The David Friesen compositions are all gorgeous, rich and accessible, each tune more beautiful than the first and absolutely wonderful soloing and ensemble play at its highest level. (JM/Jazz Clubscene)

Everything the trio plays is colored with a pronounced individuality. The harmonic depth, intense rhythm and subtle interaction they employ mesmerizes an audience. (D. Ramsey/Downbeat, Jazz Times)

Friesen and his group, often interweaving the threads of each into a fabulous musical fabric with rippling and sometimes a broodingly percussive tumbling grooves upon which foundation they create a unique sonic architecture. (Raul da Gama)

David Friesen, Prodigious technique … compelling story telling … mood-exploring … spaciousness of spirit … one of those musicians who can never get enough of music. (William Minor)

It’s been said of David Friesen that He does for the art of bass playing what Pythagoras did for the triangles. (Patrick Hinely/Jazz Times)

David Friesen has recorded over 78 CD's as a leader/ co-leader and appeared as a sideman or featured artist on more than 100 recordings. He has performed and/ or recorded with many of the great names and legends of jazz including: Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Sam Rivers, Michael Brecker, Bud Shank, Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Shaw, Freddy Hubbard, Art Farmer, Clark Terry, Joe Venuti, Mal Waldron, Jaki Byard, Kenny Drew Sr., Chick Corea, Milt Jackson, Slim Gaillard, John Scofield, Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, Paul Motian, Jack Dejohnette, Airto Moreira, and many others. He has performed in concert as a soloist (Friesen is one of two or three bassists in the world that is able to play a solo concert and keep an audience riveted) and with his own groups throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, The Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Turkey, Poland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, China, Russia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Nigeria and the Ukraine.

David Friesen is included in 2 recent separate polls as one of the 100 Greatest Jazz Bassists of all time, and one of 20 of the most influential jazz bassists in the history of jazz. In 1997 he was nominated for the best jazz bassist in the American Jazz Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. Friesen was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame at the first induction ceremony Sept. 2007 and the Oregon Jazz Society Hall of Fame May 2012. Friesen has written two musical scores for animated shorts, both of which have been Academy Award Nominees. David Friesen’s original composition Playground placed 2nd in the 2014 International Songwriting Competition with over 18,000 applicants. (Pressetext)

Bassist David Friesen is a phenomenon, a player whose musicianship, tone, time and imagination are uncategorizable. (Nat Hentoff)

Joe Manis
...intensity and sophistication in equal measure. (Distrito Jazz.com)

SteepleChase recording artist Joe Manis is noted for the strength of his "intense, updated take on the glorious Rollins-'Trane tradition." (Willamette Week) He released his debut album Evidence in 2009. Manis was the recipient of a 2013 Oregon Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship. Manis plays alto saxophone with the Alan Jones Sextet, has toured Europe as a duo and trio with David Friesen, and plays with Friesen's Quartet and Quintet. He also appears on Risky Notion (Four stars & Best Albums of 2015, DownBeat Magazine) on Origin Records with George Colligan's Theoretical Planets. Manis has played with Dr. Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited, including a performance at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall, and appears on their album Rise Up! On Real World Records; he has also performed with the George Colligan Quartet, the Chuck Israel’s Jazz Orchestra, the Ken Schaphorst Big Band, the Temptations, comedian Bob Newhart, Wayne Newton, the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra, the Sunriver Music Festival Orchestra, the Eugene Symphony, and the Eugene Opera. Manis has presented jazz masterclasses across the country, including at Whitman College, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Oregon, Ferris State University, Willamette University, Portland State University, Southern Oregon University, Portland Community College, Spokane Falls Community College, and Lane Community College. He received a Master of Music in Jazz Studies-Performance with Academic Honor from the New England Conservatory and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Oregon. Additional studies were at the Eastman School of Music. He is a current faculty member at Portland State University and Mt. Hood Community College and a former music faculty member at Umpqua Community College. His article "Rhythmic Analysis: Jeff 'Tain' Watts - 'Housed From Edward'" was published in the March 2012 edition of JAZZed Magazine. Manis also writes for the Jazz Society of Oregon's Jazzscene. He is a featured artist on the David Friesen CD, Structures.

Reuben Bradley
Reuben Bradley's drumming drives the music with confidence and precision, while maintaining a high level of artistry. (Nick Tipping-All About Jazz)

Native to Wellington Reuben Bradley has travelled the world playing drums with international jazz performers extensively. Performances with artists such as: David Friesen (US), Taylor Eigsti (US), Matt Penman (US/NZ), Mike Nock (Aus), Bernie McGann (Aus), James Muller (Aus), Kristin Berardi (Aus), Brenda Earle (Canada), James Morrison (Aus), Roger Manins (NZ) has fostered his love of new music and creativity. Formal education at Massey University (NZSM) culminated in his B. Mus (Jazz Performance 1999) led in turn to further individual study with rhythmic masters Scott Tinkler (Aus) and Master Jazz Drummer Barry Altschul in NYC. Reuben has released three albums as a leader, Resonator (2011 Jazz Album of the Year NZ), Mantis: The music of Drew Menzies (runner up 2014 Jazz Album of the Year NZ) & Cthulhu Rising 2015 featuring Taylor Eigsti & Matt Penman. Reuben has performed & headlined in every major Jazz Festival in New Zealand including; The Wellington International Jazz Festival, The Queenstown Jazz & Blues Festival, The Nelson Jazz & Blues Festival, Tauranga Jazz Festival, The Waiheke Island Jazz Festival. Reuben has also performed at major Australian festivals such as Wangaratta & the Melbourne women in Jazz Festival.