influenced Officer’s musical journey, including Peggy Lee, Carole King, Stephen Sondheim, The Beatles, Irving Berlin, Cher, and Johnny Mercer. Hope to see you there!

On August 27th, I’ll be performing solo at The Pharmacy Gallery in Springfield, IL. From 5-9pm, there will be an exhibition of artist Paul Fox, and I will be performing from 7-9pm in the space.

$5 suggested donation, if you’re in the Springfield area I hope to see you there!

At the end of October, I’ll be playing two shows at happylucky no. 1 in Crown Heights, as part of the Stone’s Brooklyn concert series. The second night will see me joined by Guilherme Monteiro on guitar, and Ben Goldberg on clarinet. 8pm, $20 at the door, you know the drill!

Lineup:

Erik Friedlander, cello

Guilherme Monteiro, guitar

Ben Goldberg, clarinet

At the end of October, I’ll be playing two shows at happylucky no. 1 in Crown Heights, as part of the Stone’s Brooklyn concert series. The first night will see me joined by Stomu Takeishi on bass and Ches Smith on drums. 8pm, $20 at the door, you know the drill!

Lineup:

Erik Friedlander, cello

Stomu Takeishi, bass

Ches Smith, drums

Join me for a late night solo set at the Kaplan Penthouse on Saturday October 5th. Tickets are $25. I go on at 10:30p, and there will also be sets by Shelley Hirsch and Samora Pinderhughes. Should be an excellent night, hope to see you there!

I’ll be playing with pianist Brian Marsella on October 4th as part of Brian’s week long residency at The Stone. Concert starts at 8:30, $20 at the door. Hope to see you there!

Lineup:

Brian Marsella, piano

Erik Friedlander, cello

I’ll be performing as part of a 9-hour John Zorn marathon at Katowice, Poland’s Bienalle Industrii on September 28th. More info TBA.