Earle Lavon "Von" Freeman Sr. (October 3, 1923 – August 11, 2012) was an American

hard bop Hard bop is a subgenre of jazz that is an extension of bebop (or "bop") music. Journalists and record companies began using the term in the mid-1950s to describe a new current within jazz that incorporated influences from rhythm and blues, gospe ...

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

tenor saxophonist.

Biography

Born in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

, Freeman as a young child was exposed to jazz. His father, George, a city policeman, was a close friend of Louis Armstrong with Armstrong living at the Freeman house when he first arrived in Chicago. Freeman's father taught him to play piano and bought him his first saxophone when he was seven. His musical education was furthered at

DuSable High School Jean Baptiste Point DuSable High School is a public four-year high school campus located in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. DuSable is owned by the Chicago Public Schools district. The school ...

, where his band director was

Walter Dyett Walter Henri Dyett (also known as Captain Walter Henri Dyett; January 11, 1901 – November 17, 1969) was an American violinist and music educator in the Chicago Public Schools system. He served as music director and assistant music director ...

. Freeman began his professional career at the age of 16 in Horace Henderson's Orchestra. Freeman enlisted into the Navy during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

and was trained at Camp Robert Smalls in Chicago. "All the great musicians ended up at Great Lakes", he recalled. "It was an incubator for the best and the brightest lights in the jazz world at that time, and the musical jam sessions were simply phenomenal." After training, he was sent to

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...

as part of the Hellcats stationed at Barbers Point Naval Air Station in a band that starred Harry "Pee Wee" Jackson, the trumpeter from Cleveland whose nickname was Gabriel. The Hellcats were frequent winners of the islands' competitive Battle of the Bands competitions and included musicians who had formerly played in bands fronted by Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson,

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

Lucky Millinder Lucius Venable "Lucky" Millinder (August 8, 1910 – September 28, 1966) was an American swing and rhythm-and-blues bandleader. Although he could not read or write music, did not play an instrument and rarely sang, his showmanship and musical ...

Les Hite Les Hite (February 13, 1903 – February 6, 1962) was an American jazz bandleader. Life and career Born in DuQuoin, Illinois, United States, Hite attended the University of Illinois and played saxophone with family members in a band in the 1920s. ...

Count Basie William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...

, Fats Waller, and

Tiny Bradshaw Myron Carlton "Tiny" Bradshaw (September 23, 1907 – November 26, 1958)
- accessed July 2010 was an American

. After his return to Chicago, where he remained for the duration of his career, Freeman played with his brothers

George George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presid ...

on guitar and Eldridge "Bruz" Freeman on drums at the Pershing Hotel Ballroom. Various leading jazzmen such as

Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form ...

Roy Eldridge David Roy Eldridge (January 30, 1911 – February 26, 1989), nicknamed "Little Jazz", was an American jazz trumpeter. His sophisticated use of harmony, including the use of tritone substitutions, his virtuosic solos exhibiting a departure from ...

and Dizzy Gillespie played there with the Freemans as the backing band. In the early 1950s, Von played in

Sun Ra Le Sony'r Ra (born Herman Poole Blount, May 22, 1914 – May 30, 1993), better known as Sun Ra, was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific ou ...

's band. Von Freeman's first venture into the recording studio took place in 1954, backing a vocal group called The Maples for

Al Benson Arthur Bernard Leaner (June 30, 1908 – September 6, 1978), who was known professionally as Al Benson, was an American radio DJ, music promoter and record label owner in Chicago between the 1940s and 1960s. He was particularly significan ...

's Blue Lake label. He appeared on Andrew Hill's second single on the Ping label in 1956, followed by some recording for

Vee-Jay Vee-Jay Records is an American record label founded in the 1950s, located in Chicago and specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. The label was founded in Gary, Indiana in 1953 by Vivian Carter and James C. Bracken, a ...

with

Jimmy Witherspoon James Witherspoon (August 8, 1920 – September 18, 1997) was an American jump blues singer. Early life, family and education Witherspoon was born in Gurdon, Arkansas. His father was a railroad worker who sang in local choirs, and his mot ...

and Albert B. Smith in the late 1950s, and a recorded appearance at a Charlie Parker tribute concert in 1970. In 1972, Freeman first recorded under his own name, the album ''Doin' It Right Now'' with the support of

Roland Kirk Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the ...

. His next effort was a marathon session in 1975 released over two albums by Nessa. After that he lived, regularly performed, and recorded in Chicago. His recordings included three albums with his son, the tenorist

Chico Freeman Chico Freeman (born Earl Lavon Freeman Jr.; July 17, 1949) is a modern jazz tenor saxophonist and trumpeter and son of jazz saxophonist Von Freeman. He began recording as lead musician in 1976 with ''Morning Prayer'', won the New York Jazz Award ...

, and '' You Talkin' To Me'' with 22-year-old saxophonist Frank Catalano, following their successful appearance at the

Chicago Jazz Festival The Chicago Jazz Festival is an admission-free, four-day annual jazz festival in Chicago's Millennium Park. It is run by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and programmed with the assistance of Jazz Institute of Chicago during ...

in 1999. Four live albums for SteepleChase Records, "Inside Chicago" documented his partnership with trumpeter

Brad Goode Bradley Mitchell Goode (born October 10, 1963, in Chicago) is an American jazz trumpeter, bassist, drummer, composer and music educator. Career Goode worked as a sideman with Eddie Harris, Ira Sullivan, Barrett Deems, Ernie Krivda, Jack DeJo ...

. 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.) 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. Freeman was considered a founder of the "Chicago School" of jazz tenorists along with Gene Ammons,

Johnny Griffin John Arnold Griffin III (April 24, 1928 – July 25, 2008) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Nicknamed "the Little Giant" for his short stature and forceful playing, Griffin's career began in the mid-1940s and continued until the month of ...

and

Clifford Jordan Clifford Laconia Jordan (September 2, 1931 – March 27, 1993) was an American jazz tenor saxophone player. While in Chicago, he performed with Max Roach, Sonny Stitt, and some rhythm and blues groups. He moved to New York City in 1957, after ...

. His music has been described as "wonderfully swinging and dramatic" featuring a "large rich sound". "Vonski", as he was known by his jazz fans, was selected to receive the nation's highest jazz honor, the

NEA Jazz Masters The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), every year honors up to seven jazz musicians with Jazz Master Awards. The National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowships are the self-proclaimed highest honors that the United States bestows upon ...

award. Freeman died of heart failure on August 11, 2012, in his home town, at the age of 88. Freeman was the father of jazz saxophonist

Discography

As leader

* 1972: ''Doin' It Right Now'' (

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

) * 1975: ''Have No Fear'' (

Nessa Nessa Diab, known mononymously as Nessa, is an American radio and TV personality and television host. Early life and education Nessa was born to an Egyptian father and mother. She has two brothers. She grew up in Southern California but her ...

) * 1975: ''Serenade and Blues'' (Nessa) * 1977: ''Young and Foolish'' (Daybreak/Challenge) * 1981: ''Freeman & Freeman'' with

(

India Navigation India Navigation was an American record company and independent record label that specialized in avant-garde jazz in the 1970s and 1980s. It was founded by Bob Cummins, a corporate lawyer who helped jazz musicians with legal matters. Its catalog ...

) * 1989: ''Walkin' Tuff'' (Southport) * 1992: ''Never Let Me Go'' ( Steeplechase) * 1993: ''Lester Leaps In'' (Steeplechase) * 1994: ''Dedicated to You'' (Steeplechase) * 1996: ''Fire'' (Southport) * 1999: ''Von & Ed'' with Ed Petersen ( Delmark) * 1999: ''Live at the Blue Note'' (

Half Note ''Half Note'' is a live album by saxophonist Clifford Jordan which was recorded in 1974 and first released on the SteepleChase label in 1985.

) * 2000: ''You Talkin' to Me?'' with Frank Catalano (Delmark) * 2001: ''Live at the Dakota'' (Premonition) * 2002: ''The Improvisor'' (Premonition) * 2004: ''The Great Divide'' (Premonition) * 2006: ''Good Forever'' (Premonition) * 2009: ''Vonski Speaks'' (Nessa)

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 Kurt Elling (born November 2, 1967) is an American jazz singer and songwriter. Born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Rockford, Elling became interested in music through his father, who was Kapellmeister at a Lutheran church. He sang in cho ...

* 1995 ''Close Your Eyes'' * 2000 '' Live in Chicago'' With

* 1988 ''You'll Know When You Get There'' * 2010 ''Lord Riff and Me'' With George Freeman * 1969 '' Birth Sign'' ( Delmark) * 1973 ''

New Improved Funk ''New Improved Funk'' is an album by American jazz guitarist George Freeman recorded in 1973 and released on the Groove Merchant label.

'' ( 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 ''Hyde Park After Dark'' is an album by saxophonist Clifford Jordan which was recorded in Chicago in 1981 together with Victor Sproles on bass, Wilbur Campbell on drums, Norman Simmons on piano, Cy Touff on bass trumpet, and Von Freeman on saxoph ...

'',

(

Bee Hive A beehive is an enclosed structure in which some honey bee species of the subgenus '' Apis'' live and raise their young. Though the word ''beehive'' is commonly used to describe the nest of any bee colony, scientific and professional literature ...

, 1981) * 1982 ''Fathers and Sons'',

Wynton Marsalis Wynton Learson Marsalis (born October 18, 1961) is an American trumpeter, composer, teacher, and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has promoted classical and jazz music, often to young audiences. Marsalis has won nine Grammy Award ...

* 1991 ''

Rhythm in Mind ''Rhythm in Mind'' is an album by saxophonist Steve Coleman, recorded in 1991 and released by Novus Records. Reception The ''Toronto Star'' wrote that "the fluid emotional work of altoist Coleman headlines an octet gathering of post-bop conservat ...

'', Steve Coleman (Novus) * 1992 ''No One Ever Tells You'',

Eden Atwood Eden Atwood is an American jazz singer and actress. She is the daughter of composer Hubbard Atwood and the granddaughter of the novelist A. B. Guthrie Jr. Career Atwood was born in Memphis, Tennessee. When she was five, her parents got a divorc ...

* 1994 ''Silvering'', Louis Smith * 1999 ''Some Cats Know'',

Connie Evingson Connie Evingson is an American singer who performs jazz and pop music. Career Evingson was born in Hibbing, Minnesota. With parents who were music fans, she grew up listening to Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Tony B ...

* 1999 ''Spaces'',

Doug Hammond Doug Hammond (born December 26, 1942) is an American free funk/avant-garde jazz drummer, composer, poet, producer, and professor. His first major release was ''Reflections in the Sea of Nurnen'' on Tribe Records in 1975. Career He has worked ...

* 2000 ''Come Walk with Me'', Martha Lorin * 2003 ''Emotions'', Lilian Terry * 2006 ''Solitaire Miles'', Solitaire Miles

References

External links

* *

All Music AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Freeman, Von 1923 births 2012 deaths Musicians from Chicago American jazz tenor saxophonists American male saxophonists Hard bop saxophonists Post-bop saxophonists Atlantic Records artists HighNote Records artists Nessa Records artists SteepleChase Records artists Jazz musicians from Illinois American male jazz musicians 20th-century American saxophonists