David Friesen


David Friesen is an American jazz bassist. He plays double bass and electric upright bass.

Career

Friesen began playing bass while serving in the United States Army in Germany. He played with John Handy and Marian McPartland and following this, with Joe Henderson; in 1975, he toured in Europe with Billy Harper. His first album as a session leader appeared that year. In 1976, he began collaborating with guitarist John Stowell; the pair would work together often. He appeared with Ted Curson at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1977. Following this, he worked with Ricky Ford, Duke Jordan, Mal Waldron, and Paul Horn. His 1989 album Other Times, Other Places reached No. 11 on the U.S. Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart. He has also played with Chick Corea, Michael Brecker, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Kenny Garrett, and Dizzy Gillespie.

Personal life

Friesen is the younger brother of actress Dyan Cannon, and the uncle of actress Jennifer Grant. He is the son of Ashkenazi Jewish mother Claire and Canadian Mennonite father Ben Friesen. He was married to Kirsten Friesen from 1964 until her death in 2022; they had three children. He has since been remarried to Natalie Digtyar, a fashion designer from the Czech Republic.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

  • Color Pool
  • Star Dance
  • Waterfall Rainbow
  • Through the Listening Glass
  • Other Mansions
  • Paths Beyond Tracing
  • Heart to Heart
  • Storyteller
  • Yet to Come with Linc Chamberland
  • Voices
  • Amber Skies
  • Encounters with Mal Waldron
  • Inner Voices
  • Other Times, Other Places
  • Departure
  • Long Trip Home
  • In Concert with Denny Zeitlin – live
  • Two for the Show
  • 1･2･3
  • Remembering the Moment with Eddie Moore, Jim Pepper, Julian Priester & Mal Waldron – rec. 1987
  • The Spirit of Christmas with Jeannie Hoffman
  • Ancient Kings with Airto Moreira, Gary Barone
  • Returning with Glen Moore
  • Three to Get Ready
  • Upon the Swing
  • Four to Go with John Gross, Gary Barone, Alan Jones – rec. 1995
  • Facing the Wind with Leszek Możdżer
  • Castles and Flags
  • Still Waters with Ralf Illenberger, Ulrike Dinter
  • Tomorrow's Dream
  • Live at Jazz Bakery with Denny Zeitlin – live rec. 1996
  • Grace with Jeff Gardner
  • Made in Berlin with Uwe Kropinski
  • With You in Mind with Gary Versace
  • The Name of a Woman
  • Midnight Mood: Live in Stockholm – live rec. 2002
  • Made in Istanbul with Uwe Kropinski
  • Connection
  • Christmas at Woodstock
  • Circle Of Three
  • Brilliant Heart – rec. 2012
  • Morning Star
  • Textures with Christian Hassenstein, Joost Lijbaart
  • Where the Light Falls
  • Bactrian with Glen Moore
  • Triple Exposure
  • Structures
  • Another Time Another Place
  • My Faith, My Life
  • Interaction
  • Testimony
  • Passage with Bob Ravenscroft
  • Day of Rest – rec. 2020

    As sideman

With Ted Curson
  • Jubilant Power
  • Snake Johnson – rec. 1980
With Kenny Drew
  • Ruby, My Dear – rec. 1977
With Ricky Ford
  • Manhattan Plaza
With Billy Harper
  • Black Saint
With Duke Jordan
  • Duke's Artistry
  • The Great Session – rec. 1978
With Uwe Kropinski
  • Dancing with the Bass
With Mal Waldron
  • One Entrance, Many Exits
  • ''Dedication''