Remembering George Freeman
April 10, 1927 – April 1, 2025
A tribute to the Chicago-based guitarist
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Guitarist George Freeman passed away on Apr. 1, 2025 at the age of 97.
He was born on Apr. 10, 1927 in Chicago, the younger brother of tenor-saxophonist Von Freeman and drummer Bruz Freeman, and eventually the uncle of tenor-saxophonist Chico Freeman.
His parents were amateur musicians who were friends of such major names as Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, and Earl Hines.
Inspired by seeing T-Bone Walker play, Freeman learned the guitar and as a teenager played with Eugene Wright’s Dukes Of Swing.
In 1946 he led what was considered Chicago’s first bebop group while often performing with visiting greats including Lester Young and Coleman Hawkins.
In 1947, Freeman moved to New York to work with trumpeter Joe Morris’ r&b jump band with whom he made his first recordings on Dec. 12.
Soon he was back in Chicago, often playing at the Pershing Hotel with his brothers and, on two occasions during 1950-51 with Charlie Parker; those sessions were taped and find Freeman playing very modern solos for the time.
While he was quite active in the 1950s, Freeman did not record again until he made two albums with organist Wild Bill Davis in 1960.
George Freeman, who worked regularly with Richard “Groove” Holmes in the 1960s and Gene Ammons during 1969-74, also recorded with Shirley Scott, Sonny Stitt, Jimmy McGriff, Buddy Rich (1974), Johnny Griffin (1978), Red Holloway (2008), and on 13 albums of his own during 1969-2022.
Always a modern player, George Freeman continued performing up until the end including on his 97th birthday.
George Freeman is featured taking a wild solo along with trumpeter King Kolax and pianist Wallace Burton on a 1971 version of “Jungle Strut” with tenor-saxophonist Gene Ammons; bassist Chester Williamson and drummer Bob Guthrie are also in the group.
-Scott Yanow
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