..here are a few shots of Von from earlier this year.

...

..and

Great photos!

Missed these when you posted them, but thanks once again, Mark.

Yes! Thanks for posting, Mark.

All of the photos are great, but the first one is particularly outstanding.

In #3 that looks like Mike Raynor on drums, I believe. Just curious, Mark, do you know who else was playing?

Thanks guys. Yes, this is Mike Raynor on drums...I seem to recall Mike Allemana on guitar, Matt Ferguson on bass and Ron Perillo on piano.

~m

3000 words spoken here.

What a beautiful, wise, humanitarian of a person. What an open, adventurous player. He recently got me when he said in an interview that his favorite version of "Smile" was Jerry Lewis's ballad b/c "You know he felt it after the man lost his looks and everything". Absolutley the man I wanna see when passing through Chi-town.

And in anticipation of you wiseacres' JL comments: "LAAAAAAAADDDDDYYYY!"

Thanks for the info Mark. I haven't seen Perillo for ages!

Also, I meant to say thanks for posting the great photos. Your work is always great!

Here is the Playlist from my radio show celebrating Vonski's 86th birthday a few weeks ago.
I featured him in every other set for the entire four hours:

JAZZ FROIM STUDIO FOURFriday, Oct 3, 8pm–midnight, WGBH 89.7

VONSKI: CELEBRATING TENOR SAXOPHONIST VON FREEMAN (b. Oct 3, 1922)

Listed by artist: selection, album (label)

8:00pm
THEME: Horace Parlan Quintet: Wadin', Speakin' My Piece (Blue Note)

8:05pm
Von Freeman: Blues for Billie, The Improvisor (Premonition)
Von Freeman: Violets for Your Furs, The Great Divide (Premonition)

8:25pm
Roy Hargrove; @ Scullers Jazzz Club, Boston; Oct 3, 4.: Speak Low, Earfood (Groovin High/Emarcy)
John Swana: Shrack's Corner, Bright moments (Criss Cross)
Joe Magnarelli: I Had The Craziest Dream, Persistence (Reservoir)

8:45pm
Von Freeman: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face; Lost In A Fog; Catnap,
Doni' It Right Now (Atco)

9:09pm
Rachel Price: That Old Black Magic, The Good Hours (Claire Vision)
Cassandra Wilson: Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most, Loverly (Blue Note)
Kelley Johnson: Should've Been, Home (Sapphire)

9:27pm
Von Freeman; Chico Freeman: Jug Ain't Gone; Time Marches On; I Can't Get Started,
Fathers & Sons (Columbia LP)

9:43pm
Alan Broadbent: Chi Chi, Mment's Notice (Chilly Bin Records)
Wycliffe Gordon: Anthropology, Boss Bones (Criss Cross)
Lafayette Harris Jr: Moose The Mooche, Trio Talk (Airman)
Charlie Parker: Bird of Paradise (All TheThings You Are), TheComplete Dial Sessions (Stash)

10:06pm
Kurt Elling; Von Freeman: The Rent Party, Live in Chicago (Blue Note)
Von Freeman; Chico Freeman; Dianne Reeves: Comes Love, 75th Birthday Celebration (Platinum)
Von Freeman: Crazy She Calls Me, Live At The Dakota (Premonition)

10:33pm
Anat Cohen: AfterThe Rain, Notes From The Village (Anzik )
McCoy Tyner: Mr. P.C., Guitars (Half Note)

10:52am
Louis Smith; featuring Von Freeman: Silvering, Silvering (Steeplechase)
Von Freeman: Song For My Father, Dedicated To You (Steeplechase)
Von Freeman: Bruz, George & Chico, Walkin' Tuff! (Southport)

11:19pm
Generations: So What, Tough Guys (Int'l Center for The Arts)
David Murray; Mal Waldron: Jean-Pierre, Silence (Justin Time)

11:40pm
Von Freeman: Blue Pres, The Great Divide (Premonition)
Von Freeman: In My Solitude, Never Let Me Go (Steeplechase)

11:56pm
Von Freeman: My Little Brown Book, Live At The Dakota (Premonition)

And I'll add my belated thanks for posting those excellent photos!