Russ Freeman

Pianist Russ Freeman -- not to be confused with the guitarist/leader of <a href="spotify:artist:6hjqP9annof75B2TNBE0rO">the Rippingtons</a> -- was better known as a sideman than a leader, but he was an important collaborator with both <a href="spotify:artist:3rxeQlsv0Sc2nyYaZ5W71T">Chet Baker</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:6M7ScGp8p2GspFJaIMh1Yo">Shelly Manne</a>, leaving his mark on two of the most celebrated bodies of work in West Coast cool jazz. Classically trained as a child, Freeman began making a name for himself on the West Coast jazz scene in the mid-'40s, playing mostly with bebop-oriented groups. During this period, he worked with <a href="spotify:artist:3z4qqrJqPWfTl9CSUNxb93">Howard McGhee</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3NUsiT2JSyaWAnWaXxDzhQ">Dexter Gordon</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4Ww5mwS7BWYjoZTUIrMHfC">Charlie Parker</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3GpMtIOC5ZLvMBMI7IxPvA">Art Pepper</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7hxJ7osu5ELi0SVSvgUjQN">Shorty Rogers</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:2KABeoZBzBw6p9D4hGhzBk">Wardell Gray</a>, among others. Freeman joined <a href="spotify:artist:3rxeQlsv0Sc2nyYaZ5W71T">Chet Baker</a>'s new quartet in 1953, and their chemistry was immediate as Freeman proved to be perhaps the most sympathetic accompanist the trumpeter/vocalist ever had; his tasteful, well-formulated original compositions also fit <a href="spotify:artist:3rxeQlsv0Sc2nyYaZ5W71T">Baker</a>'s style well and "The Wind" became something of a standard. Their collaboration spanned 1953-1954 and 1956; in 1955, Freeman began another rewarding association with drummer <a href="spotify:artist:6M7ScGp8p2GspFJaIMh1Yo">Shelly Manne</a>, which lasted until 1966. Most of his infrequent sessions as a leader were recorded during the mid-'50s, after which he devoted more time to other aspects of the business: supervising recordings, working with film composers like <a href="spotify:artist:4vz66LC2IfVFdMdcLTlcPJ">Johnny Mandel</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:6M7ScGp8p2GspFJaIMh1Yo">Manne</a> associate <a href="spotify:artist:2tfWguHr2nj4e8KXLKciVq">Andre Previn</a>, forming his own publishing company in 1962, and working as a musical director for several nightclubs and TV shows. After leaving <a href="spotify:artist:6M7ScGp8p2GspFJaIMh1Yo">Manne</a>'s group, Freeman's jazz recordings became fewer and fewer; there were occasional appearances with old West Coast cohorts up until the early '80s, after which Freeman effectively retired. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi