TAL FARLOW: The return of Tal Farlow

TAL FARLOW
Bem antes de me apaixonar pelas harmonias de Barney Kessel no LP "Julie is her name", eu já me encantava com a elegância da guitarra de Tal Farlow, um ícone, um "monstro sagrado", símbolo e grande inspirador de toda uma geração de guitarristas de jazz. O produtor de cinema Lorenzo DeStefano, que filmou um documentário sobre a vida de Tal Farlow, escreveu:

"Talmage Holt Farlow's half-century career in jazz embodied the unusual. Born June 7, 1921 in Greensboro, North Carolina, he was supposed to grow up and become a textile plant worker like his father. Instead, he spent countless hours tuned-in to remote radio broadcasts of Count Basie, Benny Goodman and Coleman Hawkins. By the late 1940's, the polite, lanky boy with the massive hands had moved to New York after playing in dance and society bands down South. Tal's highly innovative style and unique sense of harmony soon established him as a vital link in the chain begun by Charlie Christian. His work in the bands of Buddy DeFranco, Artie Shaw, and in the landmark Red Norvo Trio with Charles Mingus eventually landed him on a successful and much-heralded career as a leader. At the top of his form in 1958, Tal Farlow walked out of the limelight as suddenly as he'd walked into it less than ten years before. People wondered where he'd vanished to. Had he cracked up? Was he sick of the jazz scene? Farlow put it more succinctly. "It didn't suit my temperament, I guess." Settling in the coastal town of Sea Bright, New Jersey, the guitarist returned to his old trade as a sign painter. His "disappearance" turned him into a living legend for generations of players and fans. You could still
hear him from time to time into the early eighties in clubs and restaurants along the Jersey Shore. His most loyal listeners found him but press attention was scarce. In addition to showcasing Tal's music, this film explores his reasons for choosing a different kind of life for himself. Since his death, his place among the great innovators of modern jazz seems well assured. Constantly searching,
refining, experimenting, Tal Farlow was more than just a great musician. His patient struggle to find a balance between artistic excellence and peace of mind is the real story behind Talmage Farlow."
Lorenzo DeStefano, Producer/Director.
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TAL FARLOW
The American jazz guitarist Talmage Holt Farlow (June 7, 1921 – July 25, 1998) was born in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1921. Nearly as famous for his reluctance to perform publicly as for his outstanding abilities, he did not take up the instrument until he was 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, which earned him the nickname "Octopus", 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. In 1958, Farlow retired from full-time performing and settled in Sea Bright, New Jersey, returning to a career as a sign painter. He
continued to play occasional dates in local clubs, however. In 1962 the Gibson Guitar Corporation, with Farlow's participation, produced the "Tal Farlow" model in their prestigious Artist Model line. The guitar seen in the picture at right is a prototype model. The production model has a mondolin type scroll at the top of the body. Farlow 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. He was profiled in the documentary film, Talmage Farlow, made in 1980/81. The guitarist can be heard on his own records for Blue Note (1954), Verve,
Prestige (1969), and Concord. He died of cancer at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City on July 25, 1998 at the age of 77.
(Source: wikipedia)
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ALBUM REVIEW
This album is one of the finest jazz guitar albums of all time. Tal is in top form after a long hiatus. His ideas flow greatly and he is more inventive than ever on this album. If "The Swinging Guitar..." is the quintessential album to have by Tal, this would probably be second on the list. From the tantilizing "Darn That Dream" to the blistering "I'll Remember April" the music swings mightily from begining to end. The intro to "My Romance" alone is enough to want to own this album. It coveys all the classic "Farlowism's" (did I just make up a word?) for solo jazz guitar including his unconventional harmonies, free time, chromatic chords, etc. all while maintaining a hold on the melody. This album gets an A+.
(By Gift Card, at amazon.com)
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MINHA OPINIÃO: este álbum foi gravado por Tal Farlow na sua volta à música, depois de haver abandonado a carreira por alguns anos, para se dedicar à prosaica profissão de pintor de letreiros...E voltou com tudo em cima: a mesma técnica assombrosa, a clareza de idéias, a elegância do fraseado, a agilidade e todos os demais atributos que o consagraram como um dos mais importantes guitarristas da história do jazz. Este álbum é um item obrigatório para guitarristas e colecionadores.
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TAL FARLOW: The return of Tal Farlow

PERSONNEL:
Tal Farlow: Guitar
John Scully: Piano
Jack Six: Bass
Alan Dawson: Drums

TRACKS/FAIXAS:
1. Straight, No Chaser
2. Darn That Dream
3. Summertime
4. Sometime Ago
5. I'll Remember April
6. My Romance
7. Crazy, She Calls Me