Swings The Blues – circa 1989

Joey DeFrancesco

The organist seen back in his early days

Joey DeFrancesco (1971-2022) ranked as one of the greatest jazz organists of all time.

Originally influenced by Jimmy Smith, DeFrancesco was already on his way towards being a giant when he was a teenager.

This early performance, from around 1989 when he had just signed with the Columbia label, features DeFrancesco on a cooking blues, playing in a duo with drummer Byron Landham.

It shows that DeFrancesco already had the swinging style, technique and enthusiasm that one associates with him.

-Scott Yanow