Almost Everything – Don Friedman
This twist on a standard breathes new life into old changes (All The Things You Are). Perfect for when you're tired of playing the same old melodies! Solo piano arrangement and piano/bass duo (with bass part) also available. Video with Don Friedman and bassist Daryl Johns.
- Recording: Don Friedman - Almost Everything
- Recorded on: April, 1995
- Label: SteepleChase (SCCD 1368)
- Concert Key: A-flat
- Style: Swing (medium up)
- Piano - Don Friedman
- Bass - Ron McClure
- Drums - Matt Wilson
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Video
- The Don Friedman Trio: Don Friedman, piano; Phil Palombi, bass; Shinnosuke Takahasi, drums. Tokyo Cotton Club, 2013.
This is a great example of the use of a new and delightful melody based on the "changes" of an old standard, in this case, All The Things You Are. From this inspiration comes Friedman's title—it isn't quite all the things you are, but it's almost everything!
Don Friedman first recorded this composition with Lee Konitz on October 23, 1992, on a live recording at Nova Hall in Tsukuba, Japan. Next, he recorded it in 1995, the trio recording featured here.
One month before the recording in April of 1995, Don was in Europe recording two different projects: a trio date in Italy for Soul Note (for piano, bass and drums), and another for alto saxophone, piano and guitar, with Lee Konitz and Attila Zoller for Hat Hut in Switzerland.
Don has since recorded this composition three more times (once in 1998, and twice in 2000). One of the recordings in 2000 was a quartet date, "My Foolish Heart"
, with Jed Levy on tenor sax.
One month before the recording in April of 1995, Don was in Europe recording two different projects: a trio date in Italy for Soul Note (for piano, bass and drums), and another for alto saxophone, piano and guitar, with Lee Konitz and Attila Zoller for Hat Hut in Switzerland.
Don has since recorded this composition three more times (once in 1998, and twice in 2000). One of the recordings in 2000 was a quartet date, "My Foolish Heart"
, with Jed Levy on tenor sax.
Solo Piano Arrangement: This composition is great for the solo pianist. Don Friedman's own solo piano arrangement is available.
- Recording: Don Friedman - Don Friedman - Daryl Johns Duo
- Recorded on: August 6, 2011
- Label: jazzleadsheets.com (JLS 1018)
- Concert Key: A-flat
- Style: Swing (medium up)
- Piano - Don Friedman
- Bass - Daryl Johns
Video
- Pianist/composer Don Friedman and bassist Daryl Johns meet for a duo recording at Rudy Van Gelder's studio. Don's composition Almost Everything is featured in this video, recorded at the session. August 6, 2011.
This piano/bass duo version is arranged as a bass feature. A separate Bass Part is available for this arrangement, in which the bass doubles the melody with the piano for the A and C sections. The B section is played with a 2-feel, with some written figures in the fourth and eighth measures. A suggested 2-feel line is written in the part. This bass part can be used in trio, quartet, or larger settings as well as duo, as in this version.
"Don Friedman - Daryl Johns Duo" was recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs.
This meeting of Don Friedman and then 15-year-old bassist Daryl Johns also produced Red Sky Waltz and several other titles. August 6 proved to be a workout for the young bassist. First up that day was his session with Don Friedman in the morning, where seven challenging titles were recorded. After lunch, pianist/composer Norman Simmons came in, and the two recorded five Simmons duos for the "Norman Simmons/Daryl Johns Duo" project, using Rudy's second piano, the historic Steinway "B" that's been played by almost everyone.
This meeting of Don Friedman and then 15-year-old bassist Daryl Johns also produced Red Sky Waltz and several other titles. August 6 proved to be a workout for the young bassist. First up that day was his session with Don Friedman in the morning, where seven challenging titles were recorded. After lunch, pianist/composer Norman Simmons came in, and the two recorded five Simmons duos for the "Norman Simmons/Daryl Johns Duo" project, using Rudy's second piano, the historic Steinway "B" that's been played by almost everyone.
Piano/Bass Duo Arranger Don Sickler created this duo arrangement: the bass plays the lilting melody, then the piano takes the bridge.
Don Friedman
May 4, 1935 – June 30, 2016
Don Friedman was only four years old, living in San Francisco, when he started playing his parents' piano. A year later, he started lessons with a private teacher. His love for jazz music was born when he moved to L.A. and heard the likes of Les Brown and Lee Konitz for the first time. Read more...