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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZFARLOW, Tal(b Talmadge Holt Farlow, 7 June '21, Greensboro SC; d 24 July '98, NYC) Modern jazz guitarist, began playing '43 inspired by Charlie Christian. Played with Marjorie Hyams (ex-Woody Herman) '48, Red Norvo Trio wirth Charles Mingus, Artie Shaw; mostly semi-retired from mid-'50s, teaching, playing for pleasure; he became more active again later and still had plenty of fans. He made his own shorter fingerboard for looser tuning and a softer sound; also a dividing device that allowed an extra line while playing single notes; he published an instruction book Tal Farlow Method. His own albums included Autumn In New York '54 and two-disc compilation Poppin' And Burnin' '55-8 on Verve; First Set, Second Set '56 on Xanadu with Eddie Costa (piano, vibes; b 14 Aug. '30, Atlas, PA.; d 28 July '62, NYC in car crash); made Up Up And Away with Sonny Criss on Prestige '67; a two-disc Prestige compilation called Guitar Player. Trilogy '76 is on Inner City and CBS/Sony in Japan; on Concord Jazz: On Stage '76 with Norvo, Hank Jones, Ray Brown, Jake Hanna on drums; A Sign Of The Times '76 with Jones and Brown; further trio sets Tal Farlow 78, Chromatic Palette '81, quartet Cookin' On All Burners '82, The Legendary Tal Farlow '84. He toured the UK May '85, then retired again. |