'Papa' John Defrancesco - Walking Uptown

Styles: Jazz, Jazz Funk
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:10
Size: 133,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:36)  1. One For Jack Mac
(7:58)  2. Sunny
(7:28)  3. People Get Ready
(7:58)  4. 160 Million Dollar Chinese Man
(6:55)  5. Mojo
(8:07)  6. Walking Uptown
(5:06)  7. Delaware Fox
(8:59)  8. What Happened

Papa John DeFrancesco, the father of Joey DeFrancesco, is a talented organist himself. On this informal set with his quartet (which also includes tenor-saxophonist Tim Warfield, his other musical son, guitarist Johnny DeFrancesco, and drummer Glenn Ferracone), Papa John mostly sticks to the blues and bluish material. In addition to a swinging version of "Sunny," the gospel-ish "People Get Ready," the funky "160 Million Dollar Chinese Man" (from the remake of Ocean's 11), and a vamp piece ("What Happened"), there are four blues at various tempos and levels of funk. Joey DeFrancesco makes guest appearances on two tracks (one apiece on trumpet and piano) and bassist Paul Klinefelter is on one number but otherwise the basic quartet is showcased romping and stomping out their brand of soulful blues. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/walking-uptown-mw0000165873

Personnel: Papa John DeFrancesco (Hammond b-3 organ); Johnny DeFrancesco (guitar); Paul Klinefelter (double bass); Tim Warfield (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Joey DeFrancesco (trumpet, piano); Glenn Ferracone (drums, percussion).

Walking Uptown

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'Papa' John DeFrancesco - A Philadelphia Story

Styles: Jazz, Jazz Funk
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:32
Size: 128,6 MB
Art: Front

(7:09)  1. Papa Was A Rolling Stone
(6:03)  2. Strange Brew
(7:24)  3. By The Time I Get To Phoenix
(3:19)  4. The Thang
(6:42)  5. It's Your Thing
(5:14)  6. You Are My Sunshine
(4:56)  7. Dr. Mike
(5:31)  8. Blues In The Closet
(5:11)  9. A Philadelphia Story

In the 1990s, Papa John DeFrancesco revived his career after a long hiatus to oversee the musical development of his son Joey. At that time he began not only playing in public again but recording for Highnote and Savant, too. That said, he’s been known to take long breaks: six years off between 1995 and 2001, and, after recording regularly between then and 2006, another half decade. A Philadelphia Story marks his return. The time off hasn’t blunted Papa John's chops, however. Despite the fact that he lives in Arizona these days, DeFrancesco’s music is pure, gritty Philly soul-jazz. Here he’s joined by his other son, the guitar-slinging John Jr., and drummer Glenn Ferracone. The program is a smoking collection of soul, funk, jazz, and standards with a pair of originals tossed in. The set kicks off with a finger-popping reading of “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.” John Jr.’s razor-sharp funk creates the groove while Papa comps and adds smoldering undertones to Ferracone’s stellar breaks (which are ever-present on the album). Son Joey makes one of two guest appearances with a boppish trumpet solo to close it out. A spine-slipping gutbucket version of Cream’s “Strange Brew” follows. It’s in-the-pocket, bluesed-out soul-jazz, with stinging though economical guitar fills. Papa’s solo is strong, and full of twists and turns. Joey returns on a lovely, elegant, and understated reading of “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” the most lyrical thing here. Lou Donaldson's hard bopping “The Thang” gets fine treatment, with a twinned guitar/B-3 head; it’s brief, yet features rhythmically taut arpeggios by John Jr. and a ripping solo by Papa. The Isley Brothers' “It’s Your Thing” really shows off Papa’s own deep soul-jazz chops; he turns this one inside out and follows it with a complete harmonic re-visioning of “You Are My Sunshine.” John Jr. does his best Wes Montgomery as he and Papa trade fours on the tune. Saxophonist Joe Fortunato guests on Oscar Pettiford's “Blues in the Closet,” a straight-up hard bop blues. The closing title track moves ever deeper into that terrain. Papa’s organ solo shines brightly in the tune’s moody darkness and is a real highlight on the set. Any way you cut it, A Philadelphia Story is smoking B-3 jazz with kick, swagger, and funky butt grooves; it marks the welcome return of a master jazzman. ~ Thom Jurek  http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-philadelphia-story-mw0002105394

Personnel: Papa John DeFrancesco (Hammond b-3 organ); John Defrancesco Jr. (guitar); Glenn Ferracone (drums).

A Philadelphia Story

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