Daniel Freedman is an American drummer, percussionist, and composer known for his work in jazz, world, and popular music. He has performed and recorded with artists including David Byrne, Angélique Kidjo, Anat Cohen, Avishai Cohen, Mulatu Astatke, and Lionel Loueke.
Daniel Freedman | |
|---|---|
| Occupations | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Drums, percussion, flute |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Website | www.danielfreedman.net |
Early life and education
editFreedman attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City. He attended Manhattan School of Music and Mannes college of music and continued studies with Vernell Fournier as well as Ralph Peterson Jr. and Abraham Rodriguez Jr. During the late 1990s Freedman traveled to Mali, Cuba and Egypt to study percussion.[1][2]
Career
edit1990s
editWhile still in high school, Freedman performed with bassist Ben Wolfe's bands and recorded with Wolfe, Ned Goold, and Benny Green. In New York, he became active in the Smalls Jazz Club scene, performing weekly with Jason Lindner's Ensemble, Omer Avital Sextet and Charles Owens Quartet. He also performed with bassist Avishai Cohen, guitarists Charlie Byrd and Russell Malone and trumpeters Tom Harrell and Wynton Marsalis.[3]
2000s
editFreedman toured with Claudia Acuna in the US, Europe, and Japan and was a member of salsa pianist Ray Santiago's band. He also performed with Gretchen Parlato,[4] saxophonist Michael Blake and bassist Ben Allison.[5][6]
He released his first album Trio in 2001.[7]
Freedman co-led Third World Love with Avishai Cohen (trumpet), Omer Avital (bass) and Yonatan Avishai (piano).[8]
From 2005–2018 he toured and recorded with the Anat Cohen Quartet, including performances at the Village Vanguard and European tours.[9][10]
2010s
editFrom 2010–2015, Freedman toured worldwide with Angélique Kidjo, performing at Carnegie Hall with Youssou N'Dour.[11][12]
He released Bamako by Bus in 2012 with Meshell Ndegeocello, Lionel Loueke, Pedrito Martinez, Jason Lindner and Avishai Cohen.[13]
Freedman performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center with Edmar Castañeda, Edward Simon, Maraca and Luques Curtis.[14]
He released Imagine That in 2016 with Jason Lindner, Lionel Loueke, Omer Avital, Gilmar Gomes and Angélique Kidjo, which received five stars from DownBeat.[15][16] A reviewer wrote that Freedman, "has quietly, almost surreptitiously, become a primal force, creating a kind of people's music built on rustling folk rhythms, ethnic melodies and joyous performances".[17]
Freedman toured with Mulatu Astatke in 2016.[18][19]
In 2018, he joined David Byrne's American Utopia world tour and performed in the Broadway production (2019–2022).[20][21] A documentary of American Utopia directed by Spike Lee was released on HBO in 2020.[22]
2020s
editFreedman performed on Broadway in Hadestown (2023–2024) and Illinoise (2024). He tours and records with Michael Leonhart's Flamenco Sketches of Spain featuring Israel Galván.[23]
He co-leads Saha Gnawa with Maalem Hassan Ben Jaafar, producing the 2025 debut album with guests Nels Cline and Gilad Hekselman.[24][25]
Discography
editThis section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (December 2025) |
As Leader
edit| Year | Artist | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Daniel Freedman | Trio | Fresh Sound |
| 2012 | Daniel Freedman | Bamako by Bus | Anzic Records |
| 2016 | Daniel Freedman | Imagine That | Anzic Records |
| 2021 | Daniel Freedman | Ghost Modern | GSI Records |
As Co-Leader
edit| Year | Artist | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Third World Love (Avishai Cohen, Omer Avital, Yonatan Avishai, Daniel Freedman) | Third World Love Songs | Fresh Sound |
| 2004 | Third World Love | Avanim | NMC Music |
| 2006 | Third World Love | Sketch of Tel Aviv | — |
| 2008 | Third World Love | New Blues | Anzic |
| 2010 | Third World Love | Songs and Portraits | Anzic |
| 2025 | Saha Gnawa | Saha Gnawa | Pique-Nique |
As Sideman
edit| Year | Artist | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Ben Wolfe | 13 Sketches | Mons Records |
| 1998 | Various Artists | Jazz Underground: Live at Smalls | Impulse! Records |
| 1998 | Omer Avital | Devil Head | Impulse! |
| 2000 | Jason Lindner | The Ensemble | Stretch Records |
| 2000 | Avishai Cohen (bass) | Colors | Stretch Records |
| 2001 | Omer Avital | Think With Your Heart | NMC Music |
| 2006 | Daniel Zamir | Amen | The Eighth Note |
| 2007 | Avishai Cohen | After the Big Rain | Anzic |
| 2007 | Anat Cohen | Poetica | Anzic |
| 2008 | Anat Cohen | Notes From the Village | Anzic |
| 2008 | Avishai Cohen | Flood | Anzic |
| 2008 | Daniel Sadownick | There Will Be a Day | — |
| 2009 | Forro in the Dark | Light a Candle | Nat Geo Music |
| 2009 | Sting | If on a Winter’s Night… | Deutsche Grammophon |
| 2012 | Angélique Kidjo | Spirit Rising | Razor & Tie |
| 2012 | Omer Avital | Suite of the East | Anzic |
| 2012 | Anat Cohen | Claroscuro | Anzic |
| 2014 | Omer Avital | New Song | Motéma Music |
| 2014 | Sabina Sciubba | Toujours | Naim Records |
| 2015 | Anat Cohen | Luminosa | Anzic |
| 2018 | Michael Leonhart | The Painted Lady Suite | Sunnyside Records |
| 2019 | David Byrne | American Utopia on Broadway (Original Cast Recording) | Nonesuch Records |
| 2019 | Michael Leonhart | Suite Extracts Vol. 1 | Sunnyside |
| 2020 | John Ellis | The Ice Siren | |
| 2021 | Michael Leonhart | The Normyn Suites | Sunnyside |
| 2024 | Various Artists | Illinoise: A New Musical (Original Cast Recording) | Nonesuch |
| 2025 | Hannah Cohen | Earthstar Mountain | Bella Union |
References
edit- ↑ Ratliff, Ben (15 October 1999). "CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK; Propelled by Different Drummers". New York Times.
- ↑ Jackson, Josh (3 July 2012). "Daniel Freedman: Lessons From Motoring In Mali". NPR.
- ↑ Watrous, Peter (15 April 1996). "JAZZ REVIEW;3 Guitarists, 2 Generations". New York Times.
- ↑ Ratliff, Ben (7 December 2004). "Singer Finds the Essence Underneath the Words". New York Times.
- ↑ Ratliff, Ben (20 December 2022). "POP AND JAZZ GUIDE". New York Times.
- ↑ Chinen, NTE (16 July 2009). "Jazz Listings". New York Times.
- ↑ Micallef, Ken (December 2002). "Daniel Freedman TRIO". Modern Drummer Magazine.
- ↑ Ratliff, Ben (14 January 2006). "Rewriting Their Own Rules in Every Song". New York Times.
- ↑ Bilawsky, Dan (16 October 2012). "Anat Cohen: Claroscuro". allaboutjazz.com. All About Jazz. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ↑ West, Michael J. (7 August 2015). "Anat Cohen: Luminosa". JazzTimes. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ↑ Price, Holly Cara. "Angelique Kidjo and "The Sound of the Drum"". huffpost.com. Huffington Post. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
- ↑ Chinen, Nate (28 March 2010). "Funk, Jazz and Bollywood With Rhythms of Africa". New York Times.
- ↑ Jackson, Josh (3 July 2012). "Daniel Freedman: Lessons From Motoring In Mali". NPR.
- ↑ Ratliff, Ben (21 December 2012). "A Cubanized Blending of Musical Languages". New York Times.
- ↑ Tamarkin, Jeff (1 July 2016). "Daniel Freedman: Imagine That". JazzTimes. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ↑ Rentner, Simon. "Imagine That: Daniel Freedman". wbgo.org. WBGO.
- ↑ Micallef, Ken (January 2017). "Best Albums of 2016" (PDF). Downbeat. 84 (1): 51.
- ↑ Chinen, Nate (8 September 2016). "Jazz Listings". New York Times.
- ↑ Brady, Shaun (13 September 2016). "Live: Mulatu Astatke at the Met". JazzTimes. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ↑ Ryzik, Melena (21 September 2021). "Bicycle Diaries: Cruising With the 'American Utopia' Family". New York Times. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ↑ Pearis, Bill (4 March 2018). "David Byrne debuted "untethered" 'American Utopia' tour in NJ (video, pics, setlist)". brooklynvegan.com. Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ↑ Hans, Simran (19 December 2020). "American Utopia review – David Byrne and Spike Lee burn down the house". The Guardian.
- ↑ Frégaville-Gratian d'Amore, Olivier (30 June 2025). "New Sketches of Spain : The successful marriage of jazz and flamenco". Coups D'Oeil.
- ↑ Amorosi, A.D. (28 October 2025). "Sweeps Week: Top October Jazz Releases, Amorosi Edition". jazztimes.com. JazzTimes. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ↑ Eyre, Banning. "Saha Gnawa: Daniel Freedman on the band's debut album". afropop.org. Afropop Worldwide. Retrieved 7 October 2025.