Von Freeman
Von Freeman | |
---|---|
Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
Died | August 11, 2012 Chicago, Illinois | (aged 88)
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Tenor saxophone |
Years active | 1932–2012 |
Labels |
Earle Lavon "Von" Freeman Sr. (October 3, 1923 – August 11, 2012) was an American hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist.
Biography
Born in
Freeman enlisted into the Navy during
Von Freeman's first venture into the recording studio took place in 1954, backing a vocal group called The Maples for
One of Freeman's contributions was his mentoring of countless younger musicians such as Corey Wilkes and Ben Paterson as well as his steadfast support of what he liked to call "hardcore jazz" (as he still did in a 2001 article in DownBeat.)[7] Freeman's quartet played Monday nights throughout the 1970s and the mid-1980s at The Enterprise Lounge which closed when he toured Japan, and then Tuesdays at The New Apartment Lounge with his longtime trio of sidemen composed of drummer Michael Raynor, guitarist Mike Allemana and bassist Matt Ferguson. The quartet played a long set first, the vehicle that showcased Freeman's range from sensitively unwound ballads to intense improvisations that utilized his sometimes rough timbre and indefinite pitch to create a unique avant garde style of his own. His performances were also impressive verbal ones, as he served as an important figure that both helped African-American culture thrive on the South Side as well as invited the participation of European Americans and others into the warmth of the community he and the rest of the Enterprise and Apartment created.[8] Freeman was considered a founder of the "Chicago School" of jazz tenorists along with Gene Ammons, Johnny Griffin and Clifford Jordan. His music has been described as "wonderfully swinging and dramatic" featuring a "large rich sound".[9] "Vonski", as he was known by his jazz fans, was selected to receive the nation's highest jazz honor, the NEA Jazz Masters award.[10] Freeman died of heart failure on August 11, 2012, in his home town, at the age of 88.[11] Freeman was the father of jazz saxophonist Chico Freeman.[11][12]
Discography
As leader
- Doin' It Right Now (Atlantic, 1972)
- Have No Fear (Nessa, 1975)
- Serenade & Blues (Nessa, 1975)
- Young and Foolish (Daybreak, 1981)
- Lockin' Horns (Muse, 1981)
- Fathers and Sons (Columbia, 1982)
- Freeman & Freeman with Chico Freeman (India Navigation, 1989)
- Walkin' Tuff (Southport, 1989)
- Never Let Me Go (Steeplechase, 1992)
- Lester Leaps In (Steeplechase, 1993)
- Dedicated to You (Steeplechase, 1994)
- Fire (Southport, 1996)
- Von & Ed with Ed Petersen (Delmark, 1999)
- Live at the Blue Note (Half Note, 1999)
- You Talkin' to Me? with Frank Catalano (Delmark, 2000)
- Live at the Dakota (Premonition, 2001)
- The Improvisor (Premonition, 2002)
- The Great Divide (Premonition, 2004)
- Good Forever (Premonition, 2006)
- Vonski Speaks (Nessa, 2009)
As sideman
With Brad Goode
- 2001 Inside Chicago, Volume 1 with Von Freeman (SteepleChase)
- 2001 Inside Chicago, Volume 2 with Von Freeman (SteepleChase)
- 2002 Inside Chicago, Volume 3 with Von Freeman (SteepleChase)
- 2002 Inside Chicago, Volume 4 with Von Freeman (SteepleChase)
With April Aloisio
- 1994 Brazilian Heart
- 1996 Footprints
- 1998 Easy to Love
With Francesco Crosara
- 1999 Colors (Southport)
- 2003 Emotions (TCB)
With Kurt Elling
- 1995 Close Your Eyes
- 2000 Live in Chicago
With Chico Freeman
- 1988 You'll Know When You Get There
- 2010 Lord Riff and Me
With George Freeman
- 1969 Birth Sign (Delmark)
- 1973 New Improved Funk (Groove Merchant)
- 1977 All in the Game
- 1995 Rebellion
- 1999 George Burns
- 2001 At Long Last George
With Joanie Pallatto
- 1995 Passing Tones
- 2000 The King and I
With others
- 1978 Lockin' Horns, Willis Jackson
- 1981 Hyde Park After Dark, Clifford Jordan (Bee Hive, 1981)
- 1982 Fathers and Sons, Wynton Marsalis
- 1991 Rhythm in Mind, Steve Coleman (Novus)
- 1992 No One Ever Tells You, Eden Atwood
- 1994 Silvering, Louis Smith
- 1999 Some Cats Know, Connie Evingson
- 1999 Spaces, Doug Hammond
- 2000 Come Walk with Me, Martha Lorin
- 2003 Emotions, Lilian Terry
- 2006 Solitaire Miles, Solitaire Miles[13]
References
- ^ Fox, Margalit (August 18, 2012). "Von Freeman, Fiery Tenor Saxophonist, Dies at 88". The New York Times.
- ^ "Chico Freeman: "Armstrong veía a Charlie Parker como mis padres ven a Jay-Z" - Faro de Vigo". Ocio.farodevigo.es. April 19, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
- ^ "A Little Known Legacy: The Great Lakes Experience: A Salute to African American Navy Bandsmen at the Great Lakes Naval Base, 1942-1945." A Weekend of Nostalgia, February 28 - March 2, 2003. Chicago, IL.
- ^ "Star Musicians Triumph in South Pacific Orchestra." Chicago Defender, July 15, 1944: 6.
- ^ Harris, Otto. "Musically Speaking." Mananan, May 13, 1945: 7.
- ISBN 0-306-80377-1.
- ^ Corbett, John (March 2001). "A Cause Without Glory". DownBeat. p. 26.
- ^ Scruggs, T.M. (2002). ""Come on in North Side, you're just in time": Musical-Verbal Performance and the Negotiation of Ethnically Segregated Social Space". Current Musicology.
- ISBN 0-306-80377-1.
- ^ Reich, Howard (19 April 2011), "Jazz at Symphony Center and Von Freeman's award", Chicago Tribune, retrieved April 22, 2011
- ^ a b Reich, Howard (13 August 2012), "Von Freeman, Chicago jazz legend, dead at 88", Chicago Tribune, retrieved August 13, 2012
- ^ Reich, Howard (10 January 2011), "Rewriting history: Chicago jazz legend Von Freeman's birth year is wrong", Chicago Tribune, retrieved April 22, 2011
- ^ "Von Freeman | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
External links
- Von Freeman at IMDb
- All Music