Russ Freeman

This single CD contains 12 performances by pianist Russ Freeman (with either Joe Mondragon or Monty Budwig on bass and drummer Shelly Manne) plus the one regular studio session (eight songs) that illfated pianist Richard Twardzik led (in a trio with bassist Carson Smith and drummer Peter Littman). Due to its rarity, the Twardzik date is more important historically but actually Freeman generally takes solo honors. Fine, straight-ahead music from two of the mid-'50s' more promising pianists.

Chet Baker - The Complete Pacific Jazz Live Recordings of The Chet Baker Quartet with Russ Freeman (1954) {3CD Mosaic MD3-113 rel 1986}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 745 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 413 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 25 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1954, 1986 Pacific Jazz / Mosaic Records | MD3-113
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Trumpet / Piano

The independent jazz reissue label Mosaic Records garnered a rightful reputation as industry leaders and enthusiast favorites with deluxe and strictly limited-edition packages such as this one. The contents of this four-LP/three-CD collection are derived from two performances during the summer of 1954 and feature the Chet Baker Quartet: Baker (trumpet/"boom bam" percussion), Russ Freeman (piano), Carson Smith (bass), and Bob Neel (drums). The two performances – recorded July 21 at Santa Cruz's Civic Auditorium and August 10 at The Tiffany Club in Los Angeles, respectively – are presented chronologically.

Chet Baker Quartet Featuring Russ Freeman (1998) is a perfect studio companion to the Mosaic Records set Complete Pacific Jazz Live Recordings of Chet Baker With Russ Freeman (1988). As was the custom for jazz platters of the time, both Baker and Freeman are joined by a different combo on each date. The luminaries include Bobby Whitlock (bass), Joe Mondragon (bass), Bobby White (bass), Larry Bunker (drums) and Shelly Manne (drums) from sessions held circa July and October of 1953.

The Benoit Freeman Project is a collaboration album by American pianist David Benoit and American guitarist Russ Freeman released in 1994, and recorded for the GRP label. The album reached #2 on Billboard's Jazz chart. Russ Freeman also serves as leader and frontman for the Rippingtons.

Chet Baker - Quartet with Russ Freeman (1956) {Pacific Jazz}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 228 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 99 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 76 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1956, 1997 Pacific Jazz / Capitol | CDP 7243 8 55453 2 0
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Trumpet / Piano

Quartet: Russ Freeman & Chet Baker brings together tracks that pianist Russ Freeman recorded with trumpeter Chet Baker during their time as bandmates in the 1950s. Freeman was a regularly gigging, bop-oriented player in Los Angeles when he joined forces with rising jazz star Baker in 1953. Baker, who had just parted ways with baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan after making a splash with their legendary pianoless quartet, was looking for a musical director to help chart his own course.

The Benoit Freeman Project is a collaboration album by American pianist David Benoit and American guitarist Russ Freeman released in 1994, and recorded for the GRP label. The album reached #2 on Billboard's Jazz chart. Russ Freeman also serves as leader and frontman for the Rippingtons.

The Benoit Freeman Project 2 is an collaboration album by American pianist David Benoit and American Guitarist Russ Freeman released in 2004, and recorded for the Peak label. The album reached #7 on Billboard's Jazz chart. Russ Freeman also serves as leader and frontman for the Rippingtons.

The ultimate contemporary jazz hyphenate Russ Freeman (guitarist/arranger/producer/keyboardist/composer) became one of smooth jazz's most influential artists through magnificent projects like this one, chosen by Jazziz as the best contemporary jazz album of all time. This third Ripps release is a masterpiece of mouthwatering pop-jazz tunes, featuring strong hooks, gorgeous texturing, and styles ranging from tropical (the sunny "Aruba" featuring Rob Mullins on keys and Carl Anderson scatting away) and Brazilian ("One Summer Night in Brazil," Freeman's lush centerpiece) to soulful (a cover of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together") and rockin' (the locomotive "Earthbound," which shows Freeman's strings at their frenzied peak).

The ultimate contemporary jazz hyphenate Russ Freeman (guitarist/arranger/producer/keyboardist/composer) became one of smooth jazz's most influential artists through magnificent projects like this one, chosen by Jazziz as the best contemporary jazz album of all time. This third Ripps release is a masterpiece of mouthwatering pop-jazz tunes, featuring strong hooks, gorgeous texturing, and styles ranging from tropical (the sunny "Aruba" featuring Rob Mullins on keys and Carl Anderson scatting away) and Brazilian ("One Summer Night in Brazil," Freeman's lush centerpiece) to soulful (a cover of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together") and rockin' (the locomotive "Earthbound," which shows Freeman's strings at their frenzied peak).