Kendrick Freeman

Office

About

Since moving to the Bay Area in 1974, my continuing study of the drums has resulted in a versatility that crosses borders. As a drumset player I met Bay Area greats George Marsh and Eddie Moore while working on a Bachelor of Arts degree at Lone Mountain College. The work ethic and example of these mentors has led me to a life of passionate exploration of music. I have been a National Endowment For The Arts grant recipient in Jazz studies. I received a grant from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts as part of my apprenticeship with Haitian master drummer Daniel Brevil.

I encountered African drumming in 1976, studying with Kwaku Dadey. In the 1980's I studied with Bay Area Congolese artists Malonga Casquelourd, Titos Sompa and Mbemba Pangou. In 1987 I began an association with Blanche Brown's Group Petit La Croix, the premier Bay Area Haitian dance company, eventually serving as musical director. This work lead to connections with the Haitian community in New York City that I maintain today. My Haitian teachers include John Scovel, Bonga Jean-Baptiste, Jean Raymond Giglio and Daniel Brevil.

I toured for five years with New Acoustic banjoist Alison Brown, and have recorded with Nashville dobro ace Rob Ickes. Since 1996 I have been a member of mandolin/fiddle/percussion player Joe Craven's trio with John R. Burr.

Current work includes a group with Cuban percussionist Carlos Medrano, a recording project with Pakistani singer Sukhawat Ali Khan, and Rara Tou Limen, the Oakland-based Haitian dance company.