CD Review: Joey DeFrancesco—Organic Vibes

Jazz music and incomparable musicianship just naturally go hand in hand. The art of improvisation is based on instincts that professional musicians develop after years of working with a variety of their colleagues. So if you’re a jazz fan, you’ll have a difficult time not enjoying almost any recording or concert these musicians play in.

The newest album from organist Joey DeFrancesco, Organic Vibes is not only incomparable; there are moments that DeFrancesco and his amazing collaborators reach the zenith of joy that comes with extremely well executed instrumentation. DeFrancesco is the heir apparent of Jimmy Smith, who was arguably the best jazz organist of the twentieth century. In fact, DeFrancesco plays Smith’s 1959 Hammond B-3 on Organic Vibes, and at times it seems like that Hammond and DeFrancesco become possessed by Smith.

But this album is so much more than a tribute to Smith. With the brilliance of Bobby Hutcherson on vibes, George Coleman on tenor sax, Ron Blake on tenor, soprano sax and flute, Jake Langley on guitar and Byron Landham on drums, DeFrancesco further develops the trails blazed by his mentor Smith.

Many of the songs on Organic Vibes are DeFrancesco originals, and on “The Tackle,” “Down the Hatch,” and “Colleen,” DeFrancesco’s band supports his extraordinary leads with tremendous flair. On the Hutcherson tune “Little B’s Poem,” Hutcherson lets loose on the vibraphone while the band jams around him, pushing and pulling solo counterpoints between himself and DeFrancesco while the band grooves out a perfect rhythm throughout the song.

The group covers the Jimmy Van Heusen-Johnny Mercer ballad “I Thought About You,” a beautifully calm and soothing version which allows the group a bit of a breather after Hutcherson’s impeccable work on “Little B’s Poem.” There’s also an amazing, rare cover of “Speak Low,” the Kurt Weill-Ogden Nash composition from the Ava Gardner film “One Touch of Venus.” The song selection alone makes Organic Vibes a lustrous addition to any jazz aficionado’s collection. And the music far outshines much of what passes for jazz these days.

Article Author: Larry Sakin

Larry Sakin is a former music executive and non-profit medical organization administrator. He advocates for literacy issues and provides advocacy training for grassroots and non-profit groups around the country.

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