Customer Reviews

Joey Francesco's Goodfellas

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
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This CD is like a breath of fresh air and a real surprise since I've never heard of DeFrancesco (even tho' he's been around a while). I was worried all the talk of Italian influences in the editorial and customer reviews might mean this was novelty driven - but don't worry, this is rock solid B-3 organ jazz with more in common with Jimmy Smith or McGriff than Sinatra or Damone. And the traditional Italian favorites sound brand new in DeFrancescos's able hands.

It is so great to hear an artist - and especially such a young one who swings so hard and who obviously has studied the history of our great American art form. Joey plays with such heart and conviction! His band here is superb- great chops, heart, time and soul. Bravo guys! Andrea Baker, Los Angeles based jazz singer

I have this CD. It's a good jazz organ trio CD. Joey and 2 other Italian musicians, play some all time Italian favorites, jazz style. I enjoyed it very much. If you're a Joey Defrancesco fan, then add this CD to your collection.

Joey Defrancesco and his two 'Goodfellas' present a spicy blend of Italian and jazz influences - sometimes they're nostalgic, sometimes they are the hottest, hardest-driving jazz combo that you can imagine. An extremely cohesive group. Joey doesn't sing on this outing, he 'limits' himself to playing the organ. He can't be beaten on the B3 - on several of the tracks he sets off a fireworks that probably no other jazz-organist might be able to produce. The group have chosen standards, none of which turns out to be worn-out because each of the trio is an outstanding muscian and improviser. The overall production and the sound-quality are superb - it's a Concord album. The CD sleeve shows the three musicians feasting together, and inside the sleeve there's plenty of Italian proverbs that tell you to enjoy the good things in life - food, music, love, la Bella Italia and Italian -American jazz.

The Goodfellas are Joey DeFrancesco on organ, Frank Vignola on guitar, and Joe Ascione on drums. They have put together here a collection of tunes worthy of Sinatra's collection. The album opens with a spirited reading of the Godfather classic, "Speak Softly Love," that effectively sets the tone for the entire disc. "Fly Me To The Moon," starting off lightly, transitions smoothly into as hard-swinging a tune as you'll find anywhere. The title track, an original blues, would make Gene Harris shout in approval. And the ability to maintain the feel of this record through a Monk staple is indeed "Evidence" of the caliber of the players involved. There is no standout here; this is a cohesive group, playing Italian-American jazz as flavorful as the food of the same ethnicity. This date was the Goodfellas' first time playing together. I hope there's a second.

A natural move for Joey DeFrancesco when leaving Columbia Records with four albums under his belt, and with a few great albums on Muse Records, BigMo Records and High Note, was signing up with a major jazz label like Concord Records, deeply rooted in the artistic freedom and expression trademarked by the late founder Carl Jefferson. Recorded in 1999, "Godfellas" is a promising all trio album visiting DeFrancesco's Italian roots with fellow Italian rooted Frank Vignola on guitar and Joe Ascione on drums. Unfortunately the track listing tells that we're served some of the most worn-out cheesy Italian tunes ever made and recorded - Volare, O Solo Mio, Malafemmena - but even this great trio interpretations can't justify the fact that these tunes are, bottom line, horrible. But don't worry, there are nine more great tunes to listen to. From up tempo version of "On Fly Me To The Moon" to a surprisingly sensitive versions of the ballads "All The Way" and "Young At Heart", all the other tunes fits well into the concept for this trio - deeply rooted in the soul organ / Jimmy Smith tradition. In other words, no great surprises for DeFrancesco afficiados, just a throughout very good album from a young B3 master. But remember to activate the Programming function (skip tunes) on your CD player....

Organist Joey DeFrancesco's fellow goodfellas are Frank Vignola on guitar and Joe Ascione on drums. This trio rips affectionately through some old Italian-oriented standards such as "Volaré" and "O Solo Mio" plus other tunes such as Thelonious Monk's "Evidence" and some originals by the goodfellas in an enjoyable set that is much more than a kitschy wallow (except for the last cut, which features an embarrassingly silly skit featuring these three non-thespians). There is plenty of good musicianship here, plenty of memorable melodies to enjoy, and to top things off, the session has been captured in good sound by Concord engineer Phil Edwards. A great CD to eat pasta by!

I'm a big Joey D fan, and a big Hammond B-3 fan in general. I hesitated to by this album because of the Italian theme. I thought it would be too "gimmicky,"-- something worth listening to once. Au contraire. This album is fantastic. Every track shines. They are also all very distinct. The recording quality is outstanding; the best sounding Joey CD that I've heard. Joey really makes the B-3 scream, moan, howl, purr, cough, hum, and sing. Love the drummer. Heck, I love the guitar player too. If you buy one Joey DeFrancesco CD, make it this one. In fact, this albulm is not just my favorite Joey D CD, it is one of my favorite CDs in my collection. I have to force myself not to listen to it so I don't get sick of it. Highly recommended.

With the exception of the last track containing the wiseguy dialouge, this is on a par with Jimmy Smith's work. Not to be missed by the fans of the B3.

While on the surface it may seem to be a novelty album, there is so much music going on between these tree guys, its become one of my favorite jazz albums. Vignola does not take a side seat to Defrancesco in the least bit and the twe create intense moments of beauty, romance, melancholy and grit on each track. I get this very "oily" feel from their approach too, Italiano all the way!! This is music to drive to, throw on at a party, or to get down to with your girlfriend. One of the best purchases I've ever made.