Erik Friedlander's The Throw

Cellist Erik Friedlander explores the poetic power of mixed martial arts in the new album Dirty Boxing, which will be released at the end of May 2024.

Dirty Boxing is a captivating experience that explores the unexpected parallels between the disciplined artistry of music and the strategic combat of mixed martial arts. Friedlander and his bandmates deliver powerful performances that weave together intensity, grace and a touch of fighting spirit to create a sound that is guaranteed to leave you stunned and a little knocked out.

In Dirty Boxing, musical elegance collides with dry literalism. From "Sprawl", the quintessential jazz piece, to "Foot Stomp", a tricky mixed meter number where the musical "foot stomp" is shifted by a single eighth note to create the signature moment of the piece. Friedlander also experiments with a modular compositional form (Mod 1, 2 and 9), which allows the essential form of the piece to change each time it is played. In each of these pieces, one member of the band takes the spotlight with a solo.

The emotional depth of Dirty Boxing is a testament to the power of creativity and the unexplored connections between music and the physicality of martial arts. It's an album that not only challenges the norms, but also celebrates the beauty of combining different worlds. Esteemed cellist Erik Friedlander steps into the musical ring with his new CD "Dirty Boxing".

The members of The Throw are all respected musicians in the downtown scene. Pianist Uri Caine is known as a bandleader and masterful arranger of classical compositions. He has played with musicians such as Dave Douglas, Arto Lindsay and John Zorn. Bassist Mark Helias has performed with the original members of Ornette Coleman's band, along with many musicians associated with the AACM, and has also released six solo albums. Drummer Ches Smith has collaborated with a variety of artists including Fred Frith, The Secret Chiefs and the rock band Xiu Xiu. He also writes for small and large jazz ensembles and has released albums of solo percussion under his own name.

The new album "Dirty Boxing" will be released at the end of May 2024.