Von Freeman Centennial Celebration Chico Freeman Sextet Feat. Brad GoodeThe Von Freeman Centennial Celebration portends to be a special Jazz Series affair. Born Oct. 3, 1923, and named a 2012 NEA Jazz Master Fellow before his Aug. 11 passing that same year, Freeman, remains one of the Windy City’s most-beloved post-World War Two musicians of what is now referred to “Chicago Saxophone Sound.” Freeman, among other icons, drew attention to the big, brawny, somewhat gruff improvisational style, now synonymous with the Windy City. Though he did perform on every continent during his seven-decade career, he spent most of his time in Chicago; he never left; he raised a family and led a decades’-long weekly jam session at The Apartment Lounge. Freeman influenced and mentored generations of jazz musicians-to-be including saxophonist Chico Freeman, his son, now 74, and well-respected trumpeter Brad Goode. Chico Freeman’s first Columbia appearance dates to the late 1980s; his most recent: 2018 when, aside from performing, he formally dedicated the Jazz Series’ Von Freeman Memorial Library, a 9,000 CD/LP collection open to the public. Appropriately, Freeman and Goode join forces to help us celebrate “Vonski’s” 100th; they’ll be working as a sextet with pianist Richard Johnson, guitarist Mike Allemana, who frequently shared the stage with Von, bassist Christian Dillingham and drummer Kyle Swan. |
Von Freeman Centennial Celebration
Chico Freeman: Tenor Saxophone “He addresses a cohort of beautiful melodies framed within a diverse array of styles (…) and renders them on tenor and soprano saxophones with keen intention, authoritative execution, and tonal control that transforms his metal instruments into analogue for the human voice.” - All About Jazz "The lyrical genius of the trumpet.” - Chicago Tribune |