George Freeman

Guitarist George Freeman occupies a central place on the Chicago jazz landscape, where his warm tone and funky soul-jazz approach, shaped by blues phrasing, have long distinguished him. Wide recognition first arrived in the 1960s through his performances alongside organist Richard “Groove” Holmes. Belonging to the respected Freeman musical lineage, he has collaborated repeatedly with his brother, saxophonist Von Freeman, and with an extensive roster of artists that includes Gene Ammons, Jimmy McGriff, and Les McCann. As a bandleader he released several soul-infused recordings during the 1970s, among them Franticdiagnosis, recorded with Charles Earland, and New Improved Funk; decades later he resumed steady activity, producing further groove-oriented jazz sets such as the 2001 album At Long Last George and 2017’s 90 Going on Amazing.

Born in Chicago in 1927, Freeman was raised in a household steeped in music together with his brothers, tenor saxophonist Von Freeman and drummer Eldridge “Bruz” Freeman, and he is the uncle of saxophonist Chico Freeman. Beginning in the late 1940s he appeared on recordings with the territory bands of Joe Morris and Tom Archia while also accompanying visiting artists such as Lester Young and Charlie Parker; the latter association yielded Savoy sides that remained uncredited until years afterward. By the middle of the 1950s he had formed a sustained partnership with organist Richard “Groove” Holmes, contributing both as sideman and composer to several World Pacific and Prestige releases, notably 1961’s Groove, 1962’s Somethin’ Special, and 1968’s The Groover!

Following tours with Gene Ammons and Shirley Scott, Freeman largely confined his work to Chicago. His first album under his own name, Birth Sign, was cut in 1969 with organists Sonny Burke and Robert Pierce. The 1971 release Introducing George Freeman Live with Charlie Earland Sitting In appeared on Giant Step, and Earland returned for the 1972 follow-up Franticdiagnosis. Three additional LPs for Sonny Lester’s Groove Merchant/LRC imprint also date from this period: 1972’s New Improved Funk, 1974’s Man & Woman, and 1977’s All in the Game, the last of which showcased urbane soul-jazz.

Activity diminished during the 1980s, although Freeman participated in sessions with Johnny Griffin that produced 1983’s Bush Dance and 1985’s Fly, Mister, Fly, the latter also featuring the Joe Morris Orchestra. After a stretch of relative invisibility, vocalists Joanie Pallatto and pianist Bradley Parker-Sparrow brought him to their Southport/Orchard label, resulting in Rebellion (1995) and George Burns (1999). Savant Records issued At Long Last George in 2001; subsequent projects include 2015’s All in the Family, recorded with nephew Chico Freeman, and 2017’s 90 Going on Amazing. In 2019 he released George the Bomb! featuring veteran Chicago harmonica player Billy Branch. At age 96 he delivered Good Life on HighNote in 2023, an album taped the previous year with drummers Lewis Nash and Carl Allen, bassist Christian McBride, and organist/multi-instrumentalist Joey DeFrancesco during one of the keyboardist’s final recording dates.