Von Freeman (born October 3, 1922 Earl Lavon Freeman) is a elder Chicago
tenor saxophone player. He got his start at the age of 16 when he played tenor in
Horace Henderson's
big band.
He was drafted into the Navy during
WWII and on his return to Chicago he played with his brothers George on guitar and Bruz (Eldrige) on drums at the Pershing Hotel Ballroom. During this time many national jazz giants, such as
Charlie Parker,
Roy Eldridge and
Dizzy Gillespie played in Chicago and would use Freeman in their backing bands (it was too expensive to have your own touring band - so artists picked up local musicians at each stop).
In the early 50s Von played in
Sun Ra's band. Freeman was not a prolific studio musician, his first session work was for the Ping label and
Vee Jay Records in the late 50s.
It was in 1972 that Freeman recorded under his own name for the first time with the support of
Roland Kirk. Since then his recordings have included 3 albums with his son, the tenorist
Chico Freeman.
Freeman still lives in Chicago and can be caught playing live there on a regular basis. I have personally seen his jam sessions on the
South Side at the super cool
New Apartment Lounge. He will turn 80 this year.
The only record of his I have is called
Live at the Dakota. Culled from 2 shows in
St. Paul 1996, Freeman´s raspy soulful tenor is so delicious that it makes you want to play the record over and over again.
Chicago Tribune jazz critic Howard Reich says, "...For technical brilliance, musical intellect, harmonic sophistication and improvisatory freedom, Von Freeman has few bebop-era peers."