Janice Friedman
Like everyone else, life turned on its head in March of 2020 for Janice Friedman. But, she has taken the bull by the horns and you can hear her every Wednesday night at 7:30 EST on FB LIVE from NYC. She asks the question “Wanna feel better???” And, who doesn’t? Check out “OVER the HUMP!” @Janice Friedman Music! Real piano. Real vocals. Real schmoozing.
You can hear Janice Friedman perform live most any day in NYC. She has a residency at The Center Bar in the Time Warner Building playing what one person described as “anything but background music.” Sailing on the NY harbor by day, she’s the pianist, vocalist, and master of ceremonies on The Bateaux New York. When she’s called to take off from one of those spots, you can hear her in all sorts of configurations, solo to big band, in concerts or at one of the many jazz clubs in town such as Mezzrow and Kitano either featured as a leader or supportive as a side person. In between all of that she is teaching, composing, doing rehearsals, and bringing her life’s creative work, a story in the music, called Salt Suite to fruition. This is the life of a successful and versatile NYC musician.
The career of Janice Friedman was established early on. Brought up on some of the greatest piano trios of all time- she loved Errol Garner, Oscar Peterson, Marian McPartland, Bill Evans, and Ahmad Jamal. By the age of 5, she knew she was going to be a jazz musician. There was no question about it. She was at that piano and organ and into it! A bit later she started her classical training and very quickly was winning international piano awards, titles, trophies leading to concert appearances at Carnegie Hall. As early as elementary school, Janice was helping with all music projects. She was earning her living in the music world by her early teens, teaching, accompanying, and performing. She kept up that consistent schedule while earning a jazz studies degree with honors from the prestigious music school at Indiana University. Within a few years of her return to the east coast, Janice was whisked off to tour with the Woody Herman Orchestra- a rare and impressive opening into a world that at that time was not open to female jazz musicians. She returned to NY to play steady engagements and notable concerts with her trio, solo, or in big bands and could be seen in many of the famed jazz clubs and other city establishments, keeping non-stop busy through every year.
