Downbeat Review


"Much more satisfying is the debut recording of an impressive new solo guitarist, Fred Fried, a student of George Van Eps who, like his teacher, plays a seven-stringed guitar and ranges adroitly through the instrument, mixing single-string lines, chorded accompaniment, and complementary bass lines. His harmonic conception is very much up to the moment, Fried acknowledging indebtedness in these areas to the late Bill Evans. The repertoire he explores so effortlessly and interestingly includes Herbie Hancock’s Dolphin Dance, Henry Mancini’s Two For The Road, Stephen Sondheim’s Night Music, Burton Lane and Ralph Freed’s How About You, and six appealing originals...he plays them beautifully and draws, with deceptive ease, great resources of deeply felt and flawlessly played music from his gently amplified instrument. Fried’s off to a great start.” - Down Beat, 1993