David Freeman

David Freeman

With a wide-ranging career behind him, David has produced Woman’s Hour, presented BBC World Services’ Science in Action and even been a Former Jazz FM Programme Controller.

Now David's returned to the station on the other side of the mic with a weekend show focusing on his love for blues and boogie.

Looking for Blues and Boogie playlists? Visit the programme page.

Interview With David Freeman

1. What’s your favourite Jazz FM programme and why?

I like Mike Chadwick’s programmes because I like to be surprised - bland music bores me rigid!

2. What’s the first record you bought and where did you buy it?

I bought all manner of early rock 'n roll but the first LP that really made an impression (after Buddy Holly) was the classic Gerry Mulligan/Chet Baker album on Pacific Jazz. I bought it at the same time as Roland Kirk's groundbreaking 'Kirk's Work'. I had to order them both from a shop under the City Hall in Hull. Can't remember the name - Sidney Something??

3. What’s the most embarrassing song on your iPod/in your collection?

‘Never Ever’ by All Saints - I like it because there is a real blues and black influence - come to think of it, I'm not embarassed at all!

4. In your opinion, what's the greatest album of all time and why?

Impossible question - I REALLY like an album of the music of Edgar Varese that I discovered when I was about 13 - but I suppose the album I have listened to most in my life is ‘Kind of Blue' - but I do have a fascination with the wilder works of Albert Ayler.

5. What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?

I once promoted The Who - amazing.

6. What’s your favourite live music venue and why?

My sitting room - I have had some wonderful moments there - Antonio Forcione - Eric Bibb - Chris Smither - Leo Green etc etc. I have put on the best musicians in the world for an audience of 32 people. The intimacy is absolutely breathtaking. Book your favourites to come to you and you will never go to a huge concert hall ever again!

7. Jazz Is...

The joy of being constantly challenged by a lively musical mind. Listening to jazz ought to be challenging and exciting - if you want background music, listen to Westlife.

8. In your opinion, who’s the most inspirational radio presenter of all time and why?

I liked Mike Raven for his passion and knowledge - and Kenny Everett for his presentational genius.

9. What’s been your most embarrassing moment in radio?

I am looking forward to it.

10. What’s your favourite film and why?

I like the Marx Brothers - inspired.

11. Who would you invite to your fantasy dinner party?

Miles Davis - Robert Johnson - Tom Waits - Captain Beefheart - Richard Dawkins - the Pope...

 

Latest Blog Entries

  • Jon Amor Blues Group

    May 10th, 2012

    Coming up on the 12th May

    Jon Amor Blues Group – LIVE IN SESSION –

    www.jonamorbluesgroup.co.uk

    “UK vocalist and guitarist Jon Amor, formerly of award-winning British band The Hoax, has joined forces with long-time collaborators Dave Doherty, Chris Doherty and Simon Small to form Jon Amor Blues Group. Drawing inspiration from the Blues greats of the past like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, as well as more contemporary acts like Black Keys and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, the group’s sound is powerful, raw and uncompromising.” [read more]

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    May 5th, 2012

    Coming up on the 5th May 2012

    We pay tribute to a couple of great musicians who died recently…

    Levon Helm – the drummer and singer from The Band

    and Bert Weedon – the English guitarist who helped countless musicians to learn to play the guitar with his Play In A Day books…but was a very fine player himself. [read more]

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    April 26th, 2012

    Coming up on the 28th April

    We’re getting into some rocking blues with Little Ike, Canned Heat and Jeff Healey.

    We’re looking at the concept of luck – Hard Luck Blues, Bad Luck Blues, Just A Lucky So And So…

    A selection of chicken songs – Shoo Shoo Chicken, Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens, Mama Killed A Chicken…

    And new music from former Blues & Boogie guests 24 Pesos and Dani Wilde [read more]

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    April 21st, 2012

    Coming up on the 21st April

    We’re looking at the night – Night Time Is The Right Time, Cold Black Night, Moanin’ At Midnight, After Midnight, Last Night, Rock and Roll Tonight, One More Lonely Night…

    But we’re also taking to the water – Slow Boat, Big Boat, Riverboat, When My Dreamboat Comes Home…
    [read more]

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    April 13th, 2012

    Coming up on the 14th April

    We’re celebrating the individuality of blues & boogie performers – focusing on musicians who have their very own particular, unique sound.

    People like Bobby Radcliff, Kelly Joe Phelps, Roy Buchanan, Koko Taylor, Elmore James, Jimi Hendrix, Little Walter, Howlin Wolf and Reverend Gary Davis…and there’ll be a couple of Joe Bonamassa tracks
    [read more]

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    April 5th, 2012

    Coming up on the 7th April

    Which figure appears in more blues songs than any other? Well the devil certainly has to be up there and we have a whole range of different artists taking him on on this week’s show…

    Gil Scott Heron with Me And The Devil, Gene Vincent – Race With The Devil, Greg Allman – Devil Got My Woman, 24 Pesos – Never Saw The Devil, JJ Cale – Devil In Disguise, Gravelroad – I Shot The Devil…

    …but The Red Devils – a fine band from Los Angeles – are Goin’ To The Church. [read more]

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    March 30th, 2012

    Coming up on the 31st March

    Because it’s the blues, we’re not afraid to cry. There’s “Teardrop Blues” from Jimmie Vaughan, The Chicago String Band – “Weeping And Moaning” and Gary Moore says “The Sky Is Crying”…but Lou Ann Barton insists we “Stop These Teardrops”.

    We also hear from Magic Slim and the Teardrops – they’re “Goin’ To Mississippi”. That doesn’t sound like a bad idea, so we pick up the theme with Rory Block – “Mississippi Bottom Blues”, Bukka White – “Aberdeen Mississippi Blues”, Pinetop Perkins – “Down in Mississippi” and Bill Wyman’s “Mississippi Flyer”. [read more]

  • Chris Smither

    March 20th, 2012

    Coming up on the 24th March

    Chris Smither will be live on the show this week. He’s one of our favorite singer-songwriters…and is a man who really does write great songs – they’ve been covered by Bonnie Raitt, Diana Krall and Emmylou Harris. He’ll be bringing his guitar and his ever-stomping foot.

    [read more]

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    March 10th, 2012

    Coming up on the 10th March

    We pay tribute to Iverson Minter – the singer, guitarist and harmonica player better known as Louisiana Red – who died last month at the age of 79. [read more]

  • Jon Gomm

    March 2nd, 2012

    Coming up on the 3rd March

    The “jewellery section” features “Diamonds At Your Feet” from Chicago Living History, “Diamond Ring” from Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, “Diamond Days” from Eric Bibb…and Joanne Shaw Taylor with “Diamonds In The Dirt”.

    There’s a selection of night song – Howlin Wolf’s “Moanin At Midnight”, BB King’s “Midnight Blues”…

    And there’s music from a great new guitar hero. Jon Gomm – a singer-songwriter from Blackpool – has a truly astonishing guitar technique…
    [read more]

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    February 22nd, 2012

    Coming up on the 25th February

    Drinking songs from Jimmy Binkley, Omar, Stick McGhee, Memphis Slim and Koko Taylor – from Wine Headed Woman to Beer Bottle Boogie.

    A couple of tracks from unlikely blues artists – Arlo Guthrie & Leonard Cohen.

    Some really basic blues from T-Model Ford, Captain Beefheart and Howlin Wolf.

    And there’s a new album from our favourite banjo-playing bluesman – Otis Taylor.
    [read more]

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    February 17th, 2012

    Coming up on the 18th February

    Great new albums from Eric Bibb – “Dig A Little Deeper In The Well”, Matt Andersen – “Coal Mining Blues” and Joe Louis Walker – “Hellfire”. Joe Louis isn’t the only Walker on the show…we’ll also be hearing from T-Bone and Philip. And there’s a whole range of Joneses too – Paul Jones, Wizz Jones, Tom Jones and the Jim Jones Revue. [read more]

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    February 17th, 2012

    Coming up on the 11th February

    David’s looking at money on the Blues & Boogie Show this week. So there’ll be Jimmy Smith’s Only In It For The Money, Johnny Winter – Shake Your Money Maker, JJ Cale – Money Talks, Marcus Bonfanti – Give Me Your Cash, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee – Lose Your Money…and Peg Leg Howell with Broke And Hungry Blues.

    And he’s found an interesting collaboration between a bluesman and a jazzman – John Lee Hooker & Branford Marsalis playing together on a track you’ve probably not heard before – “Mabel”.
    [read more]

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    February 3rd, 2012

    Coming up on the 4th February

    The whole show is dedicated to the late Etta James – but it won’t just be her music, there’ll be music that was inspired by her and that she was inspired by. So there’ll be tracks from Bessie Smith and Memphis Minnie, but also Bonnie Raitt, Koko Taylor and Janis Joplin. A whole miscellany of magnificent female music!
    [read more]

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    February 3rd, 2012

    Coming up on the 28th January

    David’s chatting to Mud Morganfield – Muddy Waters’ eldest son – who’s playing at Boisdale, Canary Wharf on Saturday night (28th).

    And this has provided the inspiration for the rest of the show, which will look at all kinds of family connections in the blues: John Lee Hooker, John Lee Hooker Jr & Zakiya Hooker, Elmore James & Elmore James Jr, the Vaughan brothers., the Blues Brothers, the Holmes Brothers, Eric Bibb & Leon Bibb, Dave Kelly & Joanne Kelly…and Brother Jack McDuff. [read more]

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    January 19th, 2012

    Coming up on the 21st January

    We pay tribute to the late Hubert Sumlin, a real blues guitar hero, who played in Howlin Wolf’s band for more than 20 years.

    And we also have a tribute to drummer Keef Hartley. He played in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers then formed his own band and played at Woodstock, coming on stage just after Santana.

    And…there’s a chance to win a trip for 2 on the Mississippi Blues Trail! [read more]

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    January 13th, 2012

    Coming up on the 14th January

    We continue our round-up of live Blues & Boogie sessions, looking back at the past couple of years. The live music will include: Joe Bonamassa, Davy Knowles, Oli Brown, Eric Bibb & Grant Dermody, James Morton’s Porkchop, Sandi Thom, 24 Pesos, Dani Wilde, Ian Siegal, Matt Schofield, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Simon McBride, Ben Prestage, Kent Duchaine, Dollar Bill, Son Of Dave, Matt Andersen, Sonny Black & Paul Wassif
    [read more]

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    January 6th, 2012

    Coming up on the 7th January

    A feast of live music! The lineup includes…
    Eric Bibb, James Hunter, Aynsley Lister, Sherman Robertson, Joe Bonamassa, Matt Andersen, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Charlie Wood, Paul Jones, Robben Ford, T-Model Ford, Kelly Joe Phelps, Michael Messer, Dayna Kurtz and Narcus Bonfanti! [read more]

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    December 24th, 2011

    Coming up on the 31st December

    It’s New Year’s Eve…so it’s big party tunes all the way…Sweet Home Chicago, Johnny B Goode, Hoochie Coochie Man, Mustang Sally, Smokestack Lightnin…
    [read more]

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    December 24th, 2011

    Coming up on the 24th December

    It’s the Blues & Boogie Show Christmas Special. All manner of seasonal blues and some our favourite Christmas session tracks from Kelly Joe Phelps, Eric Bibb, Nine Below Zero, Ben Waters and Catfish Keith. [read more]

4 Responses to David Freeman

  1. alan kyle says:

    Hi, my name is Alan Kyle, I listen to your program most Sat. mornings, as you are now on letter L just a few suggestions,Big joe Louis and the blue kings,
    Erroll linton, reggie blues harmonica at its best,
    Little Toby Walker, great finger picker,
    Little Walter, there are many more I could name but let somebody else pick a few,
    I will be listening on Sat, thanks.

  2. alwyn james stroke and aphasia 1995 jan 9th-now better!!!!! says:

    hi!!!!! youtube”last orders” roll wyn james live 2010-look!!!!! “blues by numbers” and”free fange”-look!!!! cd paul henderson chris angew kevin smith and me!!!!! 2010- cd “blues by numbers”-where????? cheers alwyn (roll wyn james).

  3. marnix a.r van/schelven says:

    sept/24/09/2011 /saturday dear dave freeman hi how areyou ?please keep on playing great blues music on jazzfm please

  4. We are a non-profit community supporting live Blues in London could y’all please help spread the more Live Blues News in London Town! http://www.facebook.com/DarkerThanBlues/events

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