When I was in high school, I stumbled on Farrell's 1975 LP 'Canned Funk' and had to buy the album on the strength of its weirdo cover. Since then I have picked up his first six solo LPs and absolutely dig them all. Thanks for highlighting this often overlooked Jazz man.
Nice! I wrote a long review of Skate Board Park when it was reissued on CD in 2015, and subsequently bought Farrell's CTI albums (there was a budget 5CD box with most of them, and I had to buy Moon Germs separately).
Thanks for this! Those albums were all over the used bins when I was record shopping as a kid but I think the CTI branding scared me off as too fusion-y. Too bad for me, because they're outstanding!
Great piece on Joe Farrell - a great player. He also played, among other guest appearances, the flute solo on Laura Nyro's 'Poverty Train.'
Good call. I did not know that - I just listened to it. Thanks for sharing.
You're welcome - Farrell was on a ton of records.
When I was in high school, I stumbled on Farrell's 1975 LP 'Canned Funk' and had to buy the album on the strength of its weirdo cover. Since then I have picked up his first six solo LPs and absolutely dig them all. Thanks for highlighting this often overlooked Jazz man.
Yes! those are great. Although I didn't mention it, I also really dig his Blue Note sessions with Elvin Jones.
Nice! I wrote a long review of Skate Board Park when it was reissued on CD in 2015, and subsequently bought Farrell's CTI albums (there was a budget 5CD box with most of them, and I had to buy Moon Germs separately).
https://burningambulance.com/2015/12/23/joe-farrell/
Yes! I remember that review. Nice job on that.
Thanks for this! Those albums were all over the used bins when I was record shopping as a kid but I think the CTI branding scared me off as too fusion-y. Too bad for me, because they're outstanding!
Joe Farrell plays, like, five instruments on Andrew Hill's 1969 BN 'Passing Ships' [to which can be added oboe-never knew]
Thank you for this fine tribute. Btw, imo, his '73 CTI, 'Moon Germs' is his finest hour, with Herbie, Stan Clarke & Jack DeJohnette.