Jazz Guitar Life has just learned of the passing of the great organist Joey DeFrancesco who had also found his voice on Trumpet and Sax in recent years*.
Like his mentor Jimmy Smith, DeFrancesco swung like no one’s business and featured many young up and coming guitar players like Larry Tamanini, Dan Wilson, Jake Langley to name but a few. As a sideman he also played with the very best that Jazz Guitar has to offer. Players like Pat Martino, John McLaughlin, and John Abercrombie to once again name but a few. Of course there were many other top shelf players who benefitted by DeFrancesco’s swing and taste and there will no doubt be many tributes to this great player in the days, weeks and months to come.
*Source for the SNBC story can be found here, which is where I first came across the sad news.
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