More Music Joey DeFrancesco

• 1 Free 03:39
• 2 Lady G 05:41
• 3 Just Beyond the Horizon 06:41
• 4 In Times of Reflection 07:29
• 5 Angel Calling 05:44
• 6 Where to Go 07:24
• 7 Roll With It 04:38
• 8 And If You Please 04:14
• 9 More Music 06:05
• 10 This Time Around 07:09
• 11 Soul Dancing 06:36
• Total Runtime 01:05:20

Info for More Music

Joey DeFrancesco has released a lot of music over the last three decades. This year, he’ll release his 39th studio album as a leader — which is simply titled More Music.

The prolific multi-instrumentalist and composer — who celebrated his 50th birthday this year — returns to Mack Avenue for his third album with the record label.

More Music is a hard-bop and soul-jazz recording on which DeFrancesco brings out his full arsenal by playing organ, piano, keyboards, trumpet and, for the first time on record, the tenor saxophone, as well as singing on at least one of the tracks. He also composed and arranged 10 original tunes for the album.

On More Music, master organist Joey DeFrancesco, who has long supplemented his keyboard virtuoso with his skilled trumpet playing, here brings out his full arsenal: organ, keyboard, piano, trumpet and, for the first time on record, tenor saxophone. More Music offers up ten new DeFrancesco originals, brought to life by a scintillating new trio with fellow Philadelphia organist and guitarist Lucas Brown and gifted drummer Michael Ode.

When jazz aficionados think of Joey DeFrancesco – and they often do – they ponder his matchless talents as a modern-day avatar of the Hammond B3 organ and the Philadelphia history he shares with his principle instrument. Organ-based blues and jazz started in Philly and DeFrancesco is the first to tell you so.

“More music is what’s needed to create positivity and wellness for everybody, regardless of what’s happening in the world,” DeFrancesco concludes. “Music just solves a lot of problems. So more live music, more original music – just more music. Without that, we’re in big trouble.” (jazzineurope.mfmmedia.nl)

Joey DeFrancesco, organ, trumpet, tenor saxophone, keyboard, piano, vocals
Michael Ode, drums
Lucas Brown, guitar, organ, keyboard

Joey DeFrancesco
emergence in the 1980s marked the onset of a musical renaissance. Organ jazz had been a form of music that literally went into hibernation from the mid-seventies to the mid-eighties largely because of the introduction of high-tech, light-weight keyboards. It was Joey, however, that ignited the flame once again with the sound of his vintage Hammond organ and Leslie tone cabinet. He not only illuminated this once dormant music form but brought back the many proponents of jazz organ who had been shuffled by record producers and club owners to lesser roles within the music industry. Befriending and supporting those who preceded him, Joey became the new-age proponent of an instrument that had been pushed aside in favor of the growing technology.

Considered a child prodigy, Joey remembers as far back as age four, playing jazz tunes modeled by his father, Papa John DeFrancesco and memorizing music from the many jazz albums in their home. Papa John, a jazz organist himself, took young Joey under his wing and nurtured his rapidly developing skills, bringing Joey along with him to gigs, Joey would sit-in with as many seasoned Philadelphia musicians who were around. Legendary players like tenor saxophonist, Hank Mobley, or drummer, Philly Joe Jones, would soon become aware of young Joey DeFrancesco and acknowledge his enthusiasm. Joey’s grandfather and namesake, Joseph DeFrancesco, was the patriarch and, himself, a musician’s musician; able to pick up a new instrument and teach himself to play. This gift was passed down to young Joey and now manifests itself in Joey’s extraordinary keyboard skills; piano playing; and organ wizardry – not to mention his undeniable mastery of the trumpet.

Joey’s desire to play the trumpet began after touring with the great Miles Davis. An interesting encounter would introduce the two; Miles was a guest on a Philadelphia television program where Joey was a band member. Instead of critiquing the featured high school trumpet players, Miles inquired about the organ player and quickly gathered Joey’s contact information. Joey would soon become one of the two youngest musicians ever to be asked by Miles to join the band (the other being Tony Williams). Years later, it would be Joey who would be complimenting his own jazz organ performances with exciting bursts of trumpet tones in the notably influenced style of former employer, Miles Davis.

Initially, Joey signed an exclusive recording contract with Columbia Records that resulted in and a series of well-received albums and CDs that lifted Joey’s reputation and stardom higher and higher. The roster of world-class musicians with whom Joey would play and record with amazed the music world. The phenomenon, known as Joey DeFrancesco, soon became a household name in the jazz world as he began to tour internationally with his own quartet and eventually trim his group to a trio that boasted the guitar work of Paul Bollenback and drumming of Byron ‘Wookie’ Landrum. This trio would become the longest running organ trio in modern times.

The list of established musicians who felt inspired to perform with Joey grew. At twenty-two, Joey was called upon by guitarist, John McLaughlin to form the group, ‘Free Spirits’ which included band member Dennis Chambers. This band toured extensively for four years as the sphere of Joey’s influence went global.

Today, Joey has been around the world dozens of times touring & recording with his own trio as well as part of all star projects, some of which include, Ray Charles, David Sanborn, Arturo Sandoval, Frank Wess, Benny Golson, George Coleman, James Moody, Steve Gadd, Elvin Jones, Jimmy Cobb, George Benson, John Scofield, Joe Lovano, Larry Coryell and Bobby Hutcherson, not to mention the myriad of foreign jazz artists that he’s collaborated with as he travels.

Joey is a three time Grammy Nominee: In 2004 for his record ‘Falling In Love Again’, in 2010 for his release titled ‘Never Can Say Goodbye’ and, again, in 2014 for “Enjoy the View”. Winner of Down Beat Magazine’s Critic’s poll 2002-2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 as well as the magazines Reader’s Poll every year since 2005. In 2014 he was inducted into the inaugural Hammond Organ Hall of Fame, and in 2016 Joey was inducted into Philadelphia’s Music Walk of Fame.

Quoted as the Master of the Jazz organ, Joey has received countless Jazz Journalist awards, and accolades worldwide.

Joey has been involved in product designs and endorsements that serve to further the advances of digital organ technology in the States and around the world.

Currently, Joey continues to tour with his own group and perform with all-star projects in major jazz clubs and festivals internationally.

He is the weekly radio host of “Organized” on SirusXM.

New recordings and creative musical projects are all vital components in Joey DeFrancesco’s future as he continues to write, perform and stand at the fore front of the digital technology that replicates the classic Hammond organ/Leslie speaker sound.

With over thirty recordings as a leader and numerous collaborations with the masters of modern jazz in his legacy, Joey DeFrancesco deservingly takes his place with Fats Waller, Wild Bill Davis and Jimmy Smith in the lineage of Jazz Organ.

This album contains no booklet.