Von Freeman, tenor sax titan on the South Side, left a lasting legacy during his long tenure at the New Apartment Lounge on 75th Street, where his quartet would play every Tuesday night. Vonski, as he was known to friends, was deeply rooted in the Chicago jazz scene, and was possibly "the only musician to ever ghost Miles Davis, never responding to an invitation to replace John Coltrane in his quintet "(Chicago Tribune).
Michael Allemana, a Teaching Fellow in the Department of Music, played in Freeman's quartet from 1997 until Freeman's death in 2012. Allemana's new album, Vonology, is an artistic tribute to Freeman and his legacy. The five-movement composition was performed at the album release in May, which was live-streamed and is available to watch on YouTube. The album is available to purchase on vinyl, CD, and digital download on Bandcamp.
Learn more about Vonski, Allemana, and Vonology by reading the Chicago Tribune article by Hannah Edgar.