Danny Federici, organ player in the E Street Band, passed away today. Nicknamed The Phantom, Danny played with Bruce as long as anyone in the band having been part of the Jersey Shore scene and early bands with Bruce.
The organ and accordion add so much depth to the E Street sound. If the piano provides the romance, the organ provides the mystery. I am listening to some favorites tonight that feature the organ. If you have listened to Bruce for years, you may have never noticed the organ because like most E Street sounds (other than the sax), it's typically very subtle and part of the overall texture. Go back to and listen to Backstreets, Spirit in the Night, Kitty's Back, Jungleland (listen to the lines "From the churches to the jails..." and then "the hungry and the hunted..." the organ will give you chills), the under current to the closing coda of Racing in the Street, Promised Land, and even most recently the solo on Living in the Future ("Let the wild dogs run..."). If you listen for it, the organ will blow you away.
I certainly can't say it any better than Bruce, so I will close with two quotes. The first is from the speech he gave when he was inducted in to the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame.
"Danny Federici, the most instinctive and natural musician I ever met and the only member of the band who can reduce me to a shouting mess. I love you Danny. Your organ and accordion playing brought the boardwalks of Central and South Jersey alive in my music. Thank you."
And from Blood Brothers...
"But the stars are burnin' bright like some mystery uncovered
I'll keep movin' through the dark with you in my heart
My blood brother"
RIP Phantom Dan.
JN
The organ and accordion add so much depth to the E Street sound. If the piano provides the romance, the organ provides the mystery. I am listening to some favorites tonight that feature the organ. If you have listened to Bruce for years, you may have never noticed the organ because like most E Street sounds (other than the sax), it's typically very subtle and part of the overall texture. Go back to and listen to Backstreets, Spirit in the Night, Kitty's Back, Jungleland (listen to the lines "From the churches to the jails..." and then "the hungry and the hunted..." the organ will give you chills), the under current to the closing coda of Racing in the Street, Promised Land, and even most recently the solo on Living in the Future ("Let the wild dogs run..."). If you listen for it, the organ will blow you away.
I certainly can't say it any better than Bruce, so I will close with two quotes. The first is from the speech he gave when he was inducted in to the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame.
"Danny Federici, the most instinctive and natural musician I ever met and the only member of the band who can reduce me to a shouting mess. I love you Danny. Your organ and accordion playing brought the boardwalks of Central and South Jersey alive in my music. Thank you."
And from Blood Brothers...
"But the stars are burnin' bright like some mystery uncovered
I'll keep movin' through the dark with you in my heart
My blood brother"
RIP Phantom Dan.
JN
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