Biography:
Bob Fridzema started playing keyboards at the age of 7 and his first band around the age of 14 on the local High School where he began stunning people with his playing. With this band Bob gained his first experience on stage playing in band contests and high school gigs like talent nights & theater shows.
After playing many jamsessions, occasional bands and collaborations with many musicians, Bob became a member of several bands, including britpop band Mint (with Maurits Westerik of Gem), dutch band Naar Verluidt and rock&roll band Blended.
Playing gigs all over The Netherlands Bob became an experienced piano/hammond/keyboard player on stage but also in studio’s where he recorded many demo’s and cd’s.
With a preference for playing blues- and soulmusic but a love for all music, Bob has the experience and talent to play virtually any style and with any musician. "If it feels right, it’ll be allright"
Currently Bob is a 4th year student at the Rotterdam Conservatory where his teachers include Carlo de Wijs, Ronald Kool, Bas van den Heuvel, Berthil Busstra, Age Kat, Michel van Schie, Desmond Haneveer etc. He’s taken masterclasses and personal lessons from people like Steve Vai, Mike Garson, Tino Gonzales, Wealthy Beggar, Triggerfinger, Beef and many more.
Bob’s writing songs for his own projects but also several other artists and does about a 100 to a 150 gigs a year. He also teaches piano and keyboard on two different music schools.
Bob has recorded with Mint, Naar Verluidt, Blended, Dennis Steenbergen, Stefan Schill, Bluesfood, Julia Reinhold and many more.
The bands/artists Bob Fridzema currently plays with are:
The Stefan Schill Blues Band ;
Rigby ;
Breath Taking Angels ft. Boris van der Lek ;
Goofy And The Regulars ;
Dede Priest ;
Ginger ;
Coverband Blended
GEAR:
Fender Rhodes MkII Eighty Eight
Hammond XK3 (full hammond setup)
Leslie 770
Motion Sound Pro-145 Leslie
Roland KC500
Yamaha S90 Stage Piano
Dynacord CLS-222
Line 6 MM4
Master keyboards by Roland & M-Audio
and a complete recording studio setup @ home
