Tal Farlow

Nearly as famous for his reluctance to play as for his outstanding abilities, guitarist Tal Farlow did not take up the instrument until he was already 21, but within a year was playing professionally and in 1948 was with Marjorie Hyams' band. While with the Red Norvo Trio (which originally included Charles Mingus) from 1949-1953, Farlow became famous in the jazz world. His huge hands and ability to play rapid yet light lines made him one of the top guitarists of the era. After six months with Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five in 1953, Farlow put together his own group, which for a time included pianist Eddie Costa. Late in 1958, Farlow settled on the East Coast, became a sign painter, and just played locally. He only made one record as a leader during 1960-1975, but emerged a bit more often during 1976-1984, recording for Concord fairly regularly before largely disappearing again. Profiled in the definitive documentary Talmage Farlow, the guitarist can be heard on his own records for Blue Note (1954), Verve, Prestige (1969), and Concord. He died of cancer July 25, 1998, at age 77.

Recommended Listening

Tal Farlow : The Swinging Guiatr Of Tal Farlow

There were several fine jazz guitarists--Billy Bauer, Jimmy Raney, and Johnny Smith among them--who emerged in the late '40s and early '50s only to leave the spotlight within a few years. Tal Farlow, who died in 1998, stood out even among this gifted group, a brilliant musician who chose to spend much of his life working as a sign painter in North Carolina, playing locally and occasionally returning to the recording studios. On this 1956 session, Farlow led a trio with pianist Eddie Costa and bassist Vinnie Burke. The style of the group--without horns or drums--might be described as "chamber bop," relatively quiet music that swings mightily with complex and mutually supportive interaction, rhythmic verve and fluid invention. Farlow spins out stunning, seemingly effortless, lines of melody, both on bop tunes like Charlie Parker's "Yardbird Suite" and standards such as "Like Someone in Love." His overlapping exchanges with Costa--who possessed a Bud Powell-like fluency--are inspired. - Stuart Broomer. Order here from Amazon.com

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