Daniel Freedman

Daniel Freedman is an American drummer, percussionist, and composer known for his work in jazz, world, and popular music. He has performed and recorded with artists including David Byrne, Angélique Kidjo, Anat Cohen, Avishai Cohen, Mulatu Astatke, and Lionel Loueke.

Early life and education Freedman attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City. He attended Manhattan School of Music and Mannes college of music and continued studies with Vernell Fournier as well as Ralph Peterson Jr. and Abraham Rodriguez Jr. During the late 1990s Freedman traveled to Mali, Cuba and Egypt to study percussion.

Career

1990s While still in high school, Freedman performed with bassist Ben Wolfe's bands and recorded with Wolfe, Ned Goold, and Benny Green. In New York, he became active in the Smalls Jazz Club scene, performing weekly with Jason Lindner's Ensemble, Omer Avital Sextet and Charles Owens Quartet. He also performed with bassist Avishai Cohen, guitarists Charlie Byrd and Russell Malone and trumpeters Tom Harrell and Wynton Marsalis.

2000s Freedman toured with Claudia Acuna in the US, Europe, and Japan and was a member of salsa pianist Ray Santiago's band. He also performed with Gretchen Parlato, saxophonist Michael Blake and bassist Ben Allison.

He released his first album Trio in 2001.

Freedman co-led Third World Love with Avishai Cohen (trumpet), Omer Avital (bass) and Yonatan Avishai (piano).

From 2005–2018 he toured and recorded with the Anat Cohen Quartet, including performances at the Village Vanguard and European tours.

2010s From 2010–2015, Freedman toured worldwide with Angélique Kidjo, performing at Carnegie Hall with Youssou N'Dour.

He released Bamako by Bus in 2012 with Meshell Ndegeocello, Lionel Loueke, Pedrito Martinez, Jason Lindner and Avishai Cohen.

Freedman performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center with Edmar Castañeda, Edward Simon, Maraca and Luques Curtis.

He released Imagine That in 2016 with Jason Lindner, Lionel Loueke, Omer Avital, Gilmar Gomes and Angélique Kidjo, which received five stars from DownBeat. A reviewer wrote that Freedman, "has quietly, almost surreptitiously, become a primal force, creating a kind of people's music built on rustling folk rhythms, ethnic melodies and joyous performances".

Freedman toured with Mulatu Astatke in 2016.

In 2018, he joined David Byrne's American Utopia world tour and performed in the Broadway production (2019–2022). A documentary of American Utopia directed by Spike Lee was released on HBO in 2020.

2020s Freedman performed on Broadway in Hadestown (2023–2024) and Illinoise (2024). He tours and records with Michael Leonhart's Flamenco Sketches of Spain featuring Israel Galván.

He co-leads Saha Gnawa with Maalem Hassan Ben Jaafar, producing the 2025 debut album with guests Nels Cline and Gilad Hekselman.

Discography

As Leader Year Artist Title Label 2001 Daniel Freedman Trio Fresh Sound 2012 Daniel Freedman Bamako by Bus Anzic Records 2016 Daniel Freedman Imagine That Anzic Records 2021 Daniel Freedman Ghost Modern GSI Records

As Co-Leader Year Artist Title Label 2002 Third World Love (Avishai Cohen, Omer Avital, Yonatan Avishai, Daniel Freedman) Third World Love Songs Fresh Sound 2004 Third World Love Avanim NMC Music 2006 Third World Love Sketch of Tel Aviv — 2008 Third World Love New Blues Anzic 2010 Third World Love Songs and Portraits Anzic 2025 Saha Gnawa Saha Gnawa Pique-Nique

As Sideman Year Artist Title Label 1996 Ben Wolfe 13 Sketches Mons Records 1998 Various Artists Jazz Underground: Live at Smalls Impulse! Records 1998 Omer Avital Devil Head Impulse! 2000 Jason Lindner The Ensemble Stretch Records 2000 Avishai Cohen (bass) Colors Stretch Records 2001 Omer Avital Think With Your Heart NMC Music 2006 Daniel Zamir Amen The Eighth Note 2007 Avishai Cohen After the Big Rain Anzic 2007 Anat Cohen Poetica Anzic 2008 Anat Cohen Notes From the Village Anzic 2008 Avishai Cohen Flood Anzic 2008 Daniel Sadownick There Will Be a Day — 2009 Forro in the Dark Light a Candle Nat Geo Music 2009 Sting If on a Winter’s Night… Deutsche Grammophon 2012 Angélique Kidjo Spirit Rising Razor & Tie 2012 Omer Avital Suite of the East Anzic 2012 Anat Cohen Claroscuro Anzic 2014 Omer Avital New Song Motéma Music 2014 Sabina Sciubba Toujours Naim Records 2015 Anat Cohen Luminosa Anzic 2018 Michael Leonhart The Painted Lady Suite Sunnyside Records 2019 David Byrne American Utopia on Broadway (Original Cast Recording) Nonesuch Records 2019 Michael Leonhart Suite Extracts Vol. 1 Sunnyside 2020 John Ellis The Ice Siren 2021 Michael Leonhart The Normyn Suites Sunnyside 2024 Various Artists Illinoise: A New Musical (Original Cast Recording) Nonesuch 2025 Hannah Cohen Earthstar Mountain Bella Union