Customer Reviews

Steve Wilkerson Meets Joey DeFrancesco - It's a Blues Sorta Thing

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Steve Wilkerson & Joey DeFrancesco are a match made in heaven - from the same school of unending groove and technically brilliant bop, these two take swing to a new level. Assisted by the lyrical intensity of Ron Eschete on guitar and James Gadson's magic on drums as well as his one stunning vocal(Everyday I Have the Blues) makes this one of the top jazz releases of the year. The opener, an original by Steve is fast and very avante garde - built around Coltrane's Impressions. Then the band slows down to the funky Red Top brilliantly orchestrated by Sandy Megas's tenor/bari arrangements. Their renditions of Georgia and Misty make the songs sound brand new again and look out for the title track - It's a Blues Sorta Thing - a groovin jazz waltz that you can't sit still to. The whole album is just plain fun! I have heard this band live twice now and can't wait for them to come back to town!

I was given this CD as a gift - and what a gift! Why isn't this Wilkerson being recorded by Verve or Blue Note or Warner Brothers? There's no one out there like him! Swings his [butt] off!!... De Francesco is his perfect alter ego - incredible timing - great stuff - when is their next one coming out! They ought to be at every major jazz festival! I love it - want more!!... Who is that [person] who said this isn't blues - there are at least four blues on here but he misses the point - the whole album is blues oriented - pull your head out! Just dig it!

Think Jimmy Smith-Stanley Turrentine, Groove Holmes-Houston Persson, and Jimmy McGriff-Jerome Richardson (A Bag full of Blues). This whole album just stomps. Joey plays organ like
I always wanted too; flowing bass riffs, inventive right hand solos with just a hint of the Master ( there's a cheeky nod to JS's solo from All Day Long). If you love the Hammond don't even
think of not buying this.

If you're looking for mellow music for lovers featuring Paul Desmond-style saxophone, this isn't it. Steve Wilkerson is an intense player with technique to spare, which he shows off on tenor sax for this 1999 session with the equally exuberant Joey DeFrancesco on Hammond B-3 organ. Steve also multi-tracks himself and adds a bit of alto and bari sax to augment three of the 9 tunes with hot sax section licks - a nice treat that leaves you wanting more.
The tunes are mostly from the traditional jazz songbook, except for Steve's own "The Chancellor," which is a great opener that grabs your attention, and the title track "It's a Blues Sorta Thing," written by Steve's wife, singer Andrea Baker. Steve undoubtedly earned some husband points for naming the album after his wife's composition. (The closer, "Panini," is attributed to Steve, but it's really the 1950s tune "Tequila.")
Drummer James Gadson does a respectable job singing "Everyday I Have the Blues," but as the only vocal on the album it seems a bit out of place.
Joey's fans will probably be most appreciative of his playing on a 10-minute version of "Georgia On My Mind" and his interplay with Steve on the title track.
This is a great album for serious jazz listeners. You can try to use it for background music, but before long it will be in the foreground.

I just got this CD. Wow! These guys just slam & jam their instruments for that super down home rhythum & blues style of music. I haven't heard this kind of sound in years. Absolutely a great jazz blues CD. Some of the arrangements are just incredible. It blew my socks off! I had to crank up the amp for that full effect, if you know what I mean. A must buy album for you jazz organ lovers out there. I think Joey DeFrancesco is the greatest!!

Yes, there is some good music here, but let's clear up a little mystery. To the person whom is exclusively a Jazz lover/listener, maybe it's a blues sorta thing. I'm a Blues enthusiast and to me, it sure sounds a lot more like a Jazz Sorta thing! I'm talking the full-on three cups of coffee on an empty stomach kinda Jazz thing. Only two Blues tracks here, one of them being the only vocal on the disk - retaining this disk for the sidesplittingly hilariously bad vocals - definately worth the price of admission! But don't get me wrong - Joey D. is on one of my all-time favorites - "Relentless" with Danny Gatton. Now THAT'S the one ya wanna get, holy jeez maneez! Low rating on Jazz Sorta Thing was due to the misleading title/content and less than average vocals.