Erik Friedlander's Broken Arm Trio

"This is effervescent small-group jazz executed with wit and soul."-The New York Times

"Broken Arm Trio, a band and album that's at least as beholden to Alan Lomax as to Charlie Parker, is stunning-both in what it does and how well they do it. This quirky fusion deserves major attention." -Village Voice

In 1949, pianist Oscar Pettiford broke his arm playing baseball. Although his arm was in a sling he could still move his fingers, so he began experimenting with a cello lent to him. Tuning the cello like a bass, only an octave higher, Pettiford made history recording a series of cello-led projects including the remarkable 1964 Fantasy release, My Little Cello, which featured a photo of his newborn son whom he named Cello. Cellist Erik Friedlander tosses away his bow for this new trio, playing only pizzicato in a world steeped in the influences of Oscar Pettiford and the small group feel of Herbie Nichols.

One of the most important cellists in New Music and a dynamic bandleader and composer in his own right, Erik Friedlander has been a vital voice in the bands of Dave Douglas, Joe Lovano, Marty Ehrlich and John Zorn for over fifteen years. For his Broken Arm Trio, he is joined by Trevor Dunn - best known for his work in John Zorn's Electric Masada and The Dreamers, Mike Patton's Mr. Bungle and Fantomas, Trio-Convulsant, and the Andrew D'Angelo Trio - and Michael Sarin, who was a member of the Thomas Chapin Trio and has contributed to the work of Mark Dresser, Drew Gress, Myra Melford, Mark Feldman and many others.