Amit Friedman

Composer and saxophonist Amit Friedman positions himself as one of today's leading jazz musicians in Israel.
Friedman's compositions, combining sophistication and simplicity that communicate to all listeners, his unique arrangements and renowned playing, have captured a wide and varied audience of devoted jazz fans, as well as lovers of world music, rock and other styles beyond the traditional jazz style, fans who have followed Friedman for years.
The music, while loyal to the jazz tradition, fuses within it elements of world music with a special emphasis on Middle Eastern music.
Friedman has collaborated with many great and world renowned players, including Peter Bernstein, Grant Stewart, Michelle Walker, Avishai Cohen, Omer Avital, Avi Lebovich, Ofer Ganor, Gilad Hekselman, Anat Cohen, Itai Kriss, Yotam Zilberstein, Ravid Kahalani ("Yemen Blues") and others.
As a leading instrumentalist in the Israeli jazz scene, Friedman has played with the best Israeli musicians and has performed in all the prestigious jazz festivals in the country as well as several festivals in Europe and Africa. In all these, he has earned much success and praise.
Friedman regularly plays and records with leading Israeli artists such as Idan Raichel, Danny Sanderson, Tamar Eisenman, Shlomi Shaban, Keren Peles, David Broza, "Hadorbanim", and more.
Friedman played in the "Tonight" band of the "Tonight with Lior Shlein" show, the leading talk show on Israeli TV, and served as its musical director. In this role, he had the opportunity to perform with the best of Israel's artists.
In addition to leading his own bands, for the past seven years Friedman is a member of the Avi Lebovich Orchestra, a band that has earned success both in Israel and abroad.
From an early age, Friedman has won prizes and scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation. At the age of 18, he won first prize in a young musicians music competition. In 2010 he won a grant for recording his debut album from the Ministry of Culture.
Beyond his fruitful career as a performing artist, Friedman is the musical director of a successful jazz series in its fifth year, which aims mainly to bring jazz music to young listeners.
In summer 2011 Friedman is launching his debut jazz album, recorded with his all-star working band of five exceptional musicians, all of whom are leaders in themselves:
In the Amit Friedman Sextet's debut album one can hear all the members of the band shine as soloists as well as a cohesive, mature and energetic ensemble that makes music with a flair and spirit of celebration and love of life. Added to the group on a few tracks is a string quartet, playing Friedman's magical arrangements that weave together classical and jazz aesthetics.