David Friedman - Moonrise CD

"Poignant piano melodies with deep, contemplative values typify this moving album from a thrilling new composer-performer. Similar to Michael Nyman (who did the score to the film "The Piano"), Friedman is fond of powerful themes passionately explored through highly memorable melody lines and the use of refrain. "The Side That's Hidden" and "A Woodland Night" are attention-grabbers in the best way possible.

At a time when much piano music is simple noodling designed to disappear into background ambience, these two provocative instrumentals remind us of music's ability to express profound emotion when words fail. After the gently "For Erin," Friedman switches to a variety of keyboards laced with a touch of electric guitar for the darkly percolatin title track. Since its well-crafted arrangement avoids overkill, this tune ably blends with the acoustic instrumentals of this exciting and singular creative voice."

-New Age Retailer

"Strong piano playng with sweeping, dramatic melodies is the trademark of Moonrise. David Friedman's flair for composing is right there with some of the best keyboard players of our time. He likes to call his sound visual music, which is a term other contemporary musicians seem to be adapting, along with the term cinematic. It is as it implies, suitable for film scores. And that is by no means a dimminutive connotation, because in today's world doing soundtracks for hit movies and TV shows can be a ticket to great success. Look, for example, at Mark Isham. You'd be hard presssed to name a hit record of his, but his list of movies he's scored will immediately register recognition. Could Friedman go that route? He's already started on that part, and Moonrise displays enough range in composition to qualify as movie music or to stand alone as pleasant listening as an instrumental album."

-New Age Voice

"Here's a debut from a new artist with a lot to recommend. A splendid blend of electronic soundscapes in the style of O'Hearn and Tangerine Dream is balanced with romantic piano and keyboards that bring to mind David Lanz or Yanni at their best. Voice and flute samples provide counterpoint to the elaborate keyboard runs and driving undercurrent of rhythm and drama that moves through the majority of tracks. Friedman is a very fluid player and composer who seems to draw on manyof the best elements of contemporary music's most appealing styles for his inspiration. In particular I find his piano playing to be highly emotional and evocative in bringing to mind many images of times and places gone by, and dreams and visions of those yet to come. Liberal use of the lower keys provides a deep bottom while his dashing themes and rapid fire fills continually draw one further into his musical creations. The sound of T. Dream circa the "Risky Business" era rings through the title track and also "The Sailboat Oblivion". "Moonrise" is a total winner, and for those who miss Yanni's stylish flair, as well as his pure passion and romanticism, this new artist will satisfy perfectly for a long while in between."

-LLoyd Barde Backroads Music Heartbeats Catalog

"The genre of New Age Music continues to grow, thanks to a steady flow of consistent releases from core artists, along with quality work from some intriguing new artists. Among the finer albums of the last year or so are Tingstad & Rumbels 'Pastorale', Richard Souther's 'Illumination', and David Friedman's 'Moonrise'...".

--Jeff Parets, KJZZ