JOE FARRELL — Outback (review)

JOE FARRELL — Outback album cover Album · 1972 · Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Sean Trane
Farrell’s second solo album, again with Chick Corea, but this time with Elvin Jones on drums (Joe was a member of the EJT), Airto on percussions and Buster on bass. Despite the presence of three RTF mk1 members, we’re not in such an album, but somehow, we’re not that far away either sonically speaking. Despite being released on the CTI label, this is an atypical release for the label, certainly jazzier, rather than the soft-jazz it pioneered.

Indeed the opening reprise giving the album its name, Corea’s fusion-ey Rhodes has us flying in the stratosphere with the help of Airto’s subtle percussions, but Elvin’s drumming is second to none – his name is cited in second on the sleeve and slightly larger than Chick’s. Farrell’s own Sound Down returns to a bop realm, Chick and Buster are definitely on top of things in this one.

The flipside opens with Corea’s Bleeding Orchid, which could’ve found its way on an early RTF album, and Farrell reigns supreme with his soprano, but again Elvin pulls another huge performance. There is some Trane spirits on this tune. Speaking of Trane, you’ll also hear some Greensleeves homage in a couple of place throughout the album. The closing Farrell composition November 68th is a very percussive affair (it features an Elvin drum solo), oscillating between jazz and fusion.

Definitely one of the more interesting RTF-related albums - at least to the mk1 line-up – Outback is still not a typical CTI release, but nevertheless one of the more interesting one from their catalogue. And unlike its predecessor and its follow-up, this one is more accessible.

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