Mike Freeman ZonaVibe

From Omaha, to Chicago, To Hell's Kitchen NYC, Mike Freeman is the vibesman behind several notable groups and leader of ZonVibe. With spirited soulful swing rooted in Afro-Cuban clave, Freeman creates mambo and salsa infused jazz. His performances have taken him from North America and Europe to the Azores, Caribbean, and South America. His recordings of original music received numerous outstanding reviews, radio airplay charting on jazz, contemporary jazz, and World Music radio, and aired on nationally syndicated radio shows (Latin Perspective, Tony Vasquez; Jazz after Hours, Jim Wilke; The Jazz Show David Sanborn; WOR radio network, Joey Reynolds; Music Choice; and United Airlines). Freeman is a Lower Manhattan Cultural Council grant recipient for Ninth Avenue Nights, Hell's Kitchen Vibe-Centric, Boricua Blues, Hell's Kitchen Soul Sauce, and Latin Music In Hell’s Kitchen. He's also known for his work and recordings with legendary percussionist Ray Mantilla and was part of Lucho Cueto’s all-star group Black Sugar, “Estamos Azucar". He’s a mainstay of Jose Mangual Jr.’s Son Boricua that featured the late Jimmy Sabater (an architect of Boogaloo), and Julio Salgado. He performed with Spanish Harlem Orchestra (directed by Oscar Hernandez) at Madison Square Garden and with Willie Villegas's Joe Cuba Sextet for New Jersey's salsa congress both with legendary sonero Cheo Feliciano.