ARTIST: Mike Freeman Zona Vibe
TITLE: In the Zone
LABEL: VOF Recordings
GENRE: Jazz
BITRATE: 189kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 51m total
RELEASE DATE: 2007-00-00
RIP DATE: 2007-03-09
Track List
----------
1. Mr. 2000 6:39
2. There Ya Go 5:22
3. Cha Cha Mama 5:29
4. Red Thunder 5:35
5. The Fallen 5:12
6. Todos Vuelven 5:26
7. Afriman 6:41
8. Horse's Run 5:43
9. A Las Seis 5:40
Release Notes:
Tito Puente, Cal Tjader and the groups of Joe Cuba put the vibraphone at the
heart of Latin music, and today that tradition drives the music and groups of
Mike Freeman. With vibes out front, heÆs been bringing audiences a heady blend
of original music and standards for over two decades. ôItÆs apparent that heÆs
been performing and woodshedding for years,ö wrote The Music Independent.
Compositional inventiveness and a dynamic performing style have marked MikeÆs
appearances at jazz festivals, clubs, colleges, and concert halls in the U.S.,
Canada, and Europe. His recordings of original music gained national attention
and extensive airplay landing on several radio charts. From the start, the music
Mike wrote and performed ranged from jazz, Latinjazz, Brazilian, fusion, and
R&B. Mike Freeman & SpellboundÆs 1985 self-titled debut recording (following a
tour of Portugal, cosponsored by the Fulbright Foundation and the American
Embassy) was eclipsed six years later by the highly successful ôStreet Shuffleö
with Jeff Jenkins, Dave Stryker, Kip Reed, and Graham Hawthorne. His next
recording ôWiggle Stompö reflects a deeper immersion in the Latin scene that
began over ten years ago. With his latest CD ôIn the Zoneö (bottom left), Mike
takes that exploration to yet another level. In this new album, listeners will
taste and savor the considerable range of MikeÆs marimba playingùalong with the
vibraphoneùand his artistry and knowledge in bringing Salsa forms into a Jazz
context. Bandmembers Bruce Saunders (guitar), Ricardo Rodriguez (bass), Little
Johnny Rivero (congas), and Harry Adorno (timbales) all contribute serious
sizzle of their own.
In addition to leading his own groups, Mike is a member of Ray MantillaÆs group
(with Edy Martinez), which has toured Italy and recorded "Good Vibrations" for
Savant records (Jazzweeks #1 Latinjazz recording on radio, 2006). He performs
with singer Julio Salgado (from Orquestra Broadway and George Delgado) and
recorded Fabulosos 70Æs with Son Boricua (Jose Mangual Jr. and Jimmy Sabater).
HeÆs recorded and performed with Lucho CuetoÆs Black Sugar and recorded
ôStretching the Truthö as a member of Mark HolenÆs eclectic Latin blues group
Zambomba.
Other credits include performing with Little Johnny RiveroÆs sexteto, Jorge
JimenezÆs Timba Vibes (creating the groupÆs book), and the Latin Legends concert
at Aaron Davis Hall with the Harbor Conservatory Latin Band, directed by Louis
Bauz≤.
Outstanding musicians who have performed with Mike FreemanÆs groupùnow called
ZonaVibeùinclude Ed Uribe, Vanderlei Pereira, Harry Adorno, Ralph Irizarry,
Little Johnny Rivero, Chembo Corniel, Renato Thoms, Norman Hedman, Cucho
Martinez, Gerry Madera, Guillermo Edghill, and Ricky Rodriguez.
Additional endeavors include a Hurricane Katrina Benefit Concert that Mike
organized and produced at Manhattan Plaza (two 45-floor towers of performing
artists in midtown Manhattan where he lives) featuring the R&B of Bobby Harden
and Chris Carter, the jazz of David SchnitterÆs quartet, the solo piano of Amina
Claudine Myers, and MikeÆs own Latinjazz group with Ray Mantilla. Proceeds went
to Tipitinas Foundation for New Orleansûarea musicians and the Humane Society.
New York University and the Berklee College of Music, among others, have hosted
Mike as a guest artist/clinician. His music arranged for big band has been a
successful component of his performances with jazz department ensembles. And a
series (spanning several years) of commissioned compositions and arrangements
for the Chicago Symphony OrchestraÆs Percussion Scholarship Program demonstrates
his other musical expertise in addition to performing.
Past highlights include: the JVC Newport Jazz Festival in Saratoga, NY, a
performance that prompted a memorable standing ovation; the Hennessy Greenwich
Village Jazz Festival two years in a row; a Flood Relief Concert in Des Moines,
Iowa; performing to a hometown audience of more than 5,000 at the Joslyn Art
Museum in Omaha; and opening for Stan Getz in Boston. MikeÆs highly successful
tour of Portugal in the mid-1980s took him to every part of the country where he
gave concerts and taught clinics. He also performed on Portuguese national radio
and television. Dinners were given in his honor, and he received the medal of
the city of Guarde.
MikeÆs grandfather was a drummer and leader of Ron Freeman and the Melody
Masters, a popular band that was heard on the radio in the Midwest. Neal Hefti
played in his band before becoming famous in California. MikeÆs paternal
grandmother sang and played the organ and marimba. His maternal grandmother was
a talented piano player in her youth. MikeÆs father, Harry Freeman, worked his
way through college playing the saxophone.
Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Mike Freeman began playing professionally at
the age of thirteen. He started learning drums at five and became interested in
jazz music by listening to drummers Max Roach and Buddy Rich. He played in local
rock bands and a big band called Resurrected Swing thatÆs still in existence
today. At twelve, he began playing the vibraphone, and by fifteen, he was a
percussionist for the Omaha Symphony. He also gave lessons at the local music
store. During his last year of high school, he began flying to Chicago to study
with renowned percussionist and veteran studio musician Bobby Christian. Just
before entering the School of Music at DePaul University in Chicago, Mike
started to concentrate on the vibraphone and composition. In college, he began
leading his own groups, performing at clubs, both in Chicago and Omaha, and
working as a side musician. At DePaul, he studied with jazz pianist Alan Swain
and saxophonist Tom Hilliard, and received a Bachelor of Music (composition)
with high honors in 1981. In New York, where heÆs lived and worked since 1981,
Mike studied with composer/arranger Hale Rood, who wrote for Louie Bellson, and
attended the BMI composers workshop.