Mike Freeman (jazz musician)

Freeman started learning drums at age six and began playing professionally at age thirteen. At twelve, he began playing the vibraphone, and by fifteen, he was a percussionist for the Omaha Symphony Orchestra under conductor Thomas Briccetti.[1] During his last year of high school, he began traveling to Chicago to study with renowned percussionist and veteran studio musician Bobby Christian.[2] He graduated from DePaul University with a Bachelor of Music composition in 1981. In New York, he studied with composer and arranger Hale Rood.[3]

Freeman has performed in North America, Europe, the Azores, Caribbean, and South America. In 1985, he did an extensive tour of Portugal, sponsored by the American Embassy and the Fulbright Foundation. The tour was arranged by Rui Martins,[4] director of the Hot Club of Portugal, and USIA Cultural Affairs Officer Wally Keiderling.[5] He performed in areas of the country rarely visited by American musicians and not previously visited by a vibraphone player. In Guarda, Portugal, he received the medal of the city.[6]

His seven recordings of original music[7][8] gained national and international attention[9] and extensive radio airplay, charting on jazz,[10][11] contemporary jazz, and world music radio as well as airing on syndicated radio programs.[12]

A three time Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Creative Engagement grant recipient, Freeman produced Latin Music in Hell's Kitchen, A History 2019, Hell's Kitchen Soul Sauce 2021, and Boricua Blues 2022.[13][14][15][16] At Manhattan Plaza he produced and organized benefit concerts for musicians affected by devastating hurricanes. He wrote a series, spanning more than a decade, of commissioned compositions and arrangements for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Percussion Scholarship Program[17] and in 2014 was commissioned by drummer and educator Ed Uribe to write arrangements for China's national percussion curriculum that were performed by members of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra at the Shanghai Symphony Hall.[18]

Freeman is also known for performing and recording with several acclaimed Latin groups including percussionist Ray Mantilla from 2002 until Mantilla's passing in 2020. Good Vibrations on Savant Records was Jazzweek's top Latinjazz recording on radio in 2006.[19] He performed and recorded with Jose Mangual Jr's Son Boricua featuring Jimmy Sabater (one of the architects of Boogaloo) from 2003 to present, with Julio Salgado from 2000 to present and with Lucho Cueto's all-star group Black Sugar. He also performed with the Spanish Harlem Orchestra (directed by Oscar Hernandez) at Madison Square Garden and with Willie Villegas's Joe Cuba Sextet both with legendary sonero Cheo Feliciano.[20]

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