Album Notes

Judith-Kate Friedman writes songs with uncompromising passion and candor. Her soaring vocals, melodies and eloquently etched story-songs spring from deep roots in American and Jewish folk traditions, free improvisation and a high regard for guitars that groove. Honest, inventive, playful and full of heart, Judith-Kate celebrates heritage, justice and the courage to make change. She also creates unique interactive community music events and performs with internationally acclaimed six-woman a cappella group, Vocolot.

"Like a one-woman Indigo Girl or Joan Baez....Judith-Kate Friedman has that kind of pure, soaring voice and knack for emotional tunes." --New Orleans Times-Picayune

Touring since 1986, Judith-Kate has headlined at concert halls, campuses and coffeehouses in 30 states, Vancouver, London and Berlin. She is a California Arts Council touring roster artist and a six-time recipient of the CAC's artist-in-residency grants. Four-time winner of No. Calif. Songwriter's Ass'n's "Best Song" honors, Judith-Kate won an honorable mention in the 1998 John Lennon Songwriting contest. She has performed in juried showcases and songwriting finals at the Kerrville, Falcon Ridge, Napa and Columbia Music Festivals and the NorthEast Regional Folk Alliance Conference.

"Stylistically diverse... Soulfully radical... May knock over 'folkie' expectations." --Dirty Linen

"Count Me In" is Judith-Kate Friedman's debut cd, released in 1994. Thirteen tracks include award-winning love songs (title track, "Falling for You"), a Jewish immigration epic ("Tribes"), a sultry latin jazz/bossa ballad ("I Don't Ask Much"), soaring a cappella harmonies ("Arc of Diamonds," "Joyfully"), pleas for peace ("Current Events") and a joyous Spanish/English celebration, co-written with elders in San Francisco's Mission district. ("Painting By the Window")

"A poet in motion...she mixes musical styles effortlessly. Jazz, Jewish folk, R&B, rock, a cappella -- Friedman does it all and wins kudos from critics and fans alike." -- New Times, San Luis Obispo, CA

"Count Me In" showcases Judith-Kate's crystal-clear vocals and guitar with the immediacy and intimacy of live performance. The disc combines new songs and select remixes from early cassette-only releases "Arc of Diamonds" and "Where We Begin," now out of print. Production ranges from solo a cappella and guitar/vocal recorded live, to layers of pristine harmonies, to spirited duets with mandolinist Steve Kritzer ("Where We Begin") and the instrumental "Nigun for Michael" with clarinetist Beth Custer (Club Foot Orchestra, Trance Mission). Judith-Kate pulls out the stops with full folk/rock band on "Downwinders," an update of Doug McWilliams' classic anti-nuclear anthem, which she recorded for David L. Brown's documentary "Bound By the Wind."

"Beautiful vocals, outstanding guitar...Breathtaking --- This is songwriting at its finest..." -- Victory Review

"Judith-Kate speaks to and for her audiences as only a very sklled performer can." -- Russ Jennings, Festival at the Lake, Oakland, CA