"One for the Road:" Von Freeman

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 28, 2011 10:30PM

Just shy of 90, Earle Lavon Freeman, Sr. is a Chicago legend. We've killed many a night listening to "Vonski" play into the wee small hours at Green Mill or the New Apartment Lounge. With Fred Anderson gone, Von is the last old lion of Chicago jazz left. We should probably treasure him while he's still on this mortal coil.

The video below, filmed by Jazz Institute of Chicago executive director Lauren Deutsch, is from only three days ago at the University of Chicago's Mandel Hall. Here's Von Freeman's take on a classic jazz standard.