Jake Langley - Diggin' In [Deluxe Version] (2011)

Guitarist Jake Langley's Diggin' In features organist Joey DeFrancesco and drummer Terry Clarke playing mostly standards in a Wes Montgomery vein. Learning that much by reading the CD cover suggests a contemporary Lee Ritenour-style treatment with enough twists from DeFrancesco's presence for an intelligent recreational listen. The sort of album, in other words, for unwinding after a long day when one isn't ready to completely submit to the mental enema of typical contemporary. Langley, 30, a Toronto resident selected as Canada's guitarist of the year in the National Jazz Awards, possesses stylings that carries over from studies with Pat Martino and Jim Hall, plus plenty of influence from the Montgomery school. Diggin' In, his third solo album, returns to the lower-key trio playing of his debut Doug's Garage after showcasing a collection of funk/acid/Latin originals with a larger cast on Non Fiction. Consistency is a good summary for this set, never venturing into uncomfortably exploration or hollow mailed-in territory. Langley keeps the melodies recognizable and his soloing elaborates rather than reinterprets. His plucking runs the range of leisurely to lively, easily absorbed without being completely predictable. Montgomery's "O.G.D." has a laid-back feel, for instance, but Langley spices it up with a rapid series of post-bop runs. He also displays a fine command for upbeat blues on "The Garage," the lone original composition on this album. His blues-ballad rendition of Billie Holiday's "God Bless The Child" is a smooth change of pace, although it fails to leave any lasting impressions. The same might be said for the album as a whole - while it's pleasant, it may not linger beyond the moment the listener hits the "off" switch. DeFrancesco has more acclaimed outings on his resume, but he isn't being called upon to go all out and delivers well for the setting. His tone and a bit of extra kick compared to Langley's treatments, plus offering some extra depth as an accompanist, are what will spur listeners to pick this over similar trio discs when the mood arises. Clarke gets little time on his own, but generally his loose-style playing feels like a living organism propelling things ahead. Diggin' In doesn't cover any new territory, but does a good job within the one it does occupy as long as listeners are seeking comfort rather than a life-changing experience. It's also comforting knowing Langley is capable of mixing styles album to album, making his past and future efforts worth keeping an eye on if this one satisfies. ~ by Mark Sabbatini, AAJ. 

Alma Records, ACD14292, 2004
Tonepoet Records, Digital, 2011
Recorded in Reaction Studio, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 

Musicians:
Jake Langley - Guitar
Joey DeFrancesco - Organ [Hammond B-3]
Byron Landham - Drums (#1-7)
Steve Gadd (#9-11) 

Tracks:
01. O. G. D. (feat. Joey DeFrancesco, Byron Landham) [6:40]
02. God Bless The Child (feat. Joey DeFrancesco, Byron Landham) [8:14]
03. Cheesecake (feat. Joey DeFrancesco, Byron Landham) [8:21]
04. The Garage (feat. Joey DeFrancesco, Byron Landham) [5:34]
05. Sugar (feat. Joey DeFrancesco, Byron Landham) [6:39]
06. Blues For Jim San (feat. Joey DeFrancesco, Byron Landham) [8:16]
07. Gibraltar (feat. Joey DeFrancesco, Byron Landham) [9:43]
08. Maya (feat. Joey DeFrancesco, Steve Gadd) [6:24]
09. Continental Blues (feat. Joey DeFrancesco, Steve Gadd) [5:56]
10. Bolivia (feat. Joey DeFrancesco, Steve Gadd) [4:58]
11. Desert Sun (feat. Joey DeFrancesco, Steve Gadd) [6:59] 

Total Time: 01:17:44 

Credits:
Producer, Mixing - Jake Langley
Engineer - Ormond Jobin
Mastering - Peter J. Moore
Design, Layout Design - Howard
Photography - Denise Grant

Joey DeFrancesco - Singin' And Swingin' (2001)

Joey DeFrancesco the jazz organist meets Joey DeFrancesco the Sinatra-style crooner on this, his first vocal outing. The album is rich in contrasts: eight of the 13 cuts feature a big band, with the likes of bassist Ray Brown, tenor saxophonist Pete Christlieb, and more; the rest are trio pieces featuring the leader, Paul Bollenback, on guitar and Byron Landham on drums. Vocally, DeFrancesco pours it on with beaucoup reverb (producer John Burk and engineer Bernie Kirsh could have backed off a bit), handling swingers like "Mack the Knife" and ballads like "They Say It's Wonderful" with equal poise and conviction. His organ is present on many of the vocal tracks, but it moves to the fore on the three instrumental originals: "Mr. Dennis Houlihan," a fast rhythm changes tune; "Did You Hear Him Holler," a tongue-in-cheek Cajun groove; and "The Sidewalk Is Wild," a sly big band shuffle that features the leader briefly on trumpet. DeFrancesco also gives his voice a rest on the swing classic "One Mint Julep," the penultimate "Danny Boy," done as a powerful trio ballad, and the closing standard, "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You." DeFrancesco's vocal affect is quite similar to Sinatra's, especially on songs closely associated with him, like "In the Wee Small Hours," one of the all-around best selections. Some won't be able to get past the hammy aspect of the album, but the fact is that DeFrancesco really can sing, and "if you've got it, flaunt it" is a worthy credo for any performer. You've got to applaud him for taking the plunge. ~ by David R. Adler, AMG. 

Concord Records, CCD-4861-2, 2001
Recorded 24th-25th January, 1999 at Capitol Records, Studio B, Hollywood, California 

Personnel:
Joey DeFrancesco - Organ [Hammond B-3], Trumpet, Vocals
Paul "Dukie" Bollenback - Guitar
Byron "Wookie" Landham - Drums 

Guests:
Mike Howard - Guitar (#7,13)
Paul Leibelshon - Drums (#7)
Dave Cook - Drums (#13) 

Frank Capp's Big Band (#1,2,5,6,8-11):
Ray Brown - Bass
Frank Szabo, Wayne J. Bergeron, Conte Candoli, Carl Saunders - Trumpet
Andy Martin, George Bohanon, Bob McChesney, Mike Millar - Trombone
Sal Lozano, Don Shelton - Alto Saxophone
Peter Christlieb, Rickey D. Woodard - Tenor Saxophone
Jack Nimitz - Baritone Saxophone
Horace Ott - Arrangements 

Strings (#1,3):
Bruce Dukov - Concertmaster
Russ Cantor, Gil Romero, Rachel Purkin, Horia Moroaica, Debbie Price,
Patricia Johnson, Darius Campo - Violin
Harry H. Shirinian, Jorge Moraga - Viola
Vage Ayrikyan, Armen Ksadjikian - Cello
Frank Capp - Conductor 

Tracks:
01. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To {Cole Porter} (3:44)
02. Mr. Dennis Houlihan {Joey DeFrancesco} (3:53)
03. They Say It's Wonderful {Irving Berlin} (4:36)
04. Did You Hear Him Holler? {Joey DeFrancesco} (4:41)
05. Mack The Knife {Marc Blitzstein, Eugene Berthold, Brecht, Kurt Weill} (3:29)
06. One Mint Julep {Rudolph Toombs} (5:12)
07. In The Wee Small Hours {Bob Hilliard, David Mann} (5:29)
08. I Thought About You {Johnny Mercer} (3:38)
09. The Sidewalk Is Wild {Joey DeFrancesco} (6:03)
10. Let Me Love You Tonight {Mitchell Parish, Rene Touzet} (3:30)
11. Kansas City {Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller} (3:44)
12. Danny Boy {Fred Weatherly} (6:17)
13. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You {George Bassman, Ned Washington} (6:28) 

Total Time: 60:44

Credits:
Producer - John Burk
Co-Producer - Heather & Joey DeFrancesco
Executive Producer - Glen Barros
Recording Engineer - Bernie Kirsh
Mixing, Assembly & Mastering - Tim Hunnicutt
Production Manager - Will Rose
Art Direction - Yalitza Ferreras
Photography - John Samora
Liner Notes - Joey DeFrancesco