One of those great Jazz Festival moments occurred last night near the end of Joey DeFrancesco's late show at Kilbourn Hall. Moments earlier DeFrancesco had introduced singer Colleen McNabb, who proceeded to delight the audience with a vocal rendition of Bill Evans' "Waltz For Debbie."

Then he brought out the festival's artistic director, tenor saxophonist John Nugent, to join the group on a raunchy tune that I believe was titled "Betty Crocker." Not satisfied to stay behind his organ, DeFrancesco picked up a blow organ (or melodica) and strutted out to compete with Nugent blow by blow.

Both of them had fun getting down and dirty, weaving around McNabb's suggestive lyrics. DeFrancesco was so pleased by the audience's wildly enthusiastic response, he said this was the kind of reception he expected only in Europe or Japan. He called it a spiritual experience.

DeFrancesco, who has held a spot at the top of jazz critics' polls for the last decade, enjoys bouncing off other keyboardists. (He once recorded an album with the great Jimmy Smith). His dueling partner Saturday night was native Rochesterian, and up-and-coming organ wonder, Pat Bianci. They seemed to energize each other more and more as the set progressed.

DeFrancesco can get a bit corny, and at the beginning of his encore he joked around with the kind of cliché organ flourishes you hear at baseball stadiums. Turned out he was not joking; the encore tune was "Take Me Out To The Ball Game," featuring an audience sing-along and some jazzy organ solos in the middle.

Saturday I also caught Nordic Connect at the Lutheran Church. I had high expectations, having heard the group's leader, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, solo beautifully with Maria Schneider's Orchestra. There was occasionally strong interplay between Jensen and her sax-playing sister Christine Jensen, and pianist Maggi Olin was nicely lyrical on her solos. But the group's compositions never seemed to jell. They all seemed endlessly meandering.

They also kept announcing that their CDs were for sale in the back (between every composition!). Once per set (before the last song) is really enough for that announcement.

I can't make it to the festival Sunday night, but Monday I'm looking forward to the Django Reinhardt-inspired guitarist Stephane Wrembel, and the legendary percussionist, Chico Hamilton with his group, Euphoria.