The website of Joey DeFrancesco, the scorching keyboardist who is scheduled to appear at Dazzle on March 5 and 6, proclaims that he is “the finest jazz organist on the planet.” Judging by his endless stream of flashy CDs and critical reputation, the argument could be made that there’s some truth behind the boast.
How does he back up a claim like that?
“Just listen to me play,” he says with a self-mocking laugh. “I don’t say that stuff about me. I’m not even close to where I’m capable of being. But I thank people for thinking that much of me. I’m grateful for that type of recognition.”
Even though he’s only 37, it seems like DeFrancesco has been around forever — he released his debut as a leader 20 years ago, toured with Miles Davis right out of high school and even partnered with Jimmy Smith, the most influential jazz organist ever, prodding the elder to some late-career high points he might not have otherwise achieved.
He’s the torch-bearer of the Philadelphia jazz tradition, which counts Smith, John Coltrane, “Philly” Joe Jones, Sun Ra and countless other masters and eccentrics. The music wouldn’t be nearly as interesting without the contributions of individuals from that community.
“Maybe there’s something in the water,” DeFrancesco says about his hometown scene. And he acknowledges Smith as his most important single musical influence.
“Jimmy was the godfather of the sound. He taught us the proper way to play jazz (on the organ),” he says. Smith was the originator of the energetic, slash and burn approach to the instrument, and propelled it into the limelight in the ’50s and ’60s, inspiring probably thousands of imitators in smoky clubs around the world. “Everybody went his way, even to this day,” DeFrancesco adds.
That exhibitionistic presence lives on in DeFrancesco’s new CD, the sometimes exciting if unimaginatively titled “Joey D!” (High Note) with brisk covers of Davis and Gene Ammons tunes. But there’s a technologically advanced aspect to the new recordings: He’s not playing an old- school Hammond organ like he has in the past, but a Diversi keyboard, which is a synthesizer that serves as a sonic dead ringer for the older instrument.
“A lot of the (original) organs are getting old and having problems. I did a session the other day, and we went through five organs,” all of them plagued with various age-related issues. The Diversi is more compact and easier for De Francesco to take on tour, and as part owner in the Diversi company, he’s hoping the new instrument will inspire others who seek to re-create the classic Hammond sound.
There’s also something to be said for DeFrancesco’s showmanship. Take a look at one of his many YouTube videos to get a sense of not just his artistry but also the range of ecstatic facial expressions he makes when improvising.
“I’m just into the music. It’s so hard say; it’s something that I love. When I’m playing, I’m feeling great. And when people get into it, it gets you into it, too.”
(Joey DeFrancesco, 7 and 9 p.m., March 5-6, Dazzle, 930 Lincoln St. Tickets are $30. Call 303-839-5100.)
Set list.
Denver bass legend Charlie Burrell, just honored with a Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, will appear with Purnell Steen and Le Jazz Machine celebrating “The Music of Harlem” at Dazzle on Tuesday. . . . Guitarist Charlie Hunter visits the Aggie Theater in Fort Collins on Thursday, Denver’s Oriental Theater on Friday and the Boulder Theater on Saturday. . . . Swinging Jazz Concerts return to the Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom on Friday and Saturday with saxophonist Harry Allen, guitarist Joe Cohn and more. Get information at summit . . . . The Boulder Theater has announced the return of pianist McCoy Tyner on April 28.
Bret Saunders’ column on jazz appears every other Sunday in A&E. Saunders is host of the “KBCO Morning Show,” 5:30-10 a.m. weekdays at 97.3-FM. His e-mail address is bret_saunders@hotmail.com
