George Freeman (guitarist), April 10, 1927-April 1, 2025
Birth Sign,* 1970 (Delmark Records)
When, fifty years ago, I first heard this album, I thought it was wonderful. I still do.
*****
*1. “Mama, Papa, Brother” 2. “Cough It Up” 3. “My Scenery” 4. “Must Be, Must Be” 5. “Birth Sign” 6. “Hoss” 7. “My Ship”
George Freeman, guitar; Lester Lashley, trombone (track 4); Von Freeman (brother, MCOTD Hall of Fame), tenor saxophone (tracks 2-3, 6-7); Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre, tenor saxophone (track 4); Sonny Burke, organ (tracks 1–6); Robert Pierce, organ (track 4); Billy Mitchell, drums
On a cold, snowy night forty-eight years ago, at a church thirty miles north of Chicago, my wife, Suzanne, and I were married. Tenor saxophonist Von Freeman (1923-2012, MCOTD Hall of Fame) and pianist John Young (1922-2008) provided the music, playing before the ceremony (“Over the Rainbow,” “It Never Entered My Mind,” “More”); during (Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood” [unaccompanied saxophone], as Suzanne walked down the aisle), and after (“My Favorite Things,” “Song for My Father”). All of what they played that night can be heard here (0:14-).
Rocksteady classical love songs (7 inch vinyl mix), Soul Skankin’ (DJ), 2015
**********
lagniappe
my back pages
On a cold, snowy night forty-seven years ago, at a church thirty miles north of Chicago, my wife, Suzanne, and I were married. Tenor saxophonist Von Freeman (1923-2012) and pianist John Young (1922-2008) provided the music, playing before the ceremony (“Over the Rainbow,” “It Never Entered My Mind,” “More”); during (Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood” [unaccompanied saxophone], as Suzanne walked down the aisle), and after (“My Favorite Things,” “Song for My Father”). All of what they played that night can be heard here (0:14-).
Von Freeman (1923-2012, tenor saxophone) with Mike Allemana (guitar), Matt Ferguson (bass), Michael Raynor (drums), “Blame It on My Youth” (O. Levant, E. Heyman), live, Chicago (Apartment Lounge), 2010
On a cold, snowy night forty-six years ago, at a church thirty miles north of Chicago, my wife, Suzanne, and I were married. Saxophonist Von Freeman (1923-2012) and pianist John Young (1922-2008) provided the music, playing before the ceremony (“Over the Rainbow,” “It Never Entered My Mind,” “More”), during (Duke Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood,” as Suzanne walked down the aisle [unaccompanied saxophone]), and after (“My Favorite Things,” “Song for My Father”). All of this can be heard here (0:14-).
Von Freeman (1923-2012, tenor saxophone) with George Freeman (1927-, guitar), et al., “Oh, Lady Be Good!” (George and Ira Gershwin, 1924), live, Chicago, 1980s
Von Freeman (1923-2012, MCOTD Hall of Fame), tenor saxophone
“Oleo” (S. Rollins) with Clifford Jordan (tenor saxophone), Willie Pickens (piano), Dan Shapera (bass), Robert Shy (drums), Chicago (Chicago Jazz Festival), 1988
*****
With John Young (1922-2008, piano), et al., live (radio broadcast), late 1970s
*****
“A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” (E. Maschwitz & M. Sherwin) with Jodie Christian (piano), Rufus Reid (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums), live, Harrisburg, Penn., 1994
*****
“I Can’t Get Started” (V. Duke, I. Gershwin), live, Belgium, 1992
*****
“Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” (R. Rodgers, L. Hart) with Mike Allemena (guitar), Matt Ferguson (bass), Michael Raynor (drums), live, Chicago (Mandel Hall, University of Chicago), 2011
**********
lagniappe
my back pages
On a cold, snowy night forty-five years ago, at a church thirty miles north of Chicago, my wife, Suzanne, and I were married. Von Freeman and pianist John Young (1922-2008) provided the music, playing before the ceremony, during (as Suzanne walked down the aisle), and after. All of what they played that night (“Over the Rainbow,” “It Never Entered My Mind,” “More,” “In a Sentimental Mood,” “My Favorite Things,” “Song for My Father”) can be heard here (0:15-).
“Impressions” (J. Coltrane), Isaiah Collier (tenor saxophone), Ernest Dawkins (alto saxophone), James Carter (tenor saxophone), Greg Murphy (piano), Junius Paul (bass), Jeremiah Collier (drums), live, Chicago (Englewood Jazz Festival), 2019
*********
lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
my back pages
On a cold, snowy night forty-four years ago, at a church thirty miles north of Chicago, my wife, Suzanne, and I were married. Tenor saxophonist Von Freeman and pianist John Young, both now gone, provided music. All of what they played that night—before the ceremony (“Over the Rainbow,” “It Never Entered My Mind,” “More”), during (“In a Sentimental Mood” [as Suzanne walked down the aisle]), and after (“My Favorite Things,” “Song for My Father”)—can be heard here(0:15-).
Andrew Hill Combo (AH [1931-2007], piano; Von Freeman [1923-2012], tenor saxophone, MCOTD Hall of Fame; Laurdine “Pat” Patrick [1929-1991], baritone saxophone; Malachi Favors [1927-2004], bass; Wilbur Campbell [1926-1999], drums), “Down Pat” (L. Patrick), 1956
If political races were decided by musical pedigree, the new entrant in the Democratic presidential field would be unbeatable.
Laurdine Kenneth “Pat” Patrick Jr. (November 23, 1929 – December 31, 1991) was an American jazz musician and composer. . . . known for his 40-year association with Sun Ra. His son, Deval Patrick, was governor of Massachusetts.
Von Freeman (1923-2012), tenor saxophonist, MCOTD Hall of Fame
“Oleo” (S. Rollins) with Clifford Jordan (tenor saxophone), Willie Pickens (piano), Dan Shapera (bass), Robert Shy (drums), Chicago (Chicago Jazz Festival), 1988
***
With John Young (1922-2008, piano), et al., live (radio broadcast), late 1970s
***
“A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” (E. Maschwitz & M. Sherwin) with Jodie Christian (piano), Rufus Reid (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums), live, Harrisburg, Penn., 1994
***
“I Can’t Get Started” (V. Duke, I. Gershwin), live, Belgium, 1992
***
“Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” (R. Rodgers, L. Hart) with Mike Allemena (guitar), Matt Ferguson (bass), Michael Raynor (drums), live, Chicago (Mandel Hall, University of Chicago), 2011
**********
lagniappe
my back pages
On this night forty-two years ago, at a church thirty miles north of Chicago, my wife, Suzanne, and I were married. Outside the church it was cold and snowy. Inside Von Freeman was playing, along with pianist John Young. All of what they played that night, before, during, and after the ceremony, can be heard here(0:15-) (“Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “It Never Entered My Mind,” “More” [before]; “In a Sentimental Mood” [when Suzanne walked down the aisle]; “My Favorite Things,” “Song for My Father” [after]) .
music clip of the day 