Search - Steve Wilkerson/Joey DeFrancesco :: Steve Wilkerson Meets Joey DeFrancesco - It's a Blues Sorta Thing

Swinging funky blues and sensitive gorgeous ballads!

04/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Steve Wilkerson & Joey DeFrancesco are a match made in heaven - from the same school of unending groove and technically brilliant bop, these two take swing to a new level. Assisted by the lyrical intensity of Ron Eschete on guitar and James Gadson's magic on drums as well as his one stunning vocal(Everyday I Have the Blues) makes this one of the top jazz releases of the year. The opener, an original by Steve is fast and very avante garde - built around Coltrane's Impressions. Then the band slows down to the funky Red Top brilliantly orchestrated by Sandy Megas's tenor/bari arrangements. Their renditions of Georgia and Misty make the songs sound brand new again and look out for the title track - It's a Blues Sorta Thing - a groovin jazz waltz that you can't sit still to. The whole album is just plain fun! I have heard this band live twice now and can't wait for them to come back to town!"

It's a WHAT sorta thing?

2ncre8r | Santa Clara, California United States | 08/26/2001

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, there is some good music here, but let's clear up a little mystery. To the person whom is exclusively a Jazz lover/listener, maybe it's a blues sorta thing. I'm a Blues enthusiast and to me, it sure sounds a lot more like a Jazz Sorta thing! I'm talking the full-on three cups of coffee on an empty stomach kinda Jazz thing. Only two Blues tracks here, one of them being the only vocal on the disk - retaining this disk for the sidesplittingly hilariously bad vocals - definately worth the price of admission! But don't get me wrong - Joey D. is on one of my all-time favorites - "Relentless" with Danny Gatton. Now THAT'S the one ya wanna get, holy jeez maneez! Low rating on Jazz Sorta Thing was due to the misleading title/content and less than average vocals."

Its a Mind Blowin Thing

D. Bassett | Swindon, Wiltshire England | 02/14/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Think Jimmy Smith-Stanley Turrentine, Groove Holmes-Houston Persson, and Jimmy McGriff-Jerome Richardson (A Bag full of Blues). This whole album just stomps. Joey plays organ like
I always wanted too; flowing bass riffs, inventive right hand solos with just a hint of the Master ( there's a cheeky nod to JS's solo from All Day Long). If you love the Hammond don't even
think of not buying this."