Birth Sign (album)
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Birth Sign
| type = studio
| artist = George Freeman
| cover = Birth Sign (album).jpg
| released = 1970
| recorded = March 11 & 12, 1969
| studio = Ter-Mar Recording Studio, Chicago
| genre = Jazz
| length = 40:11
| label = Delmark
DS-424
| producer = Robert G. Koester
| chronology = George Freeman
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Introducing George Freeman Live
| next_year = 1971
}}
Birth Sign is the debut album by the American jazz guitarist George Freeman recorded in 1969 and released by the Delmark label.[http://www.jazzlists.com/SJ_Label_Delmark400.htm Jazzlists: Delmark Records discography: 400/500 series] accessed October 14, 2019[https://delmark.com/product/425/ Delmark Records: album details] accessed October 14, 2019[http://www.jazzlists.com/SJ_George_Freeman.htm Jazzlists: George Freeman discography] accessed October 14, 2019
Reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = Allmusic
| rev1Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}
|rev2 = The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings
|rev2score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Richard |authorlink1=Richard Cook (journalist) |last2=Morton |first2=Brian |authorlink2=Brian Morton (Scottish writer) |title=The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings |year=2008 |edition=9th |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-141-03401-0 |page=506}}
}}
Allmusic reviewer Michael G. Nastos stated "Chicago electric guitarist George Freeman was a quintessential sideman ... This is his debut recording, done in the height of the soul-jazz era circa 1969 ... At times Freeman's sound traces to no single individual source, though it is steeped in Chi-Town blues and a progressive stance ... Too bad the world never really heard enough of George Freeman, and although this is a small taste, it is a more than adequate amuse-bouche".{{AllMusic|first= Michael G.|last=Nastos |class=album |id=mw0000569414 |title= George Freeman: Birth Sign – Review |accessdate= October 14, 2019}}
Track listing
All compositions by George Freeman except where noted
- "Mama, Papa, Brother" – 5:39
- "Cough It Up" – 4:03
- "My Scenery" – 5:54
- "Must Be, Must Be" (Robin Kenyatta) – 5:30
- "Birth Sign" – 5:23
- "Hoss" – 6:57
- "My Ship" (Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin) – 6:45
Personnel
- George Freeman – guitar
- Lester Lashley – trombone (track 4)
- Von Freeman (tracks 2, 3, 6 & 7), Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre (track 4) - tenor saxophone
- Sonny Burke (tracks 1-3 & 4–6), Robert Pierce (track 4) – organ
- Billy Mitchell – drums
- Michael Cuscuna – arranger (track 4)
References
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Category:Delmark Records albums