Search - Joey Defrancesco :: Snapshot

Snapshot
Joey Defrancesco
Snapshot
Genres: Jazz, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (8) - Disc #1

Joey DeFrancesco has come a long way from his recording debut made in 1989 as a fresh-faced 17-year-old. From the get-go, he established his credentials with virtuoso technique and an innate soulfulness that he developed u...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Joey Defrancesco
Title: Snapshot
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Highnote
Original Release Date: 1/1/2009
Re-Release Date: 10/20/2009
Genres: Jazz, Pop
Style:
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 632375719920

Synopsis

Product Description
Joey DeFrancesco has come a long way from his recording debut made in 1989 as a fresh-faced 17-year-old. From the get-go, he established his credentials with virtuoso technique and an innate soulfulness that he developed under the tutelage of his father, Papa John DeFrancesco. Combining monstrous chops with a flair for showmanship, DeFrancesco is regarded by organ aficionados as the baddest B-3 burner in the business. Joey's latest manages to look both ahead and back back to the trio's roots which extend back 15 years and ahead to musical triumphs to come.
 

CD Reviews

Joey DeFrancesco doe sit again
Matthew Miller | New York, New York | 11/15/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'll admit that I'm prejudiced against jazz organ players; dynamics aren't terribly easy to change on electric organs (certainly not like on acoustic instruments) so organ jazz tends to sound sort of dry to me. Probably the one consistent exception in my mind is Joey DeFrancesco who, besides being a master of the instrument, also knows how to put a band together and work of his fellow musicians. Such is the case here, with a band whose apparently been playing together for 15 years. It has a fun range of sound, from a sort of funk inspired version of "Eighty One", to the slow blues of "You don't know me" to a smoldering "Whichole". Each song individually has a nice dynamic arc (even songs that start off sounding like ballads start to burn somewhere in the middle) and the band really knows how to play off each other. All in All, a lot of fun that I would recommend to anyone who likes a good Hammond B3 player and even to those who don't."
A "Must Have" for your jazz organ collection
D. Albright | Southern CA | 01/03/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Every once in a while a great live Jazz CD comes around that stands out and just grabs your attention. This is one of them. I have compiled quite a collection of jazz organ CD's over the last few years, and "Snapshot" is definitely a keeper. Mr. Defrancesco is arguably credited by many as reviving the Hammond B3 and jazz organ music in the mid-90's with albums like "Live at the Five Spot" and "Incredible".



Part of the reason this album is so good maybe because he has regrouped with his original trio, Byron "Wookie" Landham (drums) and Paul Bollenback (guitar). Aside from Joey, maybe that's what makes this album so special?



It's absolutely amazing how these three play so intuitively and instinctively together (in the pocket). I can't find any one of the tracks a throw-away for this album. Joey and company seem to move seamlessly from mainstream jazz, to funk, to blues, and back to mainstream with no effort at all. No one overplays their solos and all seem to be able to step out of the way and let each other have a turn to shine throughout the album. They create a rare synergistic effect often only captured in a live setting like this, but with great sound quality.



Recorded live in Scottsdale Arizona at the Kerr Cultural Center on 03-05-09, notable tracks are "You Don't Know Me" and "Fly Me to The Moon". I've heard dozens of different, tired, re-tread takes on "Fly Me" but this one is really special. Mr. Defrancesco's souful approach to "You Don't Know Me" is definitely in the spirit of the late Ray Charles.



Bravo, Joey D., you've definitely hit a home run this time.

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