Joey Defrancesco on Learning the Saxophone

[@bettersax]

Just learned of Joey's passing. We are incredibly sad but also reminded of how precious and fleeting life can be. Joey used his time in this world to bring immeasureable happiness to so many people through his music. Truly one of the most beautiful cats I've ever met. Rest in peace brother Joey Defrancesco.

[@azibegrey9624]

I’m

[@kasperkat454]

❤️

[@coreylareau6807]

Absolutely devasting loss to the music community. Your conversation with him was lovely. He was a big guy...with an even bigger heart and soul.

[@Tritone]

What?!

[@zachbridgeskeys]

I literally watched this interview yesterday around noon-ish...then an hour or so later I got a social media notification from his wife about his passing. You're absolutely right...life is precious even if fleeting and I said as much on my FB page. I'm more motivated than ever to learn what I can on my alto saxophone...RIP, Mr. Joey D...

[@drronclark]

Thanks Jay for doing this interview. After his loss today, it is especially poignant. The Jazz world lost a living legend.

[@ricaard]

RIP, Joey, I will miss your immense talent...

[@bluessax5089]

🥺😢 Rest In Peace Joey 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽. Jay, this interview series of yours is Serious!!! You capture stuff and ask questions other don’t.

[@p.w.2149]

Watching this video knowing he passed away is kind of odd. I don't knew him as a Sax player but this Interview is so great. What a mess loosing such a great men in this young years. 🥺

[@roswellminard9350]

You really did a great job with this interview; by letting him talk, not interrupting like many interviewers do, you managed to draw a lot out of him. An inspiration! Thank you.

[@kpoudavoff]

Rest in Peace, legend. Literally one of the nicest cats in the world. Was just talking to him a few days ago, unbelievable.

[@Moritmusic]

Better sax, the interview was timely! I watched this interview with a rapt attention and ended up getting a boost for the saxophone. Rest on Joey.

[@TWO20]

As of today, august 25th, 2022, Joey has unfortunately passed away. Let’s all make sure we remember his impact as a musician. RIP Joey

[@MrGuto]

R.I.P. Joey ! Thank you for your great music.

[@gitarmats]

This man is an absolute legend.

[@TWO20]

@Lyles music looks like it

[@wesgibson5235]

Rest in Peace Joey. You were amazing.

[@dhu2056]

Hi Wes

[@jasperwilliams4651]

Loved listening to Joey play with Pat Martino. It doesn't get any better than that.

[@stevel6895]

Wow, great interview Jay. It shows a side of Joey that most people would otherwise not know. I'm so sad about his passing, he was just an incredible musician. As each one passes it diminishes us all. RIP Joey.

[@omko73]

RIP Joey..you will be dearly missed Thank you for the music

[@williamjackson6705]

I didn`t know he played the sax but I`m not surprised. A genius on every instrument he touches. Waiting for that sax album.

[@morriscet]

What a gift to have had the chance to interview such an amazing legend, once i saw him performing at Ronnie Scott ´s, he actually left an inmortal music legacy. RIP master Joey de Francesco

[@kpoudavoff]

Joey is a phenomenal player and a great person

[@bettersax]

truth

[@ericwobschall8410]

Joey was introduced to me many years ago by one of his closest friends the late Sal Azzarelli (possibly the greatest Hammond and Leslie tech-historian ever). I saw Joey at NAMM (Viscount booth) playing tenor. Not far away was the Reed Geek booth, and I was hoping to catch you there, but didn't. I was pleased to see the interview afterwards. Tonight, Joey was suppose to be playing in Lewiston, NY, and I was looking forward to seeing him go all in as he always did. So, we're all feeling sorry for ourselves, and at the same time massively honored to have known this incredible player and person. I have an early picture of Joey and Gloria when he was playing here in Buffalo, and man did they look happy. I hope she, their daughter Ashley Blue and his extremely funny brother Johnny are holding up OK. I'm tempted to say this is the end of an era, but it's only like that if we allow it. He's given us more than enough to work with.

[@rongreen8962]

He’s a sweet, sweet man. It brings tears to my eyes to hear him in this conversation. It’s good that he knew the worldwide fame he deserved.

[@josephsudlersr.7854]

Joey is a moster musician from Philly one of the nicest guy one could meet

[@alainl.6643]

Joey came on my radar when playing with John McLaughlin at a jazz fest and just kept me in awe of his talent from start to finish. That night he did some chops accompanying himself with trumpet while on the keyboard. This is something one does not see often in any genre. The synergy between the two musicians was absolutely stellar. This is a golden memory in my mind. Thanks to Joey for your contribution to this world. Peace.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Great interview Jay, thanks for doing this. Size 11 with a double lip embouchure! Wow.

[@emmarawiczsax]

He was such a nice, wise and gentle guy. Thank you for this, Jay.

[@THISISANYTHINGBLUE]

I am devastated by his passing. What a wonderful human being. 😢

[@uvprofile67]

Love and strength to the family, friends and fans of the Great Joey D!

[@dimitriosavouris8453]

So there he is. A great musician. Nothing to prove. No way he will ever be such a good saxophone player as an organist. But, there he is, practicing out of sheer love for music and for the instrument. For me that's really inspiring. Such good vibes. Thanx for that, made my day.

[@williamlowe7718]

Excellent interview! Joey was truly one of the greats!

[@TheOriginalArchie]

Great interview. I've been binging Joey content for the past couple of days, for obvious reasons. One of my greatest musical memories was at NAMM in Anaheim about 15 years ago. There was Joey just jamming at a random booth on a random organ, with Scott Kinsey filming him on camcorder. There were maybe a dozen people watching and I'm sure most of them didn't even know Joey, or Scott. It was such a great memory for me. RIP.

[@claudetapelamasse5012]

Un génie des milliers d’heures de travail 🎹🎵🎵🎵🎵

[@onesyphorus]

i love how this is the definition of one thing leading to another! thanks both of you

[@ramirezsax]

Great interview, Jay! Very helpful to see that some of the ideas about setups, sound and horns that have been on my mind for some time also resonate in the thoughts of pros like you & Joey. I utilize a 7* with #2 reeds - very similar to your tenor setup, coincidentally!

[@TonyAguirreJazz]

3 years and he sounds like that, incredible, Joey is looking good

[@Ray_Mott]

I must be doing something wrong.

[@scomdnz9]

@@Ray_Mott Hehe same here. I think Joey's musical foundation is very strong and he's able to apply it to any instrument he wants to have fun playing.

[@webstercat]

To find your calling so early in life & have such an amazing pedigree to come from & to be saturated from the very beginning. Works with the best all his life in the best venues. Astounding life

[@VinnyPedulla]

Wow! What a timely video! Who would’ve known it would’ve meant so much to us after his untimely death… But amazing to see his excitement and how he still loved to work at Music! crazy how he found the time to practice all three instruments, saying that he even still practices an hour or so on the trumpet daily. I have trouble finding time to practice my main instrument the guitar and less on the other instruments I play and not as effectively as I do my main one. He was able to play on all of them excellently!

[@richardcasey7521]

Yup, 7* modified Link and a 2.5, that’s what I’ve used for 25 years. Update, the loss of Joey breaks my heart. RIP brother.

[@ilovebradmehldau1572]

He is one of my favorite musicians. So sad to know he passed away. I dunno why and too sad to see that many good talented musicians passed away too soon. His music and his playing is very good,joyful,happy. Very sad to know I can’t hear and see his playing anymore in live. Rest In Peace,Joey. 😭

[@mattdavis9801]

Great interview with a fabulous musician. Thanks

[@criddyla696]

Two good guys on planet Earth, RIP joey, 🌱

[@drecool6976]

Amazing , Me comin from south philly and studied organ at 10 . Lived around the corner from Charles Earland.i found out later his connection in bringing Grover Washington to philly, Got my alto at 27 and eventually tenor and soprano.south Philly was a hot bed for alot o good musicians.

[@ChristopherAlpiar]

Also id love to hear you cutting up giant steps or something, sheed rhythm changes or anything with George and Frank Tiberi!! That would be a treat and a great milestone for your tenor’ing!!! 😎🤯

[@SGee1989]

Jay thanks for emailing this video to me! I don’t think I told you Jay that I am trying to get back to playing the alto saxophone after losing my hearing. I have cochlear implant now, so it’s going to be quite a challenge. I still have the BetterSax in a cart at SweetWater. Almost at my goal, been fund raising to get the alto saxophone. Almost there!

[@bettersax]

Good luck!

[@ChristopherAlpiar]

To Joey D: mannnn!! Seeing Pharoah 2x at Regattabar (when i was studying with George G 90-94) was life changing. Closest ive ever felt to seeing Trane live. Im in ATL these days and Pharoah came to Atlanta Jazz Fest like hmm 2018. I had played earlier and hung around backstage til he arrived. He hobbled up from his bus to the stage with an aid holding him up. Made it up the stairs. Got his Tenor. And…Metamorphosis! FIRST NOTE OMG! That one note was worth the whole show. Then he *trusted* his 10k+ audience to play audience sing-back games with a pretty difficult line for non musicians and it worked 100%. Amazing! Oh yes even 25 years later in my 50s im learning from my heroes. But those Boston shows…ohhhh mannnn energy transfer maximum! Personally I dont care for the jody jazz pieces but your tone sounds great! Im a top teeth on the piece player for stability between there and right thumb. But hey, Im still on my ‘53 sba and stock metal link 6* rico royal 3 1/2 and keep mine submerged (33% vodka 66% water - dave sanborn hipped me at a UM clinic in 85 and similar to your reedjuvinate, just a bit more liquid and vodka replacing the mouth wash. I have tried various brown liquors, grappa, ouzo, rakia, but they all mess with the cane unlike vodka. Same setup and tenor since ‘87. But youre making me want to explore setup again. Killin! Thanks both you cats for sharing.

[@alicehouse482]

RiP Joey 🙏 thanks for sharing your gift 🎁

[@fernyology]

Awesome interview thank you Soo much ❤️❤️👏🏼👏🏼

[@kylegeee]

140 TIP OPENING?! Joey D is more hardcore than any of us could ever aspire to be

[@frank.m8447]

Loved the interview. Didn't know he had passed until i read the comments. That sucks. Such a talented musician. RIP.

[@pas0003]

Great interview! I'm blown away by his set up - 11 tip opening with 3.5 reed. Whoa! As a side note, I store my reeds in their plastic sleeves, after washing and wiping them with a towel. I also put a bit of vodka at the bottom of the jar. I find that that works better than Listerine and is not as damaging to the reeds, but maybe that's just me!

[@olubibabalola]

RIP, legend.

[@noosweat7022]

Awesome Tips. Thanks Jay & Joey. Great Stuff.🙏🏽

[@SaccoBelmonte]

Such a cool guy, I can feel he loves to take on new challenges for fun.

[@AllenTSmith]

A saw him at South Jazz in Philly last year on Gerald Veasley's Unscripted Jazz Series. He is outstanding!!

[@blueeyedsoulman]

RIP Joey. Thanks for the music.

[@chrispotter3190]

Man… Rest In Peace to a legend

[@MindControlFilms]

Double lip! My high school band director called me out for playing that way when I was a freshman, I had no idea pros did that too! When it comes down to it I think pretty much anyone can learn and get comfortable playing one way or the other while performing at a high level. It’s fascinating to me how much variation in technique can still produce excellence. Sonny Rollins played double lip; Melissa Aldana shreds with her pinky curved under the table in a way I’ve never seen before; Wes Montgomery played guitar with his thumb and could move up and down the frets as fast as the guys who used picks. No rules in music.

[@johanholm2109]

No rules, but absolutely some Good well tried paths to take. Like playing with pinky under the table isnt exactly gonna make it easier. Just coz a few players can make it work it doesnt mean its on par with general adviced way of doing it. I have seen alot of players playing poorly but at the same time talking about their technique as something special and unique, because some famous cat also did that. Kinda finding ways to skip the time in the practice shed as im seeing it. By all means experiment with everything, its part of pushing us all forward, but dont neglect the well tried ways. Thats my two cents on the topic.

[@johnbergmann2896]

I did double lip my whole life. I didn't't know you "weren't supposed to do that"

[@joeblankenship377]

I started double lip. It's more comfortable in the beginning, but single lip gives you a lot more control. I might go back to it at some point. Dreaded teeth problems are waiting for me.

[@jamesjefferson8353]

Branford M. Plays with a double lip embrochure

[@timstrel1]

So sad to hear about the passing of this legendary organist earlier today!! R. I. P.

[@davehappablap5549]

Gone way way too soon. Such a great conversation - really nicely done. Thanks for sharing this.

[@erniencinas71]

RIP Joey! 🙏🏼 Thank you Jay for this great interview. Didn’t know he had played with Miles and so many greats. World lost a great soul.

[@downpatmusic]

Sad to hear the news. Man. I took Joey's 70+ highly recommended jazz organ course. I am a pianist and wanted to learn the trad's B3 organ techniques. He was a very good teacher and laid it out for us in that course. I worked about a year and watched all of his lessons and can at least swing on the damn thing with pedals. It's so different than piano. It strips away touch sensitivity and sympathetic vibration of the piano allowing the organ player to play less notes and the right notes. It really helps you keyboard-piano playing. Check out his course. I am sure it will help his wife-family.

[@andyquinn1125]

Beautiful! Lifelong guitar player - took up sax 3 years ago. Changed everything for me. Besides loving the sax, it made me a better guitarist. Thanks for this.

[@MrStewbee]

What a great guy, what a devastating loss. RIP Joey.

[@Julialady6]

Oh man I'm in Spain and with your music... I'm crazy. There are no ice in Spain nowadays man... So hot music.

[@bubba5273]

I’ve been playing the piano for 16yrs and started playing jazz last year. I feel free and much better improvising when playing single note instruments, and it’s actually the tone i hear in my head. Should I switch to sax? If i do, would I be able to play in gigs with enough practice? Or would it be too late?

[@LoveandHavoc]

I saw Joey a few months ago in Oakland and he whipped out his Tenor and I was blown away haha he is sooo God damn awesome. Bless you Joey!

[@RafikCezanneTV]

Tragic that he is gone too soon. RIP Joey.

[@serzok1]

Great interview 👍🙂

[@MickeyMurphy]

Great interview! Interesting I do double lip with sax but teeth on top with clarinet. The vibration on my teeth on sax bothers me.

[@frankzona5459]

Such a great interview with Joey. Thanks for sharing this Jay.

[@mitrogaming7154]

i really love these type of videos! good job!

[@elizabethkusterer5638]

Didn’t know that about JD! So cool!! Thanks!

[@enriqueernesto738]

Incredible interview

[@marks.6656]

Thanks, Jay. SO MUCH substance and history here!

[@DrRocketTurner]

Really interesting interview Jay!!! 😃🚀

[@KirklandWilliamsWorkout3000]

That’s Great, I switched to keytar this year from sax 🎷

[@hansmathiasthjomoe4817]

A great video with a lot of interesting content - as usual.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

This is very inspirational to me. Thank You

[@angelskyd]

Jay, can you do a quick tutorial on the double lip? I don’t have teeth at all and this is one of my concerns that I could never get some good advice about.

[@artgrusensky121]

Jay, that was a great interview, who knew that his demise was imminent. He was very frank and open to you and said he was a fan of yours! I met him at a a gig in LA and he was kinda surly, had a bunch of big beefy guys with him that looked like mafia guys, haha. He was grossly obese and sad that he could not get a hold on that...

[@joeblankenship377]

Joey D! I love that live album with him, Ronnie Cuber and Steve Gadd. That's where I first heard him play trumpet. Jay, ya gotta get him off that double lip embouchure. I did it when I started in 6th grade, and I'm glad my teacher made me put my teeth on.

[@saxman7131]

I enjoyed this. He’s a favorite of mine. Thanks Jay.

[@saxfish]

[@benoitminfirgilbert4368]

Les meilleurs personnes partent le plus tôt , peu être par clairvoyance ♀🛐

[@PieInTheSky9]

Rest in Paradise Joey, your spirit will live on! Say hi to Miles for me!

[@jimmymiller5465]

I met Joey once while he was touring with David Sanborn.

[@mikeaustin1]

This really resonated with me because I'm so similar to Joey (well, in some aspects at least, if not brilliance!). Picked up Hammond in '63 as a tot, have played for almost 60 years (have a C-3 at the house now). Picked up my first sax in 2019. I can tell you that playing keyboards makes learning sax a much quicker pickup. Anyway humble guy, no doubt, (and other than him being an organ virtuosic legend and deserved musical genius, we're just alike, lol!). It was really interesting in how he especially wanted to play/particularly loved the tenor, which is what I felt and finally started learning. Anyway some of the stuff he said about how he just "winged it" in his approach to sax equipment and sound resonates with me. But it's very cool listening to a guy who took a similar path as me and encouraging to hear his humble approach to all instruments, never mind sax.

[@JimsIrish76]

so cool, awesome to hear these stories and just amazing to hear about his setup. Just shows again how varied setups are person to person to get a good result.

[@johnchapin7707]

Two nice cats, telling stories. Love this!

[@herbbaasch885]

Excellent interview Jay. Had the pleasure of hearing Joey at a small Jazz festival some years ago, he was totally awesome!. Many classical clarinetists use double lip embouchure,part of the art, keep working on new techniques, and approaches.

[@Handle2point0]

The funny thing is that he came to my town once and played at this club (it was very low key). The cat blew the roof off this place but he was so humble that I didn’t even know he was a huge deal.

[@DarkeningSkies1]

Joey was as much of a monumental person as he was a musician. A good cat through and through. Rest well, J.D. - you earned it and then some...

[@ottaviozambardi5803]

Greatest

[@jamescorum3643]

Jay , thanks for this interview . What can't Joey Defrancesco do ! This guy is amazing ! I've been playing the saxophone for 45 years I never heard of double lip playing till I saw this . Amazing stuff ! Keep up the good work Jay 👍

[@Sue20022010]

Wow!

[@Lorz]

45 years… how old are you 😯

[@jamescorum3643]

@@Lorz 57 yrs old

[@greggrispart1807]

Lee Konitz played double lip on alto

[@paulstratforddearsley2516]

Gene Ammons & Richard Holmes, Grooving with Jug- that album is most likely big influence on Joey- they swung hard just like he did!

[@MKD371]

I've done gigs with Lila Ammons. John Coltrane also played with double lip embouchure.

[@melvynwade6951]

I have used the double lip embouchure, a.k.a., the "French Method", on clarinet, from almost the very beginning of my clarinet playing. I was introduce to it at the same time as the single lip approach and found it to be more rewarding that single lip, (top of teeth on top of the mouthpiece) method . Conversely, I only use the single lip top of teeth method for my alto saxophone playing. I found the double lip approach to be problematic for me when playing saxophone.

[@reubenyahsrael346]

I just learned today RIP, Joey,

[@waynedefrancesco4423]

Check out Joey with Danny Gatton on the album "Relentless ". Incredible.

[@samuelclio]

Thanks for the interview. Learned so much from this video.

[@1masterfader]

He really a humble cat. Great share.

[@Osnosis]

Chatting in front of the Whisper Room!