mrjazzman Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 Had to go see my favorite jazz organist at Yoshi's, Oakland, on Friday night 8-24-2012. the trio included Larry Coryell replacement Steve Cotter on guitar and the ageing jimmy cobb on drums. It was billed as a tribute to Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery but I heard no reference in spoken word or music to either of those giants. Very average, mediocre set. J.D's hold on me may be slipping. Because I'm a selected completist, I finally purchased "40" and "Wonderful! Wonderful! but after tonights very bland performance, I think I'd rather listen to Bill Heid instead, at least for now............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Shearn Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 (edited) Aging Jimmy Cobb? we know he's up there, but his playing was fine, right? I dig Joey, but I don't think he's had a really great record since "Organic Vibes" and "Live: The Authorized Bootleg". On the former, he was taking more chances, but since then he's kind of staying in a comfortable place within the tradition, nothing wrong with that, but "Organic Vibes" showcased him moving on from the heavy JOS bag. This doesn't matter to me, but the fact that Joey's been using clonewheel organs has put him in hot water as far as a lot of the jazz organ community is concerned, but Joey has ALWAYS played B-3 clones in addition to the real thing on albums like "Reboppin" (the XB-2 on one track) the XB-3 (Live at the Five Spot) now he plays and endorses the Key B Duo organ, he was playing Diversi and Numa for a while too. Because of the history with clonewheels, there were automatic bad reviews of "Wonderful Wonderful!" which I haven't heard yet but it was recorded at RVG's, so Joey most likely played Rudy's C-3. Edited August 25, 2012 by CJ Shearn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr jazz Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 saw this show with Larry Coryell et. al in DC recently and thought it a great set of music with all musicians engaged and in fine form. I will say that I've seen less than stellar sets from Joey D but not this night! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrjazzman Posted August 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 great info CJ, yes Cobb is still Cobb but I was expecting Coryell and got this guy Cotter because Coryell couldn't make the Friday night set. JD had a nice little trumpet piece and I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad he didn't sing. Somebody needs to tell Joey S T O P S I N G I N G. PLEASE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 I'm going to tonight's Yoshi's show WITH Coryell. Hoping it will be a little more inspiring than last night's show apparently was. BTW, Friday's show was originally billed with Julian Coryell in the guitar chair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Excellent show tonight. Coryell was integral to the performance, which might have been the reason for Friday's disappointment for jazzman. All 3 men were in great form and great spirits - as was the sold out crowd. Highlight: Coryell did a mind-blowing solo rendition of Ravel's Bolero like you've never heard before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soulstation1 Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Is Joey D still xxx-large? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 Yes, XXX-Large (or maybe even XXXX) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertoart Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 I've found it very difficult to warm to Defrancesco, and I've tried. I have listened to him a lot, and he appears on what for me are seminal guitar/organ recordings, those being John McLaughlin's “After the Rain” and Pat Martino's Live at Yoshi's. There's just something to distancing about his playing. It's like it's all there - but there's nothing there. I feel the same way about Jimmy Smith most of the time too. It's hard to connect to the heart of what they play. I never feel this way about Young, Patterson, Patton, Kynard, Willette, McDuff or virtually any of the other greats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 I've found it very difficult to warm to Defrancesco, and I've tried. I have listened to him a lot, and he appears on what for me are seminal guitar/organ recordings, those being John McLaughlin's “After the Rain” and Pat Martino's Live at Yoshi's. There's just something to distancing about his playing. It's like it's all there - but there's nothing there. I feel the same way about Jimmy Smith most of the time too. It's hard to connect to the heart of what they play. I never feel this way about Young, Patterson, Patton, Kynard, Willette, McDuff or virtually any of the other greats. With you all the way. Personally, I've always thought that JDF got too much, too soon, and never really got his own thing together because everyone thought that he was doing it right. He's kind of a soul jazz version of Wynton Marsalis. I'll listen to him, but mainly when there's someone I like with him. MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETman Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 I've found it very difficult to warm to Defrancesco, and I've tried. I have listened to him a lot, and he appears on what for me are seminal guitar/organ recordings, those being John McLaughlin's “After the Rain” and Pat Martino's Live at Yoshi's. There's just something to distancing about his playing. It's like it's all there - but there's nothing there. I feel the same way about Jimmy Smith most of the time too. It's hard to connect to the heart of what they play. I never feel this way about Young, Patterson, Patton, Kynard, Willette, McDuff or virtually any of the other greats. With you all the way. Personally, I've always thought that JDF got too much, too soon, and never really got his own thing together because everyone thought that he was doing it right. He's kind of a soul jazz version of Wynton Marsalis. I'll listen to him, but mainly when there's someone I like with him. MG BINGO! I find the two B-3ers that Abercrombie has played with --- Dan Wall and Jeff Palmer --- to be much more interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 I've found it very difficult to warm to Defrancesco, and I've tried. I have listened to him a lot, and he appears on what for me are seminal guitar/organ recordings, those being John McLaughlin's “After the Rain” and Pat Martino's Live at Yoshi's. There's just something to distancing about his playing. It's like it's all there - but there's nothing there. I feel the same way about Jimmy Smith most of the time too. It's hard to connect to the heart of what they play. I never feel this way about Young, Patterson, Patton, Kynard, Willette, McDuff or virtually any of the other greats. With you all the way. Personally, I've always thought that JDF got too much, too soon, and never really got his own thing together because everyone thought that he was doing it right. He's kind of a soul jazz version of Wynton Marsalis. I'll listen to him, but mainly when there's someone I like with him. MG BINGO! I find the two B-3ers that Abercrombie has played with --- Dan Wall and Jeff Palmer --- to be much more interesting. Abercrombie has also recorded with Dr Lonnie Smith and Johnny 'Hammond' Smith. The stuff with Dr L is two CDs on Venus in which he imitates Jimi Hendrix. Not keen on those except sometimes, but the JHS album, 'Nasty' is one of JHS' best. And both Dr L and JH are MUCH more interesting organists than JDF. MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 I have a dvd of Gadd live in Europe with Bollenbeck, Cuber and DeFrancesco. Very enjoyable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Shearn Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 (edited) I like Joey very much as an in the tradition player, but I think his records have been inconsistent lately. If I wanna go outside his realm listen to Dr. Lonnie, Larry Young or Larry Goldings. I got my dad into Joey recently as we've always loved Jimmy Smith. JohnS, is that a legit DVD? I have the live album of that group, very good disc. Edited August 27, 2012 by CJ Shearn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 I like Joey very much as an in the tradition player, but I think his records have been inconsistent lately. If I wanna go outside his realm listen to Dr. Lonnie, Larry Young or Larry Goldings. I got my dad into Joey recently as we've always loved Jimmy Smith. JohnS, is that a legit DVD? I have the live album of that group, very good disc. The dvd is a recording of a European Jazz Festival tv broadcast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrjazzman Posted August 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 Yes, XXX-Large (or maybe even XXXX) It's amazing how people can eat like that. Yes, he's XXXXXXXXXXXXXX large Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrjazzman Posted August 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 (edited) I've found it very difficult to warm to Defrancesco, and I've tried. I have listened to him a lot, and he appears on what for me are seminal guitar/organ recordings, those being John McLaughlin's “After the Rain” and Pat Martino's Live at Yoshi's. There's just something to distancing about his playing. It's like it's all there - but there's nothing there. I feel the same way about Jimmy Smith most of the time too. It's hard to connect to the heart of what they play. I never feel this way about Young, Patterson, Patton, Kynard, Willette, McDuff or virtually any of the other greats. With you all the way. Personally, I've always thought that JDF got too much, too soon, and never really got his own thing together because everyone thought that he was doing it right. He's kind of a soul jazz version of Wynton Marsalis. I'll listen to him, but mainly when there's someone I like with him. Thanks Supa Groover.......... MG BINGO! I find the two B-3ers that Abercrombie has played with --- Dan Wall and Jeff Palmer --- to be much more interesting. Seems like everytime I visit this site, I discover new(to me)talent. This time it's Jeff Palmer, and I think he writes most of the cuts on his cd's. Thanks JETman. Am I the only one here who likes Bill Heid as a Joey D alternative?????? Edited August 28, 2012 by mrjazzman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr jazz Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 I like Heid but he's a different flavor then JoeyD-much more laid back style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michel devos Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 (edited) When Joey arrived on the market, he had everything, the technical abilities, the power, the sound, the repertoire...he was the super-organist of the time, the archetype, the new Jimmy Smith. And he went on like that, with the support of his many fans (including myself) to build up a successful career taking him in the 4 corners of the world. So what's wrong with him..? Nothing with the musician, talented as he is, but in my view, with the repertoire. For several years, I feel the material released in his CD's is rather on the weak side : nice and enjoyable during the first listenings and then gradually vanishing...no strong melodic themes, no surprising chords, no audacity in the harmonies...but extremely well played and clean. But boring after repeated listenings. I'd expect that is the reason why people have either one or two of JDF's CDs or then the complete collection : I have most of them, except the last 6 or 8 ones. Maybe this album with Coryell and Cobb is back to his previous standards...or maybe just one more running from the mill. We'll see. Edited August 28, 2012 by michel devos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Shearn Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 Michel, you make an excellent point. I think on "Organic Vibes", "Live, the Authorized Bootleg" and "Live at the 5 Spot" he was pushed and inspired by the players, and on "Organic Vibes" hes got great tunes like "Little B's Poem" and "I Thought About You". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soulstation1 Posted August 28, 2012 Report Share Posted August 28, 2012 If Joey contines at his pace he might be able to reach the keyboards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjzee Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 Listening now to Wonderful Wonderful. On track 7, "Old Folks," JDF plays trumpet instead of organ, and sounds very much like Miles on mute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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