Joseph Carl Firrantello (December 16, 1937 – January 10, 1986), known as Joe Farrell, was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist who primarily performed as a saxophonist and flutist. He is best known for a series of albums under his own name on the CTI record label and for playing in the initial incarnation of Chick Corea's Return to Forever.

Early life and education

Farrell was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois. As a child, Farrell began playing the flute and clarinet. After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in 1959, he moved to New York City to work as a freelance musician.

Career

He joined the Ralph Marterie Band in 1957 and later played with Maynard Ferguson and The Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis Orchestra. He also recorded with Charles Mingus, Andrew Hill, Jaki Byard, Players Association and Elvin Jones. After the death of John Coltrane, Elvin Jones formed a pianoless trio with Jimmy Garrison and Farrell, recording two albums for Blue Note in 1968. In the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, Farrell performed with Chick Corea and Return to Forever. He is the flutist on the original recording of the Corea-penned jazz standard "Spain." He did numerous sessions and contributed a flute solo to Aretha Franklin's 1973 hit "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)". The Santana track "When I Look into Your Eyes" (from Welcome [1973]) includes prominent flute solos from Farrell. During this period, he also contributed tenor saxophone and oboe solos to Hall & Oates' Abandoned Luncheonette (1973). Some of the most famous funk singles of James Brown feature Farrell as a part of the horn section. In 1976, Joe recorded a duo album with George Benson called Benson & Farrell on CTI Records. Farrell recorded Flute Talk with Sam Most in 1979, which was billed as a duet of the world's two greatest jazz flutists. Farrell performs with Brazilian percussionist Airto and Airto's wife Flora Purim on the album Three-Way Mirror. A message on the CD jacket dedicates the 1987 album to Farrell and states it contains his final recordings.

Death

Farrell died of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in Duarte, California, on January 10, 1986, at the age of 48.

Legacy

In 2008, Farrell's daughter Kathleen Firrantello filed a lawsuit against rappers Kanye West, Method Man, Redman and Common, and their respective record labels, for allegedly using portions of Farrell's 1974 musical composition "Upon This Rock" in their songs without approval. Firrantello was seeking punitive damages of at least US$1 million and asked that no further copies of the songs be made, sold or performed.

Discography

As leader / co-leader

As sideman

With Mose Allison With Patti Austin With Average White Band With The Band With Ray Barreto With the Bee Gees With George Benson With Willie Bobo With Frank Butler With Jaki Byard With George Cables With Billy Cobham With Chick Corea With Return to Forever With Lou Donaldson With Maynard Ferguson With Aretha Franklin With Fuse One With Art Garfunkel With Grant Green With Urbie Green With Daryl Hall & John Oates With Slide Hampton **With Andrew Hill ** With Johnny Hodges With Freddie Hubbard With Jackie and Roy With Antônio Carlos Jobim With Elvin Jones With The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra With Rufus Jones With Lee Konitz With John Larkin With Neil Larsen With Jeff Lorber Fusion With Arif Mardin With Pat Martino With Jack McDuff With Charles Mingus With Mingus Dynasty With Blue Mitchell With James Moody With Airto Moreira With Laura Nyro With Flora Purim With The Rascals With Dizzy Reece With Sal Salvador With Santana With Lalo Schifrin With Don Sebesky With Carly Simon With Harris Simon With Dakota Staton With Bobby Timmons With Stanley Turrentine With Allen Vizzutti