Jazz Police - "Wonderful Wonderful" Trio Salutes Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery at Yoshi’s, Kuumbwa

"Wonderful Wonderful" Trio Salutes Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery at Yoshi’s, Kuumbwa

Written by Andrea Canter, Contributing Editor

Monday, 20 August 2012

Joey DeFrancesco©Andrea Canter

The late organist (and NEA Jazz Master) Jimmy Smith is often credited with bringing the B-3 organ into the jazz mainstream. A major influence on such modern-day practitioners as Joey DeFrancesco and Larry Goldings, Smith was a frequent partner of equally influential jazzman, guitarist Wes Montgomery. The pair will be celebrated in the Bay Area when DeFrancesco, guitarist Larry Coryell and drummer Jimmy Cobb perform at Yoshi’s/Oakland (August 24-26) and at Kuumbwa Jazz in Santa Cruz (August 27). Note that guitarist Steve Cotter fills in for Coryell in Oakland on August 26th.

No organist today plays with as much skill, harmonic depth, and authority as Joey DeFrancesco, a claim supported by his five consecutive DownBeat Critics Poll awards for 2002-2006. The still-young “Joey D” has come a long way since the release of All of Me, his recording debut as a leader made in 1989 as a fresh-faced 17-year-old. From the git-go, the Philadelphia native established his credentials with virtuoso technique and an innate soulfulness that he brought to bear on the hulking Hammond B-3 organ. His level of artistry belied his young age but spoke of his deep Philly roots and the tutelage of his father, Papa John DeFrancesco, a B-3 burner in his own right. Through the 1990s, Joey was widely recognized as spearheading a renewed interested in the B-3, an instrument that had fallen out of favor among musicians and the public since its golden period during the 1960s and early 70s. With over two dozen solo releases and historic associations with legends such as Miles Davis, Jimmy Smith, Bobby Hutcherson, Elvin Jones and John McLaughlin, DeFrancesco's place in the idiom’s history is etched in stone.

Larry Coryell©Andrea Canter

As an inspiring teen guitarist growing up in Texas, Larry Coryell recalls a friend telling him that he would “never play with the likes of someone like Dave Brubeck.” Undaunted and full of youthful idealism, Coryell continued his quest to emulate heroes like Barney Kessell and Wes Montgomery. And not only did he eventually play with Brubeck, but as he recounts in his 2007 autobiography, Improvising: My Life in Music, his audiences have included John Coltrane and Roland Kirk; his collaborators have included Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Stephane Grappelli, Gary Burton and Sonny Rollins. Coryell first gained recognition playing with Gary Burton’s quartet, later touring in both jazz and rock with Herbie Mann, Jack Bruce, John McLaughlin Jimmy Webb, the 5th Dimension, Charles Mingus, Billy Cobham, Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix and Chick Corea. With Randy Brecker, Coryell formed Eleventh House in 1974, which became the most influential fusion band of the era. Once Eleventh House disbanded, Larry continued to work with his own bands and the Brecker Brothers, and in the late 70s, toured with McLaughlin and Paco de Luca in a guitar trio. He continued his eclectic ways through the 1980s, and in the 90s returned to his jazz roots as well as teaching in upstate New York. In the past decade he has taught at his alma mater, the University of Washington, and continues touring and recording in various configurations, including his globally influenced Bombay Jazz ensemble.

Elder statesman of the Miles Davis bands, drummer Jimmy Cobb was a mainstay of the Davis team from 1957-63, appearing on Kind of Blue, Sketches of Spain, Someday My Prince will Come, Live at Carnegie Hall, Live at the Blackhawk, Porgy and Bess, and many other legendary Miles Davis recordings. A native of Washington, DC, Jimmy first recorded with Earl Bostic and played extensively with Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Pearl Bailey, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderley, before joining Miles in 1957. After Tony Williams took over the drum chair for Davis, Cobb and Davis’s rhythm section of Wynton Kelly and Paul Chambers worked in Wes Montgomery’s band; Cobb also recorded with the Wynton Kelly Trio and with Kenny Burrell and J.J. Johnson. Next came nine years with Sarah Vaughn; he worked through the 1980s with the likes of Sonny Stitt, Nat Adderly, Hank Jones, Ron Carter, George Coleman and Fathead Newman. Over the past 20 years, Jimmy has worked with some of the younger stars of modern jazz, including Christian McBride, Javon Jackson, Roy Hargrove, Jon Faddis and more. In 2008, Jimmy was the recipient of the Don Redman Heritage award, followed a few months later with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Masters award. Cobb appeared on the first "Four Generations of Miles" album with Ron Carter (bass), Mike Stern (guitar) and George Coleman (tenor) for Chesky records, released in 2002, and has toured with various configurations of this ensemble in recent years.

Jimmy Cobb&sopy;Andrea Canter

Filling in for Coryell in Oakland on August 26th, California native guitarist Steve Cotter completed undergraduate and Master’s degree programs at the University of North Texas. Returning to southern California in the mid 90s, he has played with such artists as Joe Bagg and Willie Jones III, and toured with Bobby Caldwell and Steve Tyrell. Over his career he has played with organists Jimmy Smith and Joey DeFrancesco, and has recorded with Bette Midler. He cites Wes Montgomery as a major influence.

DeFrancesco, Coryell and Cobb will be celebrating the August 28th release of Wonderful! Wonderful! (HighNote). Both the recording and the club dates will, indeed, be wonderful.

Tour details:

August 24-26 at Yoshi’s/Oakland; Friday and Saturday at 8 and 10 pm (with Larry Coryell); Sunday at 6 and 8 pm (with Steve Cotter)
August 27 at Kuumbwa Jazz; 7 pm (with Larry Coryell)

Friday, August 24
8pm & 10pm each set $20 (students $12.50 for 10pm show)
Saturday, August 25
8pm & 10pm each set $25
Sunday, August 26
6pm $25 & 8pm $20 (Steve Cotter on guitar)

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