Chico Freeman

The scion of saxophonist Von Freeman, multi-reedist Chico Freeman has issued dozens of recordings as a leader, and played on hundreds more. Freeman's tenor tone is gritty and exuberant, yet intimate and resonant, capable of anguished cries and tender affirmations inside a moment. His music has been informed by the Chicago blues he played in clubs as a teen, bop and hard bop played by his dad, bandleaders he served (including Charles Mingus and Dizzy Gillespie), and John Coltrane's modal inventions. He's also played R&B with Michael Jackson and Earth, Wind & Fire plus Latin salsa with Tito Puente and Eddie Palmieri. Freeman has released a series of acclaimed albums during the 21st century, including 2002's Out of Many Comes the One, 2012's Elvin, and 2015's Spoken into Existence.