Freddie Kohlman

Freddie Kohlman (August 25, 1918, New Orleans - September 29, 1990, New Orleans) was an American jazz drummer, vocalist, and bandleader.

Kohlman studied under Louis Cottrell, Sr. and Manuel Manetta, and played early in life with A.J. Piron, Joe Robichaux, Papa Celestin, and Sam Morgan. He moved to Chicago in the middle of the 1930s, where he played with Albert Ammons, Stuff Smith, Earl Hines, and Lee Collins. After returning to New Orleans in 1941, he led his own band from 1944. In the middle of the 1950s he played briefly with Louis Armstrong and recorded as a leader with the Jambalaya Four (1953), then became the house drummer at Jazz Limited in Chicago before returning to New Orleans once again in the 1960s. There he played with Louis Cottrell, Jr., the Dukes of Dixieland, and the Onward Brass Band (1968). In 1969 he appeared at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. He played in European festivals with his own groups in the 1970s and 1980s. He recorded with Chris Barber and Dr. John in 1980, and also appears on record with Albert Nicholas, Art Hodes, Bob Wilber, Harry Connick, Jr., the Excelsior Brass Band, and the Heritage Hall Jazz Band.

References

*Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler, "The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz". Oxford, 1999, p. 390.