JOEY DeFRANCESCO - Ballads And Blues (2002) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Don't be fooled by the title. While Ballads and Blues may sound like a mellow batch of tunes to listen to while strolling in the park, the ever-soulful Joey DeFrancesco has something else in mind. The album takes off with "Get It All," a groovy piece of funk complete with Paul Bollenback's zesty guitar and Byron Landham's balanced backbeat. A steady, rocking groove also defines pieces like "Take the Coltrane" and "Jammin' in the Basement." The latter cut, in particular, emanates a good vibe, perhaps due to the presence of brother John DeFrancesco on guitar and Papa John DeFrancesco on a second B-3. Other guests include Pat Martino and saxophonist Gary Bartz on two tracks each. At least two pieces, "Home on the Range" and "Mama Don't Allow No," suggest that DeFrancesco has been hanging out with genre-bending guitarist Bill Frisell. And while soul-jazz renditions of folk songs may sound like a strange mix, every cut flows together in a lovely mesh of organ, guitar, and drums. DeFrancesco ends the album in a flourish by adding his smooth, rich vocals to "That's All." While his fans probably will not wait for a recommendation to pick up Ballads and Blues, everyone else will find the album a good introduction to organ music for the new millennium. by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.
Tracklist :
1    Get It All    6:13
Joey DeFrancesco
2    These Are Soulful Days 6:15
 Cal Massey / Calvin Massey
Guitar – Pat Martino
3    Take The Coltrane 6:33
 Duke Ellington
Saxophone – Gary Bartz
4    You Dont Know What Love Is 6:36
 Gene DePaul / Don Raye
Guitar – Pat Martino
5    Jammin' In The Basement 5:34
Joey DeFrancesco
Guitar – Johnny DeFrancesco
Organ – "Papa" John DeFrancesco
6    Home On The Range    7:40
 Public Domain / Traditional
7    Ceora 7:23
 Lee Morgan
Saxophone – Gary Bartz
8    Basin Street Blues    5:17
 Spencer Williams
9    Mama Don't Allow No    4:02
10    That's All 5:52
 Alan Brandt / Bob Haymes
Vocals – Joey DeFrancesco
Credits :
Drums – Byron Landham
Guitar – Paul Bollenback
Organ – Joey DeFrancesco