Russ Freeman

[Tom 1960]

I was kind of surprised there weren't any past discussions here dedicated to pianist Russ Freeman. I figured this might make for some good discussion. Even though his output was pretty much limited to as a sideman, I really enjoy the recordings he did with Chet Baker, Shelly Manne, Art Pepper to name just a few. I'm still crossing my fingers I might still be able to obtain the Pacific Jazz Piano Trios on Mosaic. From the samples I was able to hear, the performances of Freeman sound quite good. Anyone else here a fan of Russ Freeman? What are some of your favorite sessions he played on?

[AllenLowe]

Russ was a terrific pianist, and a very nice man. I think he's under-appreciated partly because his life lacked the drama of people like Pepper and Chet Baker - though he was, it turns out, a junkie for some time. I'm using his duo version of Billie's Bounce (with Shelly Manne) in my blues collection - I got to know him a little bit before he died, I had called him up (he was living and working in Vegas) to talk to him about my book on jazz of the 1950s. He was very open and very easy to talk to; I was very saddened when he died rather suddenly.

[Teasing the Korean]

I was not familiar with him until the 1980s when I started to by Chet Baker's 1950s stuff. As a pianist, I was really knocked out by his innate ability to do such "simple" yet intricate comping. Really nice chord voicings and a rhythmic attack. There's no one else quite like him. Is he still around?

EDIT - I just read your post Allen. I'm sorry.

Edited September 14, 2009 by Teasing the Korean

[Free For All]

I was not familiar with him until the 1980s when I started to by Chet Baker's 1950s stuff. As a pianist, I was really knocked out by his innate ability to do such "simple" yet intricate comping. Really nice chord voicings and a rhythmic attack. There's no one else quite like him. Is he still around?

EDIT - I just read your post Allen. I'm sorry.

He passed in 2002.

[Jim R]

I was not familiar with him until the 1980s when I started to by Chet Baker's 1950s stuff. As a pianist, I was really knocked out by his innate ability to do such "simple" yet intricate comping. Really nice chord voicings and a rhythmic attack. There's no one else quite like him.

I agree. His work with Chet played a big role in those recordings becoming favorites for me.

I've always liked his stuff on Contemporary, as well as the live recording "Safe At Home" that was released a few years ago.

[sidewinder]

Russ was a terrific pianist, and a very nice man.

I got to listen to some of his reminiscences at a panel on the West Coast back in the late 90s and his good nature came across to me too. He was very forthcoming and lucid with his memories of Chet Baker etc. that day. Wish I'd had a tape recorder.

[JohnS]

Terrific player. His Pacific Jazz trio set is marvellous.

[jlhoots]

Wrote good tunes too.

[BillF]

A great favorite of mine - basically a school-of-Bud Powell player with Silverish overtones plus a characteristically West Coast staccato attack. And he could cook, too! Of his work on "Popo" on The Artistry of Pepper (Pacific Jazz) liner note writer Todd Selbert remarks: "Dig Freeman chewing up the keyboard and swinging his fanny off on the first take."

[sjarrell]

Terrific player. His Pacific Jazz trio set is marvellous.

I love the Trio disc more than I love most things. For Freeman and Twardzik. And the 10" jacket pic that Claxton shot is the swellest.

Did anyone see the Claxton documentary that Freeman was all over? Lots of good interview there.

Also: Has anyone heard "Safe at Home", the Freeman Trio recorded live in Vancouver, 1959? 10 tracks, Justin Time, 2005. It gets bad customer reviews at Amazon, but for not being the other guy. It's pretty sweet. (Edit: emusic has it too)

Edited September 17, 2009 by sjarrell

[Jim R]

Also: Has anyone heard "Safe at Home", the Freeman Trio recorded live in Vancouver, 1959?

I've heard it, which is why I mentioned it above.

[BillF]

I always think of Lenny Bruce's line, "Russ Freeman stole all my key men." I think it was from his Dracula sketch.

[sjarrell]

:blush2: Reading comprehension issues, obviously.

Also: Has anyone heard "Safe at Home", the Freeman Trio recorded live in Vancouver, 1959?

I've heard it, which is why I mentioned it above.