Joey DeFrancesco

A virtuoso performer, Joey DeFrancesco was an important force in the revival of the Hammond B-3 organ as a jazz instrument from the 1980s onward. His music ran the gamut from soul-jazz and bluesy grooves à la Jimmy Smith to hard bop and the advanced modal style of Coltrane disciple Larry Young. Building upon his early work with Miles Davis, the then 17-year-old DeFrancesco debuted with 1989's All of Me and earned a reputation as a much sought-after sideman, working with luminaries like Larry Coryell, Benny Golson, George Benson, and dozens more. Accolades followed, including Grammy nominations for 2014's Enjoy the View, 2017's Project Freedom, and 2019's In the Key of the Universe, the latter of which featured saxophonist Pharoah Sanders. By the time of his too-early death in 2022, DeFrancesco had mastered several instruments, including trumpet, vocals, and saxophone, all of which he'd showcased on 2021's More Music.