Joe Farrell

Joe Farrell

Source: Steve Kahn

Born Joseph Carl Firrantello on 16 December 1937 in Chicago, flautist and saxophonist, Joe Farrell, graduated from the University of Illinois in 1959, whence he went to New York City to forge his career in music. He is thought to have published his first composition, 'Tomboy' in 1959, co-written with Jim Conway and released by Perry Como. His first determinable appearance on vinyl was entirely something different with the big band of Maynard Ferguson in 1960 on the album, 'Newport Suite'. (Note that this article is phrased in alignment with Tom Lord's sessionography as if that were complete: "first" or "last" usually means per that work.)

Farrell would join Ferguson on seven more albums including a couple featuring vocalist, Chris Connor, to 'Conquistador' issued in 1977. Well to comment that after Farrell's first session with Ferguson he joined bassist, Charles Mingus, for 'Pre Bird' in May of 1960. He and Mingus would visit again at Radio City Music Hall in NYC on July 7, 1974, for 'All the Things You Are' and a medley including 'I Can't Get Started, 'Smoke Get's In Your Eyes', et al.

More consequential to Farrell's career was bassist, Ron Carter, with whom he'd joined trumpeter, Dizzy Reece, for the latter's 'Asia Minor' on March 13, 1962. Included were Cecil Payne (baritone sax), Hank Jones (piano) and Charlie Persip (drums). Come February 17, 1967, for titles with Stanley Turrentine that would see issue in 2007 on 'A Bluish Bag'. Carter and Farrell fairly reined the same wagon in support of other bands through countless sessions to as late as Hank Crawford's 'Don't Worry 'Bout a Thing' in June of 1974.

Of yet greater significance to Farrell's career was keyboardist, Chick Corea, with whom Farrell's first mutual session had been in October of 1962 for Willie Bobo's 'Bobo's Beat'. While also supporting other bands on occasion for the next thirty years, Farrell participated in nine of Corea's albums from 'Tones for Joan's Bones' in 1966 to 'Secret Agent' in 1978. Half of the latter eight were with Corea's ensemble, Return to Forever, its last studio LP, 'Musicmagic', issued in 1977, 'Live' in 1978. Corea contributed to Farrell's first name issues on October 1, 1967, for his composition, '13 Avenue B', and a cover of 'Stella By Starlight'. Those got released on 'Jazz for a Sunday Afternoon Vol 4' in 1969. Corea also supported Farrell's debut LP, 'Joe Farrell Quartet', in July of 1970, 'Outback' in November of '71 and 'Skateboard Park' on January 29, 1979.

Other large figures along Farrell's path were trumpeter, Thad Jones, and drummer, Mel Lewis. Farrell and Jones first got mixed together in Europe in July of 1964 to record a cover of Thelonious Monk's ''Round Midnight' for pianist, George Russell. That got included on the Russell CD, 'Things New: Unissued Concerts 1960 & 1964', in 2007. Come September of 1964 in Germany for Russell's 'Live in Breman and Paris 1964'. Farrell first recorded with the famous Thad Jones/Mel Lewis partnership on February 7, 1966, per their Big Band at the Village Vanguard in NYC for titles like 'Big Dipper', 'Mornin' Reverend', et al. Farrell was also a member of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, last recording with that operation on June 17, 1969, for 'Central Park North'. Jones and Farrell would hook up again in NYC in 1971 with the Hermeto Pascoal Orchestra for 'Hermeto'.

Backing up to Russell and Jones in July of 1964 per above, included trombonist, Garnett Brown. Farrell and Brown mixed numerously in support of various bands, like the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis outfit, into the seventies. Brown supported Farrell on 'Night Dancing' in 1978.

Also recording with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band in February of 1966 was bassist, Richard Davis, also a member of the Jazz Orchestra. After their mutual period with that organization, Davis and Farrell joined Lou Donaldson in December of 1972 for 'Sophisticated Lou'.

Trumpeter, Marvin Stamm, was another of Farrell's close associates, he joining the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra on January 24, 1967, for 'Sophisticated Lady', 'Willow Tree' and 'Hawaii'. That would lead to oft interweaving paths in the support of numerous, such as T-Bone Walker, to as late as Maynard Ferguson's 'Conquistador' in 1978 in San Francisco.

Farrell first recorded with pianist, Herbie Hancock, on 21 August 1967 in NYC toward Harold Vick's 'The Melody Is Here'. Future sessions included Hancock's support on Farrell's 'Moongerms', 'Penny Arcade' and 'Night Dancing'.

On October 1, 1967, Farrell held his initial session with drummer, Elvin Jones, that with Chick Corea for Farrell's first name issues, his composition, '13 Avenue B', and a cover of 'Stella by Starlight'. Per above, those got issued on 'Jazz for a Sunday Afternoon Vol 4' in 1969. Also in on that had been Richard Davis, Brown and Stamm. Farrell would emerge on nine of Jones' albums from 'Puttin' It Together' on April 8 of 1968 to 'New Agenda' in 1975. Along the way Jones provided rhythm to Farrell's 'Outback' in November of 1971.

Guitarist, George Benson, was another of Farrell's important comrades, participating in Benson's 'Tell It Like It Is' in 1969, 'Pacific Fire' ('83) in 1975 and 'Good King Bad' in December 1975. Come 'Benson & Farrell' in 1976.

The early seventies witnessed Farrell's involvement with Brazilian musicians arriving to the United States, Antônio Carlos Jobim leading on March 16 of 1970 for 'Ampora' with Eumir Deodato arranging, that with future sessions to find release on 'Stone Flower'. Airto Moreira contributed percussion to that, commencing an association that witnessed numerous recordings together in the support of various, such as Chick Corea, into the seventies. November 1971 saw Moreira siding Farrell's 'Outback' with Corea (piano), Buster Williams (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums). It was Moreira's 'Free' in early 1972. In 1978 Moreira participated in Farrell's 'Night Dancing'. Farrell contributed to Moreira's 'Latino: Aqui Se Puede' issued in 1984 (issued in Germany as 'Jump' in 1993'). May 5 of 1985 saw them recording 'Three-Way Mirror' with Brazilian vocalist, Flora Purim.

Farrell had first backed Flora Purim in the Hermeto Pascoal Orchestra in NYC for 'Hermeto' in 1971. Among multiple recordings together was 'Light as a Feather' on tour to London in October of 1972. Included on that were Corea (keyb#oards), Moreira (percussion) and Stanley Clarke (bass). Sometime in 1985 Farrell and Moreira backed Purim's 'Humble People'.

Stanley Clarke also played a major role in Farrell's career. They had held their first mutual sessions on February 2 and 3 of 1972 for Corea's 'Return to Forever' with Moreira and Purim. Clarke and Farrell would visit on multiple occasions throughout the seventies backing various enterprises such as Corea's. Along the way Clarke added bass to Farrell's 'Moongerms' on November 21, 1972 and 'La Catedral y El Toro' in 1977. Come April 1980 Farrell would support Clarke's 'Fuse One'.

Both Joe Beck (guitar) and Steve Gadd (drums) joined Farrell on 'Penny Arcade' in October of 1973. Beck would also join Farrell on 'Upon This Rock' in March of 1974 and 'Canned Funk' in latter winter of 1974. Farrell and Gadd went back to 1968, recording for Gap Mangione, and would end up in numerous sessions together, particularly with Corea.

Farrell averaged about one solo album per year, issuing sixteen as a leader or co-leader until his premature death in Los Angeles on 10 January 1986 of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), age only 48.

Among others with whom Farrell had recorded were the CTI All Stars ('72), Brother Jack McDuff, Clark Woodard and Brian Bromberg.