Lori Freedman » Biography

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1958

Conspicuously described as “a musical revolutionary”, she is known internationally as one of Canada’s most provocative and creative performers. Her work includes contemporary, improvised and electroacoustic music, and she frequently collaborates with dance, theatre and visual artists. Over thirty composers have written solo bass clarinet music for her and she has made numerous recordings, including À un moment donné (Ambiances Magnétiques 103), recently nominated for a Opus prize 2003. Just prior to the release of her first feature album Huskless! (Artifact 20) she received the 1998 Freddie Stone Award for the “demonstration of outstanding leadership, integrity and excellence in the area of contemporary music and jazz”. The National Jazz Awards 2003 has also nominated Freedman for “Clarinetist of the Year”. She has received various commissions/residencies for composing music and has collaborated with an eclectic mix of musicians: Toru Takemitsu, Iva Bittova, John Oswald, Claudio Abbado, Joëlle Léandre, Mauricio Kagel, Pauline Oliveros, Ana Sokolovic, and George Lewis. Lori is currently in the middle of several projects: continuing her tours and recordings in Holland with solo projects and with her Queen Mab Trio; music director/composer for a new production of Macbeth in Winnipeg; preparing to record her third feature cd of music written for her by numerous Canadian composers and writing a new work for Toronto’s Arraymusic.

“Musical to the bone, Freedman is an artist who is in your face and you’re glad of it” (David Jaeger, CBC radio, Toronto).