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George Freeman: Everybody Say Yeah!

By Mark Corroto
May 8, 2022
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It took a long time (much too long) for listeners to recognize the brilliance that was Chicago saxophonist

Fred Anderson

saxophone
1929 - 2010

" data-original-title="" title="">Fred Anderson. The New York-centric jazz cognoscenti have often overlooked talent that comes from Chicago, and artists were often drawn to The Big Apple to seek the recognition they deserved. Beginning in the '90s, though, the focal point of creative music shifted to Chicago and veteran musicians such as

Von Freeman

saxophone, tenor
1922 - 2012

" data-original-title="" title="">Von Freeman,

Fred Anderson

saxophone
1929 - 2010

" data-original-title="" title="">Fred Anderson, and

Harrison Bankhead

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Harrison Bankhead, plus (then) younger talents,

Ken Vandermark

saxophone
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Ken Vandermark,

Dave Rempis

saxophone
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Rempis, and

Hamid Drake

drums
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Hamid Drake garnered critical attention. That attention paved the way for newer Chicago talents such as

Dustin Laurenzi

saxophone, tenor
b.1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Dustin Laurenzi,

Katie Ernst

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Katie Ernst,

Nick Mazzarella

saxophone, alto
b.1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Nick Mazzarella,

Quin Kirchner

drums
b.1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Quin Kirchner, and

Matt Ulery

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Ulery.

Everybody Say Yeah! unveils another discovery, guitarist George Freeman, a star hidden in plain sight. Brother to Von and Eldridge "Bruz" Freeman and uncle to

Chico Freeman

saxophone
b.1949

" data-original-title="" title="">Chico Freeman, George is a living history of modern jazz. He has performed with everyone from

Lester Young

saxophone
1909 - 1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Lester Young to

Ella Fitzgerald

vocals
1917 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Ella Fitzgerald,

Dexter Gordon

saxophone, tenor
1923 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Dexter Gordon, and

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane, and recorded with

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker,

Jimmy McGriff

organ, Hammond B3
1936 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy McGriff,

Johnny Griffin

saxophone, tenor
1928 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Johnny Griffin,

Gene Ammons

saxophone, tenor
1925 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Gene Ammons, and a list of others too long to fit into this review. This album is a retrospective of his Southport years, from 1995 to 2021, and comes on the occasion of this 95th birthday on April 10th 2022. The remastered music includes two unreleased tracks "Summertime" with vocals by

Joanie Pallatto

vocals
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Joanie Pallatto and "Manteca," plus a new recording of his composition "Perfume" in duo with guitarist

Mike Allemana

guitar
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Allemana.

The fourteen tracks are all prime cuts. Opening with "Peak," a rump-shaking party piece, Freeman vocalizes over the affair as he delivers solid soul jazz. His guitar voice is both articulate and bluesy. "My Scenery," a ballad which features Chico Freeman with Harrison Bankhead and Hamid Drake, walks in like Carl Sandburg's fog on little cat's feet. The guitarist adores Latin themes; "It's Cha Time!," "Cha Cha Time," and

Dizzy Gillespie

trumpet
1917 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Dizzy Gillespie's "Manteca" feature his guitar as the calm in the eye of a percussion hurricane. Guest soloists include Von Freeman on "Vonski,"

Tatsu Aoki

bass
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Tatsu Aoki on "Low Funk,"

John Devlin

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">John Devlin on "Gorgeous George," and the aforementioned Joanie Pallatto's vocals on a luxurious rendition of Gershwin's "Summertime."

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Peak; There Will Never Be Another You; My Scenery; It's Cha Time!; Summertime; George Burns!; Gorgeous George; Vonski; Cha Cha Blue; Manteca; Perfume; A Mother's Love; Marko; Low Funk.

Personnel

George Freeman - Guitar

guitar

Joanie Pallatto

vocals

Mike Allemana

guitar

Billy Branch

harmonica

Tatsu Aoki

bass

Harrison Bankhead

bass, acoustic

Von Freeman

saxophone, tenor

Chico Freeman

saxophone

Eldee Young

bass, acoustic

Michael Raynor

drums

Alejo Poveda-Bateria

drums

Ruben Alvarez

percussion

Luiz Ewerling

drums

John Devlin

bass

Penny Pendleton

bass, acoustic

Hamid Drake

drums

Kirk Brown

piano

Phil Thomas

drums

Joe Jenkins

drums

Lou Gregory

piano

Additional Instrumentation

George Freeman, electric guitar and leader; Mike Allemana, electric guitar; Ruben Alvarez, congas and timbales; Tatsu Aoki, acoustic bass; John Devlin, electric bass and accordion; Hamid Drake, Luiz Ewerling, drums and percussion; Chico Freeman, tenor sax and soprano sax; Von Freeman, tenor sax and piano; Joanie Pallatto, vocal; Alejo Poveda, drums.

Album information

Title: Everybody Say Yeah! | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Southport Records

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