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Seeking respect for Hammond B-3


mgraham333

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NEW YORK, July 25 — The fact that organist Jimmy Smith and the Hammond B-3 he helped popularize get no respect from most jazz aficionados really bothers Joey DeFrancesco. “Among the greats of jazz, he’s never mentioned, it upsets me no end,” said the organ prodigy and son of keyboard virtuoso “Papa John” DeFrancesco, who is pulling out the stops to bring his father’s signature instrument to a new generation of jazz fans.

“THE ORGAN gets no respect. Maybe more now, but for years it was considered ... oh, I don’t know what ... “ he said, his voice trailing off.

DeFrancesco, who began playing the B-3 at age 4 and met the legendary Smith as a boy, believes all keyboardists owe a debt to Smith.

“Anyone who plays the organ is a direct descendant of Jimmy Smith. It’s like Adam and Eve — you always remind someone of Jimmy Smith,” he said. “He was the big pioneer, not only of the organ but musically. He was doing things that (John) Coltrane did in the ’60s, but he did them back in ’56 and ’57.”

So it was a dream come true in 1999 when DeFrancesco, now 32, actually got to play with Smith, now aged 77, at a San Francisco jazz festival, and the performance was captured on the album “Incredible.”

Now DeFrancesco is promoting his new Concord Records set ”Falling in Love Again,” on which he tackles vocal standards with singer Joe Doggs.

On the album he plays a prototype of a new B-3, the classic stand-up console the Hammond Suzuki company is starting to manufacture again after a 25-year hiatus.

“Back in ’75, at that time, synthesizers and light-weight equipment were taking over. The whole organ sound died down,” DeFrancesco told Reuters in a recent telephone interview from a Delaware club where he was performing. “The new one is identical in look and feel, but is about 50 pounds lighter!”

SON OF PAPA JOHN

DeFrancesco’s love of the instrument is understandable, since his father, Papa John, had switched from trumpet to the Hammond before Joey was born.

“He saw Jimmy Smith in 1959 and it blew his mind. He got married in ’61, and it was my mom who bought him his first organ for their first anniversary. He probably wouldn’t have done it himself,” DeFrancesco laughed.

“My dad had all the great records by Jimmy Smith and Jimmy McGriff. I loved that sound. It’s the only instrument other than the piano that can be used for any type of music — rock, jazz, blues,” said DeFrancesco, who was just 17 when he cut his first record in 1989.

On the new album he demonstrates not only his mastery of the keyboard on such classics as “Love for Sale” or “Pennies from Heaven,” but also his skill as an accompanist.

“Joe Doggs? I’ve listened to him all my life, he’s from Philly,” he said. “My dad also played with him and I had sat in with him on jam sessions. Sometimes it’s difficult (to accompany a singer). But with him, you play behind him. His voice is just like a sax or a horn.

“He will sing the melody, but he likes you to play hard behind him. And you’re cookin’.”

Source: MSNBC

Edited by mgraham333
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With the B-3, it was love at first hearing for me. In the 60s, I spotted a used LP of "Back At The Chicken Shack", with a cover that looked as if it had fallen into the bath! I just loved the music, and it's still my favorite organ album.

What's not to like about the B-3 and Jimmy Smith? Yes, we all hate those cheapo organs used at low budget wedding receptions, and the garbage they play on them (tunes like "More"!), but it is illogical to write off all organists because of that. Do we hate the sax because of the Billy Vaughan Orchestra?

Anyway, the battle was won long ago amongst jazz fans. It is a long time since Jimmy Smith was not popular.

There are many evenings when I don't want to hear anything but an album with a B-3. It doesn't have to be Smith. John Patton, Freddie Roach, Larry Young and Earl Vandyke will do just fine. (Earl on that great Fred Jackson album, plus he did a session or two with Ike Quebec.)

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“Joe Doggs? I’ve listened to him all my life, he’s from Philly,” he said.MSNBC

I haven't heard this yet, but I'm under the impression that Joe Doggs is actually Joe Pesci - who sings just like Little Jimmy Scott - and as far as I know is a New Jersey cat.

:tdown Yeah, the whole thing's a gag. It's pechi for sure. On the inside jacket he's got huge sunglasses on (joey too, wink wink) but you can still tell it's joe p. Plus, his Jimmy Scott style singing wears thin like any amateurs would after one song. You can tell he's not a seasoned pro like the liners and Joey claim.

I don't really dig the farce. I shelled out a few bucks for the thing and although the band's nice, it's pechi's album, and I wouldn't pay 15 bucks for that. :tdown

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Yeah, the whole thing's a gag.  It's pechi for sure.  On the inside jacket he's got huge sunglasses on (joey too, wink wink) but you can still tell it's joe p.  Plus, his Jimmy Scott style singing wears thin like any amateurs would after one song.  You can tell he's not a seasoned pro like the liners and Joey claim. 

I don't really dig the farce.  I shelled out a few bucks for the thing and although the band's nice, it's pechi's album, and I wouldn't pay 15 bucks for that. :tdown

This was news to me. You learn something everyday. ;)

Posted on Tue, Jul. 15, 2003

Inqlings | Joe Pesci (a.k.a. Joe Doggs) faces the music

By Michael Klein

Inquirer Columnist

Jazz fans were wondering: Who's this Joe Doggs singing on the new Falling in Love Again album by organ virtuoso Joey DeFrancesco?

The answer came over the weekend when DeFrancesco played Vincent's, in West Chester.

Doggs is actor Joe Pesci, in his first recording since 1998's Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Just for You. (Gambini was the name of Pesci's My Cousin Vinny character.)

The DeFrancesco CD's liner notes read, "Doggs may not be a familiar, household name, but yet there's something strikingly recognizable about his distinctive voice and uniquely charismatic, swinging delivery."

Distinctive, yes. But charismatic? Joe Pesci?

Friday's gig was Pesci/Doggs' debut before an audience, and it showed. Amid a half-dozen bodyguards, the wiseguy actor walked in (wearing a pulled-down baseball cap and untucked shirt), glanced nervously at the SRO crowd (including TV's Ahmad Rashad), and beat a retreat to a luxury RV around the corner.

DeFrancesco, originally of Folcroft, Delaware County, played his Hammond B-3 with a guitarist, drummer and saxman. The well-dressed crowd included lots of gentlemen in dark suits, dark shirts and dark ties.

When the Newark, N.J., native returned, his set included "All of Me," "Dearly Beloved" and "Love for Sale" from the CD.

He was much calmer and smoother Saturday night.

Pesci, 60, has a musical background. He was a guitarist and lounge singer who recorded an album in the '60s called Little Joe Sure Can Sing under the name Joe Ritchie.

It's not clear whether Pesci/Doggs will resurface. DeFrancesco is booked Thursday through Sunday at a club in Oakland, Calif. Vincent's was a logical tryout venue: DeFrancesco's father, Papa John DeFrancesco, is a Saturday-night regular there.

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>>Pesci, 60, has a musical background. He was a guitarist and lounge singer...<<

Joe's partner in the lounge band business was drummer Frank Vincent. The highlight of the act was the comedy bits they did together.

Frank is the actor who Joe Pesci Kills in the trunk of a car in "Goodfellas" and who kills Joe in "Casino".

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Man, not to get too indignent, but that FUCKIN' SUCKS! I plunked down GOOD money for that CD. As soon as I heard it, I knew it was a hoax. Problem is, the joke is on the unsuspecting consumer. I'm going to e-mail the record company and let them know how I feel about it. Like you would suspect, the band is good on the CD, but Peci is the star of the show and he can't carry the emotion to pull it off.

Joe P., if you want to make a vanity record, put it on your own stinkin' label with YOUR name on it. I was pissed as soon as I put the thing on. Terrible. :tdown

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Well I'm glad I saw this as the presence of Jeff Hamilton and Red Holloway almost made me interested in this, but someone mentioned an AAJ review that compared the "singer" to Little Jimmy Scott and that was a major turnoff for me; knowing its Pesci .... I'll happily pass.,

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Man, that's pretty lame.  I saw this in the used bin and almost bought it but bought the new Charlie Hunter instead.  I'm glad I made my choice.  I remember thinking, "Joe Doggs?  Who the hell is that and why is Joey making a record with him?"

You know, I'm not really a big fan of Joey's recordings. His output is tremendous, but rarely does it have much thought behind the sessions. Just blowing sessions for the most part, so if you have one, you pretty much have them all.

So I was pretty wary of buying this one, but like Dan, Jeff Hamilton and Pat Martino really made me interested. Plus, I thought a singer would bring a different twist to Joey's usual proceedings. They joking made Pesci out as a real Philadelphia secret in the liners and ads. An unknown really worth discovering (wink wink). Well, I'm always into hearing a "discovered" rarely recorded older musician or singer. I fell for that b.s.

I'm ashamed I fell for this scam. They should really be ashamed too. I'm sure Joey thought this was all good fun. Maybe in a club, but not for a 15 dollar CD.

I've learned my lesson finally about Joey's CDs. Next time you're tempted to get one, buy a Charlie Hunter (or anything) instead.

Edited by Soul Stream
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