THE BEST TENOR PLAYER ELVIN HAD.
Burning tenor by JOE FARRELL.
Tim Price
THE BEST TENOR PLAYER ELVIN HAD.
Burning tenor by JOE FARRELL.
Joe Farrell.
Is.
A.
Beast.
Along with Rich Perry he's my favorite tenor player that ever played in the Vanguard band and I never thought Return to Forever sounded better than when he was with them. I wish very much that he were still around.
Is.
A.
Beast.
Along with Rich Perry he's my favorite tenor player that ever played in the Vanguard band and I never thought Return to Forever sounded better than when he was with them. I wish very much that he were still around.
I love his stuff on Return to Forever; La Fiesta...man, when he shoots it up to that High F# and makes it sound good. I love his sound too, it is what I am wanting to sound like. I am getting there....
Check him on Pat Martino's 'Strings'-great straight ahead playing.
http://www.concordmusicgroup.com/albums/OJCCD-223-2/
Jamie
http://www.concordmusicgroup.com/albums/OJCCD-223-2/
Jamie
Great clip Tim!
I love that "Gingerbread" tune--I think my favourite version is by Dexter Gordon.
The first time I ever heard of Joe Farrell was on that The Band Rock of Ages album!
Watching that clip I can't imagine what it must have been like to play with such an absolute monster drummer behind you! A normal man would have been terrified! And talk about filling big shoes! Wow. Very cool!
R.
I love that "Gingerbread" tune--I think my favourite version is by Dexter Gordon.
The first time I ever heard of Joe Farrell was on that The Band Rock of Ages album!
Watching that clip I can't imagine what it must have been like to play with such an absolute monster drummer behind you! A normal man would have been terrified! And talk about filling big shoes! Wow. Very cool!
R.
Puttin It Together with Jimmy and Elvin is a real gem.
I remember going to see Return To Forever at the Jazz Workshop as a teenager. Boy was I bummed when I found out there was no Joe Farrell and instead the band had a guitar player. When I heard them- Chick, Stanley, Bill Connors, Steve Gadd and Mingo Lewis I wasn't bumming because they were fantastic but I still had my heart set on seeing Joe Farrell.
I finally got to see Joe once with the first tour of the Mingus alumnist band, what a great player.
I remember going to see Return To Forever at the Jazz Workshop as a teenager. Boy was I bummed when I found out there was no Joe Farrell and instead the band had a guitar player. When I heard them- Chick, Stanley, Bill Connors, Steve Gadd and Mingo Lewis I wasn't bumming because they were fantastic but I still had my heart set on seeing Joe Farrell.
I finally got to see Joe once with the first tour of the Mingus alumnist band, what a great player.
Sounds like a Berg. I think he sounds kind of like a cross between Sonny Rollins on his Berg and Trane. Anyone agree?Keith Ridenhour said:
I saw him live back in the '70s. He didn't sound like Trane or Rollins. But he sounded a whole lot like Joe Farrell. Fantastic player!Martinman said:
Joes mouthpiece was a HARD RUBBER BERG 100 over zero with #5 Rico brown box reeds.
The tenor was a MK6 later to be a factory gold plate MK6 he got in early 70s.
Joe was serious biz, he had ENERGY and knowledge. I used to go to his house near Central Park & practice with him, talk music all day sometimes.
I miss him, he was a total musician in an ear where there WERE tours and 7 night a week jazz gigs. Joe also was a interesting writer, some of his tunes I urge you to check out. I think " Molten Glass" is in the RealBook but might not have the tensions correct. Also " Great Gorge" is a fantastic funk tune from the " Moon Germs" CTI session as " Moon Germs" is a nother Farrell tune.
I still play " BaraBara"...a lot.
Joe took me to check out the " Moon Germs" record date...at Rudy Van Gelders. What a day!! It was all 1st takes and really inspiring playing. I still can hear Joes soprano sound in my mind. On that date he had recorded a version on English Horn of " What Are You Doing The Rest Of You Life". It never got to the record. Herbie Hancock years later remarked to me, when I asked him if he remembered it, about how Farrell was just together in such a complete way.
I mean, we all know Elvin had some incrediable tenor players. Some guys never got recorded with Elvin either...Like the late Roland Alexander. Roland was something else. But Joe Farrell, was the cat. He was centered and ready for that gig. HIS TIME WAS A KNOCK OUT. He told me once about the rubber Berg and how he got sick of the Link he use to use with Jaki and Maynard cause of the projection. He also gave me advise on gigs to persue like getting into the CHITLIN CIRCUIT to get some experience in the organ group thing. Which- he was 100% right about.
Speaking of Elvin Jones; there was a radio show in the 60s I heard from Boston. I wasn't there yet but a pianist had it...it was Herb Pomeroys radio jazz show....with Elvins band live. NOW, the clincher was Farrell had yet to join Elvin, but on this show Elvin had the great Joe Alexander!!! The legendary Joe Alexander from Clevland Ohio. LOVANO even wrote a tune about him - called " Alexander The Great". In any case...if anyone has a copy of the tape- I'D LIKE ONE. I was just talking to Ernie Krivda about that SHOW last week and he mentioned the same thing via a tape of it. SOMEWHERE, ,
there gotta be one. ( I hope ) This musta been from 1965-ish or so?!?
Just in case- keep your ears open on it.
Farrell was funny too. He had a studio for rehearsals in his home and HERMENTO...was rehearsing there. Hermento took a metal pot Farrell had on the stove and was using it as a drum. I asked Joe why, and
he sais " Hermento said it was in Db " and broke out laughing. Joe also used to get a kick outta Ed Beachs radio shows. Once he took me up there and Beach looked exactly as he sounded as per Joes quips. Wing tip shoes and thick glasses. It was far out. Anyone here remember ED BEACH radio shows in NYC? This was mid 70s.
Anyhow; here's another ELVIN with Joe ;
ENJOY THE MASTER OF THE TENOR- Joe Farrell.
The tenor was a MK6 later to be a factory gold plate MK6 he got in early 70s.
Joe was serious biz, he had ENERGY and knowledge. I used to go to his house near Central Park & practice with him, talk music all day sometimes.
I miss him, he was a total musician in an ear where there WERE tours and 7 night a week jazz gigs. Joe also was a interesting writer, some of his tunes I urge you to check out. I think " Molten Glass" is in the RealBook but might not have the tensions correct. Also " Great Gorge" is a fantastic funk tune from the " Moon Germs" CTI session as " Moon Germs" is a nother Farrell tune.
I still play " BaraBara"...a lot.
Joe took me to check out the " Moon Germs" record date...at Rudy Van Gelders. What a day!! It was all 1st takes and really inspiring playing. I still can hear Joes soprano sound in my mind. On that date he had recorded a version on English Horn of " What Are You Doing The Rest Of You Life". It never got to the record. Herbie Hancock years later remarked to me, when I asked him if he remembered it, about how Farrell was just together in such a complete way.
I mean, we all know Elvin had some incrediable tenor players. Some guys never got recorded with Elvin either...Like the late Roland Alexander. Roland was something else. But Joe Farrell, was the cat. He was centered and ready for that gig. HIS TIME WAS A KNOCK OUT. He told me once about the rubber Berg and how he got sick of the Link he use to use with Jaki and Maynard cause of the projection. He also gave me advise on gigs to persue like getting into the CHITLIN CIRCUIT to get some experience in the organ group thing. Which- he was 100% right about.
Speaking of Elvin Jones; there was a radio show in the 60s I heard from Boston. I wasn't there yet but a pianist had it...it was Herb Pomeroys radio jazz show....with Elvins band live. NOW, the clincher was Farrell had yet to join Elvin, but on this show Elvin had the great Joe Alexander!!! The legendary Joe Alexander from Clevland Ohio. LOVANO even wrote a tune about him - called " Alexander The Great". In any case...if anyone has a copy of the tape- I'D LIKE ONE. I was just talking to Ernie Krivda about that SHOW last week and he mentioned the same thing via a tape of it. SOMEWHERE, ,
there gotta be one. ( I hope ) This musta been from 1965-ish or so?!?
Just in case- keep your ears open on it.
Farrell was funny too. He had a studio for rehearsals in his home and HERMENTO...was rehearsing there. Hermento took a metal pot Farrell had on the stove and was using it as a drum. I asked Joe why, and
he sais " Hermento said it was in Db " and broke out laughing. Joe also used to get a kick outta Ed Beachs radio shows. Once he took me up there and Beach looked exactly as he sounded as per Joes quips. Wing tip shoes and thick glasses. It was far out. Anyone here remember ED BEACH radio shows in NYC? This was mid 70s.
Anyhow; here's another ELVIN with Joe ;
ENJOY THE MASTER OF THE TENOR- Joe Farrell.
Ed Beach was the best thing on the radio, I used to hear him around 1970. I'd listen at night when I was supposed to be asleep. I didn't know a damn thing but the way he would introduce those players and tunes made me want to listen. He was one of the great DJ's thats for sure.
I grew up on "Light as a Feather" and boy, a record like that will spoil you on "pretty good jazz" for life. The level of risk-taking on that piece is just breath-taking.
Years later I found Joe on Jaki Byard's Live! a/k/a "Lennie's Vol. 1." He doubles on mighty fine drums while Alan Dawson plays vibes. It's another desert-island disk.
I also dig Skate Board Park. Perhaps the scope is a little narrower than those two, but what a charming, swinging piece. And compositionally, Chick's "The Aerialist" is a perfect link between "Tones For Joan's Bones" and the fabled "Three Quartets" (which is saying quite a lot!). Cool, cool record.
Years later I found Joe on Jaki Byard's Live! a/k/a "Lennie's Vol. 1." He doubles on mighty fine drums while Alan Dawson plays vibes. It's another desert-island disk.
I also dig Skate Board Park. Perhaps the scope is a little narrower than those two, but what a charming, swinging piece. And compositionally, Chick's "The Aerialist" is a perfect link between "Tones For Joan's Bones" and the fabled "Three Quartets" (which is saying quite a lot!). Cool, cool record.
First time I saw Joe play, in about 75' with Herb Bueschler(sp?), Steve Gadd, and Joe Beck at the old "Five Spot" just down from the Fillmore in NYC. We sat at a table DIRECTLY in front of Joe, and he was burnin! They played tunes from his "Penny Arcade" album, and some from Joe Becks second? one, "BECK", (the one with Sanborn on it).
Great clips Tim! Thanks. Really wish I could've met Joe, he is a MAIN inspiration for me, as you well know.
Joe's version of Too High on the Penny Arcade album is fantastic.....
Great clips Tim! Thanks. Really wish I could've met Joe, he is a MAIN inspiration for me, as you well know.
Joe's version of Too High on the Penny Arcade album is fantastic.....
The Elvin Jones records.LiAm84 said:
Chick Corea and Return to Forever -- 'Return to Forever' and 'Light as a Feather' (especially Light....)
Chick Corea - Friends
bigtiny
I think you mean "Friends" -- "Three Quartets" was done after Joe died and has Michael Brecker in his chair....Sam said:
bigtiny
Hey that's a great cut. And Martinman, now I have to agree with you, at least on this recording. On this one I do hear a lot of Coltrane and Rollins influences in his playing. When I heard Joe years after this recording, he had more of his own sound. And of course even here he has a sound of his own. But yeah, you can hear the influences.Tim Price said:
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