In the Key of the Universe

In the Key of the Universe is a studio album by Joey DeFrancesco, released March 1, 2019. The album received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.

Reception
All About Jazz's Chris Mosey called In the Key of the Universe "an important, even historic album" for featuring Pharoah Sanders' "return from oblivion", and that without Sanders, "the album would be just one more round of Hammond organ tunes that adhere to DeFrancesco's dictum 'I just like to swing.'" AllMusic's Matt Collar said that "While DeFrancesco has always played with an earthy soulfulness, on In the Key of the Universe he elevates that soulfulness to a divine musical plane." DownBeat's Jim Macnie says "there's an exquisite flow to the entire program."

Musicians

 * Joey DeFrancesco – organ, keyboards (1–3, 5–8, 10), trumpet (7, 10), arrangement (6)
 * Billy Hart – drums
 * Troy Roberts – tenor saxophone (3–5, 8–10), soprano saxophone (1, 8), alto saxophone (2), acoustic bass (6, 7)
 * Sammy Figueroa – percussion (1, 2, 5–7, 9, 10)
 * Pharoah Sanders – tenor saxophone (5–7), vocal (6)

Technical

 * Clarke Rigsby – recording engineer, mixing engineer
 * Nathan James – mastering engineer
 * Chris Muth – vinyl mastering
 * Gloria DeFrancesco – production manager
 * Shannon Moore – product manager
 * Raj Naik – design
 * Daniel B. Holeman – cover
 * Michael Woodall – photography
 * Maria Ehrenreich – creative director
 * Gretchen Valade – executive producer
 * Will Wakefield – A&R