One thing veteran musicians learn through the years is not what to play, but what “not” to play. Guitarist George Freeman, at 96, has mastered space and time like few before him putting together an album for the ages with two different bands.
The first one, with the late Joey DeFrancesco/B3 and Lewis Nash/dr has easy and relaxed smokers like “If I Had You” that has Joey D blowing Cohibos and Freeman picking like he’s paying per note. The tree swing the blues on “Mr. D” and Nash drives a bopping hopper for “Up and Down”.
The next combo has Freeman with Christian McBride/b and Carl Allen/dr, and McBride sounds inspired by the setting, giving a booming intro to the easy sway of “ Siser Tankersley” and leading a boogie for some soulful tones by Freeman on “1,2,3,4”. The trio digs deep on the blue “Lowe Groovin” and Freeman shows his soft hands on a lovely lyrical read of “The Good Life”. This is the kind of jazz that makes you a fan.