Mike Freeman (jazz musician)

Mike Freeman
Mike Freeman performing with ZonaVibe in NYC, 2013
Background information
Born	1959 (age 57–58) in Omaha, Nebraska
Genres	Jazz, Latin, Latinjazz, Salsa
Occupation(s)	Vibraphonist, Composer, Bandleader
Instruments	Vibraphone, Marimba
Associated acts	Spellbound, ZonaVibe, Lucho Cueto Black Sugar, Ray Mantilla, Son Boricua
Website	http://www.jazzvibe.com

Mike Freeman is an American jazz vibraphonist and composer from Omaha, Nebraska, who is known for his work and recordings with his own groups as well as a featured member of notable Latin groups in New York City where he's lived and worked since 1981.

Freeman has performed in North America, Europe, the Azores, Caribbean, and South America. In 1985 he did an extensive tour of Portugal, sponsored by the American Embassy and the Fulbright Foundation. The tour was arranged by Rui Martins, director of the Hot Club of Portugal, and USIA Cultural Affairs Officer Wally Keiderling. He performed in areas of the country rarely visited by American musicians and not previously visited by a vibraphone player. In Guarda, Portugal, he received the medal of the city.

His six recordings of original music gained national and international attention, and extensive radio airplay, charting on jazz, contemporary jazz, and world music radio as well as airing on syndicated radio programs (WOR radio network, Jazz after Hours, David Sanborn, Music Choice, United Airlines). Recordings of his have been both Grammy and Latin Grammy entries.

Mike is widely known for performing and recording with several acclaimed Latin groups including percussionist Ray Mantilla from 2002 to the present. ”Good Vibrations" on Savant Records was Jazzweek’s top Latinjazz recording on radio in 2006. He performed and recorded with Lucho Cueto’s all-star group Black Sugar and for over ten years with Jose Mangual Jr’s Son Boricua featuring Jimmy Sabater (one of the architects of Boogaloo). He also performed with the Spanish Harlem Orchestra (directed by Oscar Hernandez) at Madison Square Garden and with Willie Villegas's Joe Cuba Sextet both with legendary sonero Cheo Feliciano.