Brian Friedland
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Picture a piano glowing under soft stage lights, each note unfolding like a new brushstroke on an ever-evolving canvas. That’s the world Brian Friedland lives in—one defined by restless creativity, fearless curiosity, and a boundless love for the full spectrum of jazz. A pianist, composer, and improviser with a rare artistic range, Brian has become one of Boston’s most prolific musical forces, crafting hundreds of works that span big band, chamber music, orchestral composition, and genre-bending jazz ensembles.
His projects are as diverse as his imagination.
His acclaimed trio Man On Land explores contemporary improvisation with emotional clarity and depth. His 23-piece jazz-orchestra song cycle Household Items—based on found texts—earned presentations at Harvard University and a feature on NPR for its inventive storytelling. With Schoolyard Sessions, Brian brought together 15 Boston artists and five different ensembles, creating an ambitious collaborative snapshot of a thriving musical community. From solo piano to complex large ensembles, he writes with a voice that is unmistakably his own.
Brian’s compositions have been commissioned by organizations across the country, including the American Composers Orchestra, which tapped him to bridge the worlds of jazz and symphonic writing through his piece Dreamscapes.Additional commissions from the Longy School of Music and composer-led ensembles reflect his reputation as an adventurous, detail-minded writer.
As a performer, Brian has become a staple across Boston’s venues—essentially playing everywhere jazz is presented (and many places where it usually isn’t). His music has reached audiences at the Panama JazzFest, Lima Jazz Festival, the American Pianists Association’s Cole Porter Fellowship, and stages across Korea and New England. He’s toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, performed with global stars Il Divo and Andrea Bocelli, and shared stages with jazz icons including Jerry Bergonzi, Ran Blake, Allan Chase, and Jason Palmer.
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Modern Jazz • Contemporary Composition • Avant-Garde/Creative Music • Large Ensemble Writing • Improvised Music
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Jazz Festivals • Contemporary Arts Centers • Composer Showcases • Chamber/Jazz Crossover Events • University Guest Artist Residencies • Listening Rooms
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Brian’s creativity extends far beyond the piano - he has written hundreds of compositions across formats from orchestral works to experimental multimedia, all driven by an insatiable desire to keep creating in new ways.
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