About

Mike Freeman

From Omaha, to Chicago, to Hell's Kitchen New York City, Mike Freeman is the vibesman behind several notable groups and leader of ZonaVibe.

With spirited soulful swing rooted in Afro-Cuban clave, Freeman creates a distinct brand of mambo and salsa infused jazz. Dan McClaneghan of Allaboutjazz described him as "masterful" and ranked him among other top names of the instrument.

Freeman is a Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Creative Engagement Grant Recipient for Hell's Kitchen Vibe-Centric 2025; Boricua Blues 2022; Hell's Kitchen Soul Sauce 2021; Latin Music in Hell's Kitchen 2019. His series of concerts highlighted the bygone era of Latin music record distributors in his Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, the tradition of vibraphone in Latin music, tributes to the music of high profile groups Freeman has been a part of for three decades, and his own original music born from that tradition.