Freeman, (Lawrence) Bud (1906–1991)

US jazz saxophonist. He took part in developing the Chicago style in the 1920s. His playing was soft and elegant, and he worked and recorded with a number of bands, as well as cofounding the World's Greatest Jazz Band in the 1970s.

Freeman was a member of the Austin High School Gang with Jimmy McPartland (1907–1991). The saxophone at that time was not regarded as a solo instrument, but the pioneering work of Coleman Hawkins inspired Freeman to use the tenor sax as a soloist, and his playing in turn was an influence on Lester Young. ‘The Eel’ (1933) was a hit record that featured Freeman. As a member of Benny Goodman's orchestra 1936–39 he was given insufficient freedom to improvise; he left to form his own Summa cum Laude 1939–40, and then to work with a variety of line-ups. In the 1960s he recorded again with McPartland. He was based in London 1974–84.