Russ Freeman

Pianist Russ Freeman, known for his collaborations with Chet Baker and Shelly Manne in West Coast cool jazz, made a significant impact as a sideman in the mid-'40s playing with bebop-oriented groups. Freeman's fruitful partnerships with Baker and Manne in the 1950s showcased his sympathetic accompaniment and well-formulated compositions, including the standard "The Wind." Transitioning to other roles in the music industry, Freeman supervised recordings, worked with film composers like Johnny Mandel and Andre Previn, and served as a musical director for nightclubs and TV shows. Despite a decrease in jazz recordings after leaving Manne's group, Freeman remained active in the music scene until his retirement in the early '80s.