Composer/arranger/pianist Willem Friede has studied at the Rotterdam Conservatory: composition with Bob Brookmeyer, Rob Pronk and Klaas de Vries, piano with Jan Laurens Hartong.

 

He is pianist of New Cool Collective and musical director of  New Cool Collective Big Band, with whom he received an Edison (Dutch "Grammy") for the  album  "BIG" and a Gouden Kalf (Golden Calf, Dutch film prize) for their original score of "Toegetakeld door de Liefde".

 

He is responsible for several special New Cool Collective projects, such as the participation in a tribute to Jaco Pastorius, the collaborations with sound/video-sculptor Eboman and the orchestra of Danny Malando and several television events (PARADISOlife, Opening Uitmarkt 2004 - 2012, a.o.)

 

As a composer/arranger he works in a broad field: ranging from classically oriented music to jazz, latin and "contemporary dance music". He has written film music and works for (symphony-) orchestra, big band, string quartet, piano etc. 

 

He received commissions by (a. o.) the Netherlands Programme Service (Nederlandse Muziekdagen 1995, 1996 and 2008, With A Little Help From My Friends), the Dutch Film Museum (Epic of Everest, Samba de Jager), VPRO-television (Cinema Perdu), the Fund for the Creation of Music, the European Jazz Youth Orchestra (tour2001) and "Het Residentie Orkest".

 

In May of 2001 he was involved, as composer and conductor, in a special Latin-Jazz project of the EBU/Euroradio Big Band.

 

As an arranger he has worked with the Metropole Orchestra, Vince Mendoza, Pat Metheny, Paul Weller, Chaka Khan, Kenny Barron, Elvis Costello, Moke, Wouter Hamel, George Duke, Cliff Richard, Holland Symfonia, Tony Allen, Claudio Roditi, Cindy Blackman, Paul de Leeuw, Nueva Manteca, Zuco 103, Roachford, Michiel Borstlap, Rob van Kreeveld, Jan Akkerman, Trijntje Oosterhuis, Frank Boeijen, the ASKO-ensemble, Georgie Fame, Lamb, Tom Lellis, Ronald Douglas, SFeQ and Venice amongst many others.