Album Notes

Now residing in Venice, California, Tom Freund has completed his newest work, Copper Moon, 11 stirring songs from the troubadour's closet. Recorded part in NYC and part in Los Angeles, Freund seems to bridge the gap between city streets and desert highways, with some stops along the way for Relationships 101. The album is self-produced, with drumming by Matt Johnson (Jeff Buckley, Rufus Wainright) and Michael Jerome (Richard Thompson, Blind Boys Of Alabama), lap steel by Ben Peeler (The Wallflowers) and even some strings by legendary Tom Waits producer, arranger, Jerry Yester. Tom plays the rest of the stringed instruments, including his signature upright bass, and piano.

Tom Freund's 2001 release Sympatico earned just praise for its "amazing songwriting" (Rockzines.com), "acoustic richness" (No Depression) and "passionately bent vocal stylings" (Harp Magazine). In addition to garnering raves from Ned Wharton, music director of National Public Radio's Weekend Edition, Sympatico has also been championed by NPR's flagship music station KCRW-FM, which has featured Freund live from their studios.

While still an undergraduate near Los Angeles, Freund released a duo album with Ben Harper entitled Pleasure and Pain (1992). He then joined indie-rock outfit The Silos for four years of extensive touring in the U.S. and Europe. Settling down in Austin, TX. , Tom worked on the songs for his debut album, North American Long Weekend (Red Ant/Mercury). Long Weekend was critically acclaimed despite the label folding soon after it's release. It was rated #3 in New York Times critic Ann Power's annual best-of roundup in 1998. In 2000, Tom fired back with a self-released EP, L.A. Fundamentalist Music, which singer-songwriter Victoria Williams describes as "a classic. I keep it in my CD player all day. It's got joy. It's got hope." And, its tracks have appeared in the films "12 Bucks, " "Me & Will" and TV's "Felicity."

Lately, Graham Parker has taken a great interest in Tom's talent, having him as the opener as well as a multi-instrumentalist joining him, on tour and in the studio (see GP's latest record on Bloodshot). Victoria Williams and Hollywood Records' Josh kelley have also spent time collaborating with Freund on material this past year. Tom will continue in 2004 to play out extensively in LA, NY and most points in between (including, of course, Austin's SXSW) actively promoting his new CD, Copper Moon.