George Freeman (guitarist)

George Freeman
Freeman at the 2008 Chicago Jazz Festival
Background information
Born	(1927-04-10) April 10, 1927 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Jazz, soul jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1940s–present
Associated acts	Von Freeman, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Jimmy McGriff

George Freeman (born April 10, 1927) is an American jazz guitarist from Chicago. His brothers Von Freeman and Eldridge Freeman had jazz careers, as does his nephew, Chico Freeman.

Freeman's career began in the 1940s with trumpeter Joe Morris, followed by Tom Archia. He worked as a sideman for Lester Young and Charlie Parker when they came through town, and he recorded with Parker. Beginning in the 1950s he worked often with organist Richard "Groove" Holmes. After jobs with Gene Ammons and Shirley Scott, Freeman quit touring and spent most of his time in Chicago. He recorded his first album, Birth Sign (Delmark, 1969) with Sonny Burke and Robert Pierce.^[1]

He has worked often with his brother, saxophonist Von Freeman, in addition to Kenny Barron, Maurice Brown, Bob Cranshaw, Sonny Criss, Deep Blue Organ Trio, Kurt Elling, Johnny Griffin, Red Holloway, Illinois Jacquet, Harold Mabern, Rene Marie, Les McCann, Jimmy McGriff, Sonny Stitt, Ben Webster, Buddy Williams, Eldee Young, and John Young.^[1]

In 2017, Freeman recorded an album with guitarist Mike Allemana.^[2]

In 2005, 90 Going On Amazing was recorded and produced by Sirus XM Jazz Director Mark Ruffin and released by Blujazz in Aug. 2017.^[3]

Discography

• Birth Sign (Delmark, 1969)
• Introducing George Freeman Live with Charlie Earland Sitting In (Giant Step, 1971) with Charles Earland
• Franticdiagnosis (Bam-Boo, 1972)
• New Improved Funk (Groove Merchant, 1972)
• Man & Woman (Groove Merchant, 1974)
• All in the Game (LRC, 1977)
• Rebellion (Southport, 1995)
• George Burns (Orchard, 1999)
• At Long Last George (Savant, 2001)
• 90 Going On Amazing (Blujazz, 2017)

References