Gavin Walker
Sep 30, 2011, 02:09 PM
Tonight on The Jazz Feature we celebrate the 88th birthday of one of the great legends of the Chicago Jazz scene and a mainstay in that city for most of his life. Tenor saxophonist Earle Lavon Freeman Sr., better known as simply "Von" or to his friends, "Vonski". He is now recognised as one of the great individual voices of the tenor saxophone throughout the world and the last living representative of the "Chicago School of Tenor". Von carries the tradition that Johnny Griffin, Gene Ammons, John Gilmore, Clifford Jordan, Eddie Harris and others represented as "The Chicago Sound". This writer's first real hearing of Von Freeman is on the disc that is tonight's Feature and when I first listened this album, a light went on. I was and am a huge lover of Johnny Griffin's playing and I often wondered where he got his unique sound. I was aware that Griffin loved Don Byas, Sonny Stitt (on tenor), Bird and some other older players but that didn't answer my question. Then I heard the album that is tonight's Feature back when it was issued in 1972 and YES, there was my answer! Von Freeman! The hard rubbery sound, the pinched high notes etc., that's where Griffin got his sound and phrasing. All players in Jazz have their influences and absorb into their own concepts ideas from others, this is how traditions and musical language is passed on. The beauty of all of this is that Johnny Griffin and Von Freeman are individual voices and their sounds and concepts are easily indentifiable.
Von Freeman, unlike the other players mentioned above, stayed home in Chicago. Von and his brothers, guitarist George and drummer Eldridge ("Bruz") were part of a house band that backed up Jazz stars like Bird, Roy Eldridge, Dizzy, and many others. Von's reputation spread in the Jazz underground but he never felt the urge to hit the road or travel. He was comfortable at home as he was raising a young family and also had plenty of work on the local scene. He was born Oct. 3, 1923 and studied saxophone and music like many others at DuSable High School under the legendary Captain Walter Dyett. At 16, he joined Horace Henderson's band (Horace was the brother of Fletcher) and then was drafted into the US Navy and was good enough the play in the Navy band. That, basically was his "road" experience. He returned home to work locally and for a while was part of Sun Ra's band as Ra was based in Chicago. Von made a few sideman appearances on some r & b sides and recorded in 1956 with pianist Andrew Hill on the tiny Ping label but that was about it. His reputation as a player was mostly word of mouth and mostly confined to musicians. This all changed in 1972 and we come to our Jazz Feature.
Rahsaan Roland Kirk was a huge fan and supporter of Von Freeman and when Kirk was based in Chicago they hung out and played together a lot. Kirk, by 1972, was an established star and had a contract with Atlantic Records and Mr. Kirk was able to convince the powers that be to record Von Freeman while he (Kirk) produced the date. This was Von Freeman's first record date under his own name and it's a fine debut. "Doin' It Right Now!" was a musical revelation to many people and the album was warmly received by the critics and reviewers. With this Atlantic album, Von Freeman emerged from the Jazz underground. Freeman flew to New York to record the date and brought his favourite Chicago pianist, John Young. An ideal rhythm section with the great Sam Jones on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums (mispelled on the LP as "Cobbs") brings swing, fire and discipline to the session. Of the 8 tunes, 5 are Freeman originals and the others are well chosen standards including the then current hit written by Ewan MacColl, "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face". The other two are "Sweet and Lovely" and the beautiful and obscure "Lost in a Fog" by Fields and McHugh. That is the Feature and it will honour Von Freeman's 88th birthday....HAPPY BIRTHDAY VONSKI!
The Von Freeman Feature wil be heard just shortly after 11pm but please come aboard right from the start at 9pm as I'll have a big bag of surprise goodies...........see you then......................
Von Freeman, unlike the other players mentioned above, stayed home in Chicago. Von and his brothers, guitarist George and drummer Eldridge ("Bruz") were part of a house band that backed up Jazz stars like Bird, Roy Eldridge, Dizzy, and many others. Von's reputation spread in the Jazz underground but he never felt the urge to hit the road or travel. He was comfortable at home as he was raising a young family and also had plenty of work on the local scene. He was born Oct. 3, 1923 and studied saxophone and music like many others at DuSable High School under the legendary Captain Walter Dyett. At 16, he joined Horace Henderson's band (Horace was the brother of Fletcher) and then was drafted into the US Navy and was good enough the play in the Navy band. That, basically was his "road" experience. He returned home to work locally and for a while was part of Sun Ra's band as Ra was based in Chicago. Von made a few sideman appearances on some r & b sides and recorded in 1956 with pianist Andrew Hill on the tiny Ping label but that was about it. His reputation as a player was mostly word of mouth and mostly confined to musicians. This all changed in 1972 and we come to our Jazz Feature.
Rahsaan Roland Kirk was a huge fan and supporter of Von Freeman and when Kirk was based in Chicago they hung out and played together a lot. Kirk, by 1972, was an established star and had a contract with Atlantic Records and Mr. Kirk was able to convince the powers that be to record Von Freeman while he (Kirk) produced the date. This was Von Freeman's first record date under his own name and it's a fine debut. "Doin' It Right Now!" was a musical revelation to many people and the album was warmly received by the critics and reviewers. With this Atlantic album, Von Freeman emerged from the Jazz underground. Freeman flew to New York to record the date and brought his favourite Chicago pianist, John Young. An ideal rhythm section with the great Sam Jones on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums (mispelled on the LP as "Cobbs") brings swing, fire and discipline to the session. Of the 8 tunes, 5 are Freeman originals and the others are well chosen standards including the then current hit written by Ewan MacColl, "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face". The other two are "Sweet and Lovely" and the beautiful and obscure "Lost in a Fog" by Fields and McHugh. That is the Feature and it will honour Von Freeman's 88th birthday....HAPPY BIRTHDAY VONSKI!
The Von Freeman Feature wil be heard just shortly after 11pm but please come aboard right from the start at 9pm as I'll have a big bag of surprise goodies...........see you then......................