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Jazz Drummer

Friday, November 28 2008 | Send to a friend

Jazz Drummer

Ron Free

Ron Free may be the most famous drummer you've never heard of. Back in the late 50's, he was a major player when there was nothing hotter (or cooler) than the New York jazz scene.

But like so many other musicians, Ron nearly destroyed himself with drugs, dropped out and disappeared. Now he's back, performing magic with his sticks again.

Sam Stephenson - courtesy WCOM

The rediscovery of jazz greats like Ron Free is largely due to the efforts of Sam Stephenson. Ten years ago, Sam discovered thousands of hours of historic recordings with jazz greats. Now he, along with WNYC Radio in New York and the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, are working on a series called "The Jazz Loft Radio Project." It's scheduled to air in 2009.

• Read more about the Jazz Loft Project
• See a photo of (l to r) Ron Free, Mose Allison, Lester Young, Mary Lou Williams, Charlie Rouse, and Oscar Pettiford on March 12, 1958 in Harlem, NY; photo by Dizzy Gillespie and courtesy Dale Coleman

Music heard in this story:
1959 archival songs:

• Groovin High by the Mose Allison Trio for the album Autumn Song
• Cork 'n Bib from the album Lee Konitz Meets Jimmy Giuffre
  

Ron Free's Current Album:

• The Elmer Gibson Trio Recorded Live, 2003
  

Other songs:

• The Drum Battle by Buddy Rich & Gene Krupa for the album The Drum Battle
• Sing! Sing! Sing! by Gene Krupa for the album The Drummin' Man
• Four Brothers by Woody Herman for the album Blowin' Up a Storm - The Columbia Years (1945-1947)
• One for My Baby (And One More for the Road) [From the Movie "The Sky's the Limit"] by Lena Horne for the album Bluebird's Best: The Young Star
• Moon and Cypress by Mose Allison for the album Down Home Piano
• My Favorite Things by Woody Herman for the album This is Jazz #24