Joe Farrell – Upon This Rock (1974/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Joe Farrell – Upon This Rock (1974/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 37:02 minutes | 1,54 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © CTI Records

Massive music from funky reedman Joe Farrell – quite possibly our favorite of his legendary 70s run for CTI – and that’s saying a lot, given how great those records are! There’s a lean, edgey groove to the set that’s totally great – a lot more bite than usual for CTI, thanks to these wonderfully angular lines from Joe on tenor, soprano sax, and flute – backed up with some wicked guitar work from Joe Beck, who really matches Farrell’s energy – in a core quartet with Herb Bushler on bass and Jim Madison on drums. One cut features a guest group – with Herbie Hancock on piano, Steve Gadd on drums, and Don Alias on percussion – and the album includes the massively break-heavy title cut “Upon This Rock”, plus “Seven Seas”, “I Won’t Be Back”, and “Weathervane”.

As one might guess from the album’s title, this Joe Farrell date is a bit rock-oriented in places. Guitarist Joe Beck is the co-star, and Farrell (who switches between tenor, soprano and flute) is also joined by bassist Herb Bushler and drummer Jim Madison; “I Won’t Be Back” has Farrell, Beck and Bushler joined by keyboardist Herbie Hancock, drummer Steve Gadd and the conga of Don Alias. Good music, but not as essential as Farrell’s first three CTI dates. –AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

Tracklist:

01. Joe Farrell – Weathervane (08:03)
02. Joe Farrell – I Won’t Be Back (10:10)
03. Joe Farrell – Upon This Rock (11:57)
04. Joe Farrell – Seven Seas (06:51)

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