Don Friedman Trio

Incorporating both the relaxed cool of the West and the intense hard bop of the East, pianist Don Friedman has a wonderfully lyrical style that he maintains at even the fastest tempos. In his long and respected career, Friedman has compiled an impressive roster of albums under his own name, several of which have earned DownBeat's coveted five-star rating. The Bay Area native leaped onto the West Coast jazz scene in the 1950s, playing with jazz giants like Dexter Gordon and Chet Baker. Following a move to New York, Friedman confirmed his artistry playing with Joe Henderson, Herbie Mann, and Clark Terry. He has continued to play, teach and record there ever since, and returns to the Bay Area after a long absence to make his debut at the Stanford Jazz Festival.