B3 Silverization
Rick Erben | Omaha, NE | 08/25/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Joey DeFrancesco is one of the great names among jazz organists, whose style embraces the energy and ebullience of Jimmy Smith and Don Patterson and the modal voicings of Larry Young. While occasionally heard playing keyboards, trumpet or vocalizing, for the most part DeFrancesco is a master of the Hammond organ and here is yet another release in the genre of organ based combos that is enjoying a strong resurgence in popularity.
The Hammond B3 organ has been a staple of jazz instrumentation since Jimmy Smith catapulted the instrument into popularity in the mid-50s. Soul jazz rapidly followed, incorporating rhythm and blues and gospel oriented beats or chords in combos that usually included guitar, drums and horn(s). During the 60s, Larry Young altered voicing and style toward a modal approach that can be heard to fine advantage on such classic albums as "Into Somethin'" and "Unity" (Blue Note Records). DeFrancesco is heir to the legendary masters and one of the most popular and proficient proponents of the organ setting today (along with the wonderful Dr. Lonnie Smith, Bill Heid and Mike LeDonne).
Recently issued is "Finger Poppin'", DeFrancesco's homage to the music of the great Horace Silver, whose compositions are some of the most delightfully soulful, rhythmically appealing and exuberant to emerge from a musician's pen. DeFrancesco has chosen eight Silver tunes that run the gamut from the laid back "Strollin'" through the frenetic "Swingin' The Samba", the in-the-pocket "The Jody Grind", the boppish title track, the eminently soulful "Let's Get To The Nitty Gritty", the mysterious and brooding "The African Queen", the unabated cooker "Filthy McNasty" and the 'pretty please' with "Peace".
The instrumental setting includes Tom Harrell playing flugelhorn, Tim Warfield, tenor saxophone, and Byron Landham, drums. This context allows for a very satisfying blowing session whereupon all involved sound to be having a good time. Warfield's tenor is robust and Harrell's flugelhorn a sonorous magic carpet of sound behind which Landrum provides a steady beat, propulsion and rhythmic embellishments. DeFrancesco's chording behind the soloists is a delight - unobtrusive yet with that fat organ sound providing its own harmonic snap and crackle underpinning the horn players. When he gets to soloing, one is further impressed with DeFrancesco's playing on this album. He is obviously right on his musical game, eliciting the spirit of Silver's music with joyful runs across the keyboard and thrilling chords, as if he were plugged in to a lightning bolt of inspiration, yet with the capacity to channel this energy with shadings of subtlety and harmonics.
If you're a fan of the jazz organ, "Finger Poppin" is a stellar session that reaffirms Joey DeFrancesco's mastery of the instrument and brilliantly validates the genre. It will take you there."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1