Vocalist Joey Locascio teams up with pre-eminent Hammond B3er Joey DeFrancesco along with t snappy rhythm team of Paul Bollenback/g, Greg Artry/dr, Carlos Garcia/perc and a swinging horn section in this tribute not only to Jimmy Smith, but to every Gumba who ever sang in a club in New Jersey.
Locascio has a heart on sleeve voice, a bit lower and rougher than Sinatra’s, and with a vibrato as big as a ‘49 Buick on pieces like “Never Gonna Fall In Love Again” and “Georgia.” He shows his humor on a kick the head read of the Rogers and Hart classic during “Joey’s A Tramp.” DeFrancesco is dripping with hip along with the saxes as Locascio gets dramatic on “I Who Have Nothing” with Joey D doubling on trumpet as well as swinging up a storm on “Fly Me To The Moon” and a wild pick with “We Gotta Get Outta This Place.” This guy’s got moxie!