Chico Freeman, the multi-reedman, keyboard artist, composer and producer embodies jazz by finding new avenues of expression that embrace its heritage and tradition.
Many critics have compared him to the greats in jazz history, but the proof, beyond arguable opinion, is in the fact that he has played and recorded with some of the most innovative musicians in the world. Few artists can equal his list of musical associations: Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Charles Mingus, Jack DeJohnette, Art Blakey, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Hank Jones, Freddie Cole, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Roy Haynes, Von Freeman, Arthur Blythe, Billy Hart, Lester Bowie, Famadou Don Moye, Cecil McBee, Kirk Lightsey, John Hicks, Mal Waldron, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Eurythmics, The Temptations, The Four Tops and many others. From South America to Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, Freeman has performed and recorded with such Latin greats as Tito Puente, Machito, Irakere, Arturo Sandoval, Celia Cruz, Giovanni Hidalgo, Paulinho DaCosta, Nana Vasconcelos, Ray Barretto, Eddie Palmieri and Puerto Rico’s famous El Gran Combo.
Born into a musical family, his father Von Freeman is the legendary tenor saxophone player, and his uncles George and Bruz play guitar and drums respectively. Freeman earned a mathematics scholarship to Northwestern University, and played trumpet in the school jazz band. He quickly learned that his heart was elsewhere, and eventually studied the tenor saxophone eight to ten hours a day until confident enough to challenge the sax section. He switched to a major in music and a great tenor player was born. He graduated with a degree in music, with proficiencies in saxophone, trumpet, and piano.
Following studies in advanced composition and theory, he began teaching elementary and intermediate courses at the Chicago-based AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) School of Music. While completing a Masters Degree in Composition and Theory at Governors State University, his memorable performance at the Intercollegiate Jazz Festival in South Bend, Indiana, with the Governors State’s Jazz Band, won Freeman awards as “Best Soloist,” “Best Saxophonist” and a tour of Brazil with the winning group.
Although jazz was the first music Freeman was exposed to, many of his early professional gigs were at Chicago clubs with such blues artists as Memphis Slim and Lucky Carmichael. Freeman went on to play with pop and R & B greats The Temptations, The Four Tops, Jackie Wilson, The Dells, The Isley Brothers, and The Eurythmics.
After arriving in New York in the ’70s, he immediately began working with Jeanne Lee, Mickey Bass, John Stubblefield, and Cecil McBee. Through apprenticeships in New York and abroad with such innovators as Elvin Jones, Don Pullen, Sam Rivers, Sun Ra, and Jack DeJohnette, Freeman developed his own group and rapidly rose to prominence with his energetic and exploratory style.
A legendary concert at Lincoln Center in June 1982 by The Young Lions, a group critics hailed as the brightest hopes of jazz in the 1980’s - Chico Freeman, Wynton Marsalis, Paquito D’Rivera, Kevin Eubanks, Anthony Davis, and others - produced an album on which Freeman plays nearly every cut. His 14-minute composition “Whatever Happened to the Dream Deferred?” was called “one of the best of the album” by the New York Times.
In 1986, when promoters in Europe were organizing superstar bands, Freeman brought together The Leaders, an all-star sextet of internationally recognized bandleaders. The group, consisting of Cecil McBee, Kirk Lightsey, Lester Bowie, Arthur Blythe and Famadou Don Moye, set the standard for eclectic and innovative music from a band comprised entirely of composers.
In 1991, during the 150 year anniversary celebration of the invention of the saxophone by Adolphe Sax, the band Roots was formed. This band consisted of internationally known saxophonists Nathan Davis, Benny Golson, Arthur Blythe and Chico Freeman. Adding Buster Williams (bass), and Ed Thigpen (drums), this band delighted audiences with their unique arrangements and brilliant improvisation.
With his Afro-Cuban Band Guataca, featuring Hilton Ruiz (piano), Ruben Rodriguez (bass), Yoron Israel (drums), and Giovanni Hidalgo (congas & percussion), Freeman pushed the envelope with his music. This band featured seasoned professionals and younger players in a wonderful mix of world music that included Latin rhythms, African heritage, and hip hop energy incorporating traditional jazz sensibilities and instrumentation. It is music that makes you want to move, bridging the gaps between generations. It truly brings improvisational music to the forefront, and introduces it, yet again, to another age of listeners.
In May 2004 Chico performed as a featured soloist with the New York Symphony at Carnegie Hall. He has also continued to tour with his Afro-Cuban Jazz Latin band Guataca as well as his own quartet. Chico has continued collaborating with a diverse group of artists, including Shafquat, the Barbara Dennerlein Trio, the Cyrus Chestnut Trio, the Bill Cosby All-Stars, his father Von Freeman, and Roots. Chico has also remained the featured saxophonist with the McCoy Tyner Trio. He has also produced the upcoming Leaders album featuring himself, Bobby Watson, Eddie Henderson, Fred Harris, Cecil McBee and Billy Hart.
Chico has supervised the music for IEP/Bad Boy Productions for emerging artist Mickey and produced projects by rapper Akil Dasan and flamenco guitarist Romero. He currently serves as Musical Supervisor for the "Cut to the Chase" film production company. His work with film has garnered an award for the film score for "Sue," and he recently scored the film "Happy End" starring Audrey Tautou of "Amelie" and "The DaVinci Code" fame.
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