Von Freeman - Doin' It Right Now

Doin' It Right Now Review by Scott Yanow

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.

Von Freeman

Not nearly as famous as his son Chico Freeman (also a tenor saxophonist), Von Freeman was nevertheless an equally -- if not more so -- accomplished jazz musician. While not a free jazz player per se,…

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Von Freeman - Doin' It Right Now

A1 The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face 4:31 Written-By – Ewan MacColl A2 White Sand 4:40 A3 Lost In A Fog 7:47 Written-By – Dorothy Fields & Jimmy McHugh A4 Portrait Of John Young 6:47 B1 Doin' It Right Now 4:50 B2 Catnap 4:37 B3 Sweet And Lovely 5:55 Written-By – Gus Arnheim, Harry Tobias, Jules Lemare B4 Brother George 8:07 Composed By – Von Freeman (pistas: A2, A4 to B2, B4)

Tenor Saxophone – Von Freeman Bass – Sam Jones Piano – John Young Drums – Jimmy Cobb Recorded at Atlantic Recording Studios, New York, July, 1972