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Joey DeFrancesco RIP


randyhersom

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I just got off the phone with Lenny White, I called to confirm and its indeed true. I  am in complete shock and have no words to describe how I feel. I read the news on the FB of a colleague, and I literally couldn't move for 5 minutes. Joey was really entering some new places musically and I can count on one hand those who are left well versed in the tradition JOS started, but no one knew Jimmy's music like Joey. 

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Dead at 51! Terrible! My late friend Ed Dipple, who made such a contribution to jazz in this country, had similar weight problems to Joey's (who seemed to have overcome them recently) and went at 50. Joey was at Ronnie Scott's a few weeks ago, but my plans for a visit were scotched by a rail strike. So I end up never having seen an organist whose work I love. :(

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I missed another opportunity of seeing Joey some years ago, when he was at the Wigan Jazz Festival. A friend who went said that at the end of the final climactic number showman Joey rose to his feet, turned round and plonked his huge behind on the keyboard :excited:. Festival organiser, Ian Darrington, who'd hired a top-grade expensive instrument for the occasion, was seen to have kittens. (Apologies if this is a UK-only expression.)

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It seems that most of my chances to see him came before I fell in love with the organ.  I ended up seeing him only once, with a star-studded lineup in Pittsburgh (Andy Bey, Billy Hart, Ingrid Jensen, JD Allen, Sean Jones, Mark Whitfield, Tineke Postma and Reginald Veal).  He last came to Cleveland in November and I somehow didn't go.  I can't believe he's gone now.  Thank you for the music, Mr. DeFrancesco, and rest in peace.

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