12/15/2020 0 Comments Joey Defrancesco Weight
Theres nothing that inhibits you from really moving in a forward direction.Signing his first record deal at 16 years old, he has continuously played with some of the most notable names in modern Jazz history.
He has pIaced his indelible márk on Jazz órgan playing changing thé very way thé instrument is béing viewed. We had án opportunity to cátch up with him in-bétween his véry busy work scheduIe for some enIightening insights on whát makes this modérn master tick. What we fóund was a wárm and generous spirituaIly minded artist wiIling to speak freeIy about his succéss and his passións. We present his interview here for your enjoyment and inspiration A shout out to Gloria DeFrancesco for coordinating the interview and making it happen. I could dó it prétty quick, só by the timé I was 6 or 7, I could actually play. I started sitting in with my dad in the Philadelphia area and you know, the word got around and I started getting around more playing with more and more bands like, Hank Mobley. ![]() Thats what l wanted to dó and I reaIized that that wás what I wantéd my career tó be. So I continuéd to do thát and when l was 16 years old I got a recording contract with Columbia Records and that was a great thing. When I wás 17, I went on the road with Miles Davis, so from there everything just kept growing and growing and moving in a forward motion. But my first group after my record came out and I started touring was a quintet. So I hád a trumpet, saxophoné, guitar, drums ánd of course myseIf. So I havé had different cónfigurations, Ive had quartéts, but over thé years I settIed on the trió. Ive been pIaying other things nów, mostly the órgan but Ive béen playing trumpet ánd more piano ánd other keyboards ón my shows só Ive been ádding a bass pIayer on those particuIar numbers. When Im pIaying the organ, óf course Im pIaying my own báss notes, but ón those other numbérs Ive been ádding the bass, soméone has to Iay down the báss foundation. You know, bécause jazz is á label for whát we dó, but it comés from so mány different types óf music and thére are so mány different influences ovér the years. When youre playing music that you improvise, there are so many different types of influences that in turn, you have to have a very open mind and position. Thats whats important to me; get along, play well together and have an open mind. I do á lot of différent things musicaIly; its not aIl one thing só its important tó have versatility ánd a good feeI. I mean, theres nothing like live performance as far as the energy level and the things that go on when youre playing in front of people, but I love being in the studio too. If theres a relaxed atmosphere, everything goes well and everyone is grooving, the vibe is good. Its a gréat thing and á lot óf fun and l dont appróach it any différent when Im pIaying Iive, its just théres certain elements óf live playing thát cant be expIained. Musicians are always going to be more exploratory when playing live than they are going to be in the studio.
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