Search - Joey Defrancesco, Jimmy Smith :: Incredible

Incredible! it finally happened

Christian Justin Shearn | Vestal, NY USA | 07/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"October 28, 1999 will go down in jazz organ history as one of the most electrifying nights on record. That was the night Joey Defrancesco and the grand master of the Hammond B-3 organ Jimmy Smith were captured live at Bimbo's 365 club during the San Francisco Jazz festival. The disc starts of with Joey and his trio of guitarist Paul Bollenback and drummer Byron Landham with a burning version of "The Champ", a tune which made Jimmy Smith a force in the jazz world. He puts his own spin on the tune, lovingly quoting Smith's original solo. Paul Bollenback shares the spotlight on "When You're Smilin" playing an interesting solo which sounds like he is playing really close to the bridge of his guitar. The runs through "The Good Life" and for a set closer a jackrabbit fast take on the standard "Indiana". (a Jimmy Smith version at a similar tempo appears on "Groovin At Smalls Paradise") featuring an excellent drum solo by Byron Landham. Then comes the main event: Jimmy Smith takes the stage with his band to jam with Joey on two extended medleys. The first medley includes a beautiful duet of "Yesterdays" and "My Romance", where both men display torrid fireworks. Joey stuns the audience with an amazing run, and the then 73 year old Smith bounces back with an equally impressive display which reaffirms his title of "The Incredible" Jimmy Smith. The two men proceed to burn through Smith's "The Skeezer", and Sonny Rollins' "St. Thomas" trading hot phrases back and forth. Mere words can not describe the excitement that this recording captures. It is truly history and an instant classic."

DeFrancesco Rocks!

Christian Justin Shearn | 09/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a fan of the Hammond B3, all I can say about this live performance is wow! DeFrancesco really brings it in this live performance. In sports athletes are often told to leave it all on the field and win, lose, or draw, if you did your best you win regardless. Well, DeFrancesco leaves it all on the stage with his performance on this cd. Simply put, he rocked the house with this performance. From the first track through the last this cd was smoking! My favorite track is the old Diz tune "The Champ." If you love the Hammond B3 and are a DeFrancesco fan, this cd is a must for your collection."

Only live recording between two B3 giants

Terje Biringvad | Oslo, Norway | 02/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Critics both in Jazztimes and DownBeat rated this CD only as a average good recoding from the two masters, I think they where dead wrong in their critics. When Joey kick's off with "The Champ" in a murderous speed backed excellently by Paul Bollenback (guitar) and Byron Landham (drums, you feel that something special is going to happen that night at the San Francisco Jazz Festival. Joey knows that "The Incredible" is sitting behind the curtains waiting for their first ever live encounter - so why not start with Jimmy Smith's trademark tune for 13 halleluja minutes! Next the trio turn into a joyous version of "When You're Smilin'" before they slow down for the beautiful ballad "The Good Life", made immortal years ago by the late great organist Don Patterson on the "The Exciting new Organ of Don Patterson" album (Prestige) . With Jimmy still behind the curtains to listen and prepare, Joey's trio makes a uptempo soulful bluesy version of a not-to-often B-3 recorded "Back Home Again In Alabama".



With a smokey voice (just still in his 30's?!?) Joey introduces "his hero, mentor and The incredible" to join him on the same bill. Now be prepared for the two last medleys on the CD - in the right channel DeFrancesco with leslie chorus ON and the left channel Jimmy Smith with leslie chorus OFF. With Jimmy in command the two kick's off with a up-temp bluesy "The Reverend" before they make individual chord changes into the best organ battle ever recorded...the tune "Yesterday's". Turn the volume up high and enjoy their intro before Joey plays his solo part on solo organ in different keys and organ turns that blows your mind off. The question you ask yourself - can the 70 year old master keep up with this phenomenal youngster??? Don't worry, when Joey hand over his solo part to Jimmy to continue his solo organ performance, you realizes why Jimmy still is the "Muhammad Ali" of organ jazz. God, what a night it must have been to be on that concert! The last medley round "St. Thomas" is just great with calypso, straight 4/4 and blues combined. Joey and Jimmy played with great respect for each other on this recording, and I guess that today Jimmy smiles in heaven surround by organ freak angles by this recording! Jazz organ history was made that night in San Francisco."