This Koch CD reissues an Atlantic LP, tenor saxophonist
Von Freeman's debut on record.
Freeman, who was almost 50 at the time, was obscure because he lived in Chicago rather than New York and because he had an unusual tone that took a bit to time to get used to. However, he was well-known in Chicago, and
Rahsaan Roland Kirk went out of his way to record
Freeman, producing this album. Joined by pianist
John Young, bassist
Sam Jones, and drummer
Jimmy Cobb,
Freeman performs five originals, a haunting version of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "Lost in a Fog," and "Sweet and Lovely."
Von Freeman has since had higher visibility in jazz without compromising his sound or his ability to swing in his own fashion. ~ Scott Yanow