Von at 100!
South side hard bop for the World Good vibes for our Souls
Von Freeman seen here during a performance in 1998 at the Bop Shop. He is joined here by pianist Brad Williams, bassist Dennis Carroll, and drummer Mike Raynor. (Photo by Sparrow)
Even though Von Freeman left Chicago only after being promoted to a permanent position on August 11, 2012, his centennial will be celebrated before, during, and after October 3, 2023.
This offering honors “Vonski” through 26 haikus. A haiku, Japanese in origin, is a three-line poem that contains 17 syllables. Lines one and three have five syllables each – or five beats to the measure, for you musicians – and line two has seven syllables, or seven steps to heaven…if you “wheel.” Wanna call it the 5-7-5? Go ‘head then!
(Here is an example from a feature composed by yours truly about Illinois’ fifth poet laureate, Angela Jackson, published in the February 2022 South Side Drive: “Angela Jackson/Gets to smell her flowers now/Gwen would be so proud.” Gwen is Gwendolyn Brooks, Illinois’ third poet laureate and Jackson’s mentor.) For this tribute, one song has been selected at random from Mr. Freeman’s recordings. The placement for each song is line one for haiku one, line two for haiku two, line three for haiku three, and back again, except for the very first and last creations. Capeesh?! Well, let’s hit it!
“Arrival”
10-3-23
Earle Lavon Freeman is here!
Where is Miss Weezie?
Album: Doin’ It Right Now
“The First Time Ever…”
Vonski recorded a side
he saw Roberta.
Asterisk-skis: The song’s title had to be abbreviated to fit the form. Ms. Flack won’t mind.
Album: Have No Fear
Chief is at the drums!
Dig: “Have No Fear,” Soul is Here
John…forever…Young.
Album: Serenade and Blues
Serenade five tunes
Blues, dark eyes, behind sharp shades
“Time After Time,” feel.
Album: Young and Foolish
“Young and Foolish” free!
Close those eyes for twenty-five
Blackbird’s moments: Hear?
Album: Freeman and Freeman, with son and fellow tenor saxophonist Chico Freeman
Chico and The Man
Brought “Lover Man” to Billie
As Free Man and Son.
Album: Lockin’ Horns: Willis “Gator” Jackson and Von Freeman
Tenor tanglin’ Tuff!
Pow! went Gator when he saw
“Shadow of Your Smile.”
Asterisk-skis: Okay. “Pow” is the album’s first track, but I couldn’t resist.
Album: Walkin’ Tuff!
“Little Willie Leaps”
Big Foot kicks Miles’ young ass,
while Von just gets buff.
Album: Lester Leaps In
Lester leaps, young heart
“Scrapple From the Apple” core
Forbidden fruit? Yum!
Album: Never Let Me Go
Twenty minutes…done!
Duke and Mistress make, Von breathes
“In My Solitude.”
Album: Dedicated to You
“My Foolish Heart” hopes
that you see what I believe
and fuse two as one.
Album: Fire with Von Freeman
Sparrow and Vonski
“Sudden Duet.” Why? Why not?
Southport. South side. Swag.
Album: Von and Ed, with fellow tenor dude Ed Petersen
From Green to NOLA
Ed P. returned to savor
“Mr. P.C.” Live!
Album: Live at the Blue Note (With special guest, vocalist Dianne Reeves)
“Come Love” with Dianne
Voices and sax blend the notes
with Chico’s gents, too.
Album: You Talkin’ to Me?! with tenor saxophonist Frank Catalano
Frankie wants to know
If “Summertime” is easy
why are fish jumpy?
Album: Lord Riff and Me (This is under Chico’s name.)
Woody ‘n You, too
Jemilo, Green. Uptown, North.
“South Express” yourself.
Album: Live at the Dakota
“Do Nothin’…You Hear…”
M-sota’s trio talent
on Premonition
Asterisk-skis: Tore up that title, didn’t I?
Album: Inside Chicago, Volume One, with Brad Goode
Chicago Red said,
“You’ve Changed” to forgive
all angry darlings.”
Asterisk-skis: Brad did not really say that, but I dig his nickname and needed a syllable to complete the line.
Album: Inside Chicago, Volume Two, with Chicago Red
At Pershing, Bird said,
“We don’t start ‘till George gets here.”
“Anthropology”
Asterisk-skis: This quote, from Von’s brother, George, comes from “George Freeman celebrates Charlie Parker’s 100th birthday.” Mike Allemana, Von’s longtime guitarist, posted this interview he conducted to youtube.
Album: The Improviser
“If I Should Lose You”
the solo song from his sax
would be my lone friend.
Album: Inside Chicago, Volume Three, with Brad ‘n them
Don’t we all wonder,
“What Is This Thing Called Love?” Cole,
and why must it hurt?
Album: Inside Chicago, Volume Four, with Brad and the boys
Bud walked inside
Von sometimes breathed outside
“You Stepped Out of…”
Album: The Great Divide
“Violets For Your Furs”
A solo sax offering
from Frank to Lana.
Album: Good Forever
Jazz Cop had to ask,
“Didn’t We” Start the Fire?
…she’s no Uptown Girl.
Album: Vonski Speaks, (Recorded live in Berlin)
With Mike, Mike, and Jack
New Apartment meets Berlin
“Von’s Greeting,” schwingen!
Asterisk-skis: The cats mentioned are Mike Allemana, Mike Raynor, and Jack Zara. That last word is in German. I only speak fluent English and profanity, so schwingen, to me, is two syllables, teufel noch mal!
“Departure”
August 11
Jazz Master closes his eyes,
for…last time…ever…
