Chicago prepares to honor one of its own: saxophone legend Von Freeman

It has taken the National Endowment for the Arts three decades to recognize Chicago tenor saxophone legend Von Freeman with the country's highest jazz honor: the NEA's Jazz Masters Award.

Freeman, 87, will receive the prize, plus $25,000, next January at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, during the awards' 30th anniversary ceremony (as first reported in the Tribune on April 19).

But Chicago – where Freeman was born and always has lived – long has recognized the man's outsized contribution to music, the latest tribute coming in the form of a major concert Thursday night at the Pritzker Pavilion, in Milllennium Park. "Truth Be Told: Celebrating the Legacy of Von Freeman" will kick off the seventh annual "Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz" series in the most fitting way possible: with an artistically ambitious, evening-length salute to an icon of Chicago jazz.

Freeman disciples from across the country will convene on stage for what amounts to a civic tribute to a Chicago original.

"We thought that it's best to celebrate somebody when they're living," says Michael Orlove, director of music programs for the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture and co-curator of the "Made in Chicago" series (with Jazz Institute of Chicago executive director Lauren Deutsch).

"We're blessed in Chicago to have someone like Von, who has been more than a great musician, but a great teacher and inspiration in the jazz community in Chicago," continues Orlove. "The best way to pay tribute is to honor the legacy that Von has maintained through all the years."

A large part of that distinguished resume has been built at the New Apartment Lounge, on East 75th Street, where Freeman has invited generations of musicians to sit in with him during his fabled Tuesday-night jam sessions (which recently have been on hiatus, during the club's renovation). Musicians of various ages, instruments and skill levels have dared to go toe-to-toe with Freeman, some lasting barely a single chorus, others going far longer – with Freeman's approving nod.

All have witnessed Freeman's profound technical mastery and daring spirit, his work setting an exalted standard for jazz artists lucky enough to have shared the stage with him.

"Actually, it's hard to name a musician in Chicago who hasn't been influenced by Von," says Deutsch. "So, in some ways, it was really kind of difficult to limit" whom to invite to play in Thursday's concert.

To figure that out, Orlove and Deutsch consulted Freeman's longtime collaborators at the New Apartment (and elsewhere): guitarist Mike Allemana and drummer Mike Raynor. Together, the foursome conceived a program that will present three generations of Freeman associates: Trumpeter Art Hoyle, pianist Jodie Christian and trombonist Julian Priester will represent musicians roughly of Freeman's vintage; New York saxophonists Steve Coleman and Eric Alexander will signify a next generation, or "second wave," as Orlove puts it; and pianist Ben Paterson, trumpeter Marquis Hill and trombonist Zakiya Powell will attest to Freeman's imprint on young jazz professionals.

These musicians, under the direction of Coleman – and with significant input from Allemana and Raynor – will perform new transcriptions of Freeman originals, which could take this concert beyond homage and into a significant exploration of little-known work.

"A lot of people don't think of Von as a composer … but there are a lot of songs he has composed," says Deutsch, and that music will receive a belated hearing on Thursday night.

The show thus stands to deepen and broaden our understanding of Freeman's contributions.

The lingering question, of course, is whether Freeman himself will play. No one knows for sure, but it's easy to imagine that the concert will unfold much like a "Made in Chicago" tribute to tenor saxophonist Fred Anderson in 2009, the octogenarian honoree taking his bows but leaving the music-making to others.

"This is about celebrating Von, not putting him on the spot," says Orlove. "We're hoping that he's going to be there.

"And like with Fred, he gets to sit back and look at the fruits of his labor, and what he has inspired."

Which is more than even a concert as far-reaching as this could contain.

To read more from Howard Reich on jazz, go to chicagotribune.com/reich

Twitter @howardreich



Made in Chicago lineup



Following are details on the Von Freeman concert, plus the rest of the "Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz" series, with all concerts starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, near Randolph Drive and Michigan Avenue; free; phone 312-742-1168 or visit millenniumpark.org.

"Truth be Told: Celebrating the Legacy of Von Freeman," Thursday. Steve Coleman, Eric Alexander, Art Hoyle, Julian Priester, Jodie Christian, Ben Paterson, Marquis Hill and Zakiya Powell perform new transcriptions of Von Freeman originals.

"Otis Clay: The Gospel of Jazz and Soul," Aug. 4. The sacred and the secular will converge in a concert marking the 100th anniversary of Mahalia Jackson's birth and the 85th of Sam Cooke's. Veteran soul-gospel singer Clay will share the stage with vocalists Sue Conway and Willie Rogers, plus instrumentalists.

"African Journeys featuring Ryan Cohan and Geof Bradfield," Aug. 11. Both pianist Cohan and saxophonist Bradfield have released noteworthy CDs inspired by their 2008 tour through Africa. For the first time, that music – Cohan's "The River" and Bradfield's "African Flowers" – will be performed in a single program.

"Latin Inspiration: Howard Levy with Chevere, Trio Globo and Special Guests," Aug. 18. In a more just world, Chicago harmonica virtuoso Levy (who's also a formidable jazz pianist) would be far better known across the city and around the world. This concert will help raise his profile, tracing the remarkable versatility of his work in jazz, Latin, world music and other genres.

"Kindred Spirits of the Horn: Corey Wilkes Celebrates Miles Davis and Roy Eldridge," Aug. 25. Chicago trumpeter Wilkes is a fine choice to evoke the innovations of Davis and Eldridge, who both were deeply tied to Chicago. Wilkes will lead his Improvised Soul Projekt in new music created with DJ Osunlade and musicians Robert Irving III, De'Sean Jones, Fareed Haque, Junius Paul, Kahil El'Zabar and Makaya McCraven.

"Spiritual Source: Randy Weston and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble featuring the arrangements of Melba Liston," Sept. 1. This event will double as the close of the "Made in Chicago" season and the opening of the Chicago Jazz Festival, with pianist Weston reviving rarely played orchestral repertoire by Liston.