RICHARDSON, Texas (Sept. 13, 2004) — Downbeat Magazine ’s 2004 Critics Poll #1 Jazz Organist and nominee for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo at the 46 th Annual Grammy awards, Joey DeFrancesco , will appear in concert at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) Conference Center on Friday, Oct. 8, at 8 p.m.

It will be the first time that the Joey DeFrancesco Trio, which also includes Paul Bollenback on guitar and Byron Landham on drums, will play at UTD. The three artists have worked together on numerous albums. Bollenback has appeared on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Entertainment Tonight and The Tonight Show. And jazz drummer Mickey Roker insisted at the 2004 Vancouver International Jazz Festival that Landham was “one of the best drummers in the world right now.”

DeFrancesco is credited by the jazz community with reviving interest in the Hammond B-3 organ, which had been eclipsed by the synthesizer prior to his first album, All of Me. In fact, at the time of the release, the Hammond Organ Company had not produced a new B-3 for 14 years. This album and DeFrancesco’s unique style lead to a revival of the B-3’s popularity. The Hammond Organ Company even engaged his services to design a more portable and electronically modern version of the B-3, the Hammond XB5.

Throughout his career, DeFrancesco has performed with many talented and famous artists — from Miles Davis, with whom he toured at 17, to Ray Charles, appearing on Charles’ Genius Loves Company in 2004. Downbeat Magazine raves, “ DeFrancesco is an energetic, unpretentious, soulful, swinging virtuoso who oozes confidence. His style, though heavily influenced by Jimmy Smith, comes across as personal and intimate.”

Tickets for the show are $20 for general admission, $10 for students from other schools and free to UTD students with a valid identification. UTD ticket office hours are from 2 to 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and at the door one hour prior to show time. To purchase tickets using Visa, MasterCard or Discover, please call 972-883-2972.

More information about the event is available at: http://ah.utdallas.edu/season0405/defrancesco.htm.

For information about the many musical, arts, theatre, dance and other performances and exhibitions held throughout the year at UTD, please call 972-UTD-ARTS (972-883-2787), e-mail utdarts@utdallas.edu or visit the School of Arts and Humanities’ web site at www.utdallas.edu/ah. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations may call 972-883-2982, Texas Relay Operator 1-800-RELAYVV.

About UTD

The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor®, enrolls more than 14,000 students. The school’s freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UTD, please visit the university’s Web site at www.utdallas.edu.