Mike Freeman (jazz musician)

Mike Freeman is an American jazz vibraphonist and composer from Omaha, Nebraska.

For other people with the same name, see Michael Freeman (disambiguation).
Mike Freeman
Mike Freeman performing with ZonaVibe in New York City, 2013
Background information
Born1959 (age 61–62)
Omaha, Nebraska
GenresJazz, Latin jazz, salsa
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsVibraphone, marimba
Associated actsZonaVibe, Spellbound, Lucho Cueto Black Sugar, Ray Mantilla, Son Boricua
Websitejazzvibe.com

Biography

Freeman has performed in North America, Europe, the Azores, Caribbean, and South America. In 1985 he did an extensive tour of Portugal, sponsored by the American Embassy and the Fulbright Foundation. The tour was arranged by Rui Martins,[1] director of the Hot Club of Portugal, and USIA Cultural Affairs Officer Wally Keiderling.[2] He performed in areas of the country rarely visited by American musicians and not previously visited by a vibraphone player. In Guarda, Portugal, he received the medal of the city.[3]

His seven recordings of original music[4][5] gained national and international attention,[6] and extensive radio airplay, charting on jazz,[7][8] contemporary jazz, and world music[9] radio as well as airing on syndicated radio programs (WOR radio network, Jazz after Hours, David Sanborn, Music Choice, United Airlines). Recordings of his have been both Grammy and Latin Grammy entries.

Mike is widely known for performing and recording with several acclaimed Latin groups including percussionist Ray Mantilla from 2002 to the present. ”Good Vibrations" on Savant Records was Jazzweek's top Latinjazz recording on radio in 2006.[10] He performed and recorded with Lucho Cueto's all-star group Black Sugar and for over ten years with Jose Mangual Jr's Son Boricua featuring Jimmy Sabater (one of the architects of Boogaloo). He also performed with the Spanish Harlem Orchestra (directed by Oscar Hernandez) at Madison Square Garden and with Willie Villegas's Joe Cuba Sextet both with legendary sonero Cheo Feliciano.[11]

In addition to producing recordings, he produced at Manhattan Plaza, “Band Together” a Hurricane Katrina Benefit Concert for Tipitinas Foundation benefiting New Orleans–area musicians and the Humane Society, 2005; Band Together 2 a benefit concert for musicians affected by hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria with proceeds going to the Jazz Foundation of America, 2017; and performed for Flood Relief in Des Moines, Iowa, 1993. He wrote a series, spanning more than a decade, of commissioned compositions and arrangements for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Percussion Scholarship Program[12] and in 2014 was commissioned by drummer/educator Ed Uribe[13] to write arrangements for a national percussion curriculum for China that were performed by members of the Shanghai Symphony at Shanghai Symphony Hall.

Early Years

Mike started learning drums at age five and began playing professionally at age thirteen. At twelve, he began playing the vibraphone, and by fifteen, he was a percussionist for the Omaha Symphony under conductor Thomas Briccetti.[14] During his last year of high school, he began traveling to Chicago to study with renowned percussionist and veteran studio musician Bobby Christian.[15] He graduated DePaul University with a Bachelor of Music composition, in 1981. In New York, where he's lived and worked since, he studied with composer/arranger Hale Rood,[16] (who wrote for Louie Bellson).

Discography

As leader
  • Mike Freeman ZonaVibe Venetian Blinds, VOF, 2018
  • Mike Freeman ZonaVibe Blue Tjade, VOF, (Dec.) 2015
  • Mike Freeman ZonaVibe The Vibesman, VOF, 2012
  • Mike Freeman ZonaVibe In The Zone, VOF, 2007
  • Mike Freeman Wiggle Stomp, VOF, 2000
  • Mike Freeman & Spellbound Street Shuffle, Best Recordings, 1991
  • Mike Freeman & Spellbound, 1985
  • Ray Mantilla, Rebirth, Savant Records, 2020
  • Ray Mantilla, High Voltage, Savant Records, 2017
  • Luis Blasini, All Natural, 2014
  • William Mendoza Latin Heartbeat Orchestra, El Regreso, 2014
  • Los Hermanos Mangual, Sabor y Swing, 2012
  • Manny Padilla & Baya Allstars, Para Mi Madre, 2011
  • Mark Holen Zambomba, Three Gold Coins, 2009
  • Lucho Cueto's, Black Sugar, Estamos Azucar, Latin Sound Records, 2007
  • Ray Mantilla, Good Vibrations, Savant Records, 2006
  • Son Boricua, Fabuloso 70's, Cobo Music, 2004
  • Mark Holen Zambomba, Stretching The Truth, 1997
  • Damon Short, Worry Later, The Music of Monk, 1981

As session musician
  • Kirsten Thien, Delicious, Screen Door Records, 2010
  • Capathia Jenkins & Lou Rosen, South Side Stories, Rosecap Productions, 2006
  • Stephanie Pope, Now's the Time to Fall in Love, Jerome Records, 2001
  • The Manhattan Transfer, Swing, Atlantic records, 1997
  • Don Sebesky, Foxwoods TV commercial, The Wonder of it All, featuring John Pizzarelli Jr., 1999
  • As You Like It, Shakespeare Theater, Washington D.C., 1997
  • Peer Gynt, Shakespeare Theater, Washington D.C., 1998
  • Northeast Local, Lincoln Center Mitzi Newhouse Theater, NYC, 1996
  • Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare-in-the-Park, NYC, 1989

References
  1. http://www.jazzlogical.net/concertos/Hot.htm
  2. HighBeam
  3. Freeman, Mike (February 8, 2008). "Portugal". Jazzvibe.
  4. Freeman, Mike. "All Music".
  5. Freeman, Mike. "All About Jazz".
  6. Freeman, Mike. "Reviews". Jazzvibe.
  7. "JazzWeek CD Releases | Mike Freeman ZonaVibe: Venetian Blinds (VOF Recordings)". www.jazzweek.com. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  8. "JazzWeek CD Releases | Mike Freeman ZonaVibe: Blue Tjade (VOF Recordings)". www.jazzweek.com. Retrieved 2016-05-11.
  9. World Chart (June 11, 2007). "Jazz Week" (PDF).
  10. Mantilla, Ray (September 11, 2006). "World Chart" (PDF). Jazzweek.
  11. Feliciano, Cheo. "NY Daily News".
  12. "Chicago Symphony Orchestra Percussion Scholarship Program".
  13. "Evans Drumheads : Artist Detail : Ed Uribe". orchestral.daddario.com. Retrieved 2016-05-11.
  14. "Thomas Briccetti—Biography". www.thomasbriccetti.com. Retrieved 2016-05-11.
  15. "Bobby Christian | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-05-11.
  16. "Hale Rood | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-05-11.
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