Roger Friedman has been performing music for over 50 years. Primarily self-taught, he began playing the piano by ear when he was 4 years old. His formal music instruction was in percussion and he played the conga drums with the Ohio University Jazz Ensemble. Roger studied piano at the Berklee College of Music in Boston under James Williams and be-bop pianist Ray Santisi. He continued with his percussion studies under Les Lumley, percussionist with Miles Davis and also studied the Indian tabla drums. While in Boston, he formed an electric fusion group with drummer Steve McCraven (drummer for Archie Shepp and Marion Brown) and the guitarist Michael Gregory. He also began performing in small jazz groups with talented musicians around Amherst, Massachusetts such as Avery Sharpe (bassist with McCoy Tyner). In the late 70's Roger moved back to his hometown of Cleveland and became a regular fixture as a keyboardist on the Cleveland Jazz scene. He played in several groups including those with drummer Jamey Haddad and bassist Kip Reed. In 2000, the legendary drummer Greg Bandy asked Roger to join him and bassist David Certain to form the Greg Bandy Trio, performing throughout Cleveland as well as backing notables such as Terrance Blanchard, Mario Rivera, Dave Valentin and many others.  He was fortunate to become part of the Greg Bandy - Eddie Henderson Quartet performing with the legendary trumpeter several times on a California concert tour as well as on a double billing with the Rufus Reid Quintet in Princeton, New Jersey.   He has also filled the piano chair of the Dave Sterner Quintet and the Ray Porrello Trio.  

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