Thompson Celebrates 25 Years of Freebop

By I Aug. 13, 2004

Malachi Thompson and his Freebop Band will celebrate their 25th anniversary at Chicago’s Green Mill jazz club on Aug. 27 and 28.

In 1978, the trumpeter migrated to New York from Chicago and formed the first version of the Freebop Band.

Thompson defines “freebop” as the experimentation and harmonic freedom of avant-garde jazz combined with various forms of traditional bebop, conjoined with elements of swing and Afro-Cuban rhythms.

Over the years Thompson and the Freebop band have toured and performed throughout the U.S., Europe, the Caribbean and Africa. The group recently received a grant from Chamber Music America to fund new compositions for their 25th year.

For more information about the anniversary performances, contact the Green Mill at (773) 878-5552.