Tal Farlow

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Tal Farlow

Background information
Birth name	Talmage Holt Farlow
Born	June 7, 1921
Origin	Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
Died	July 25, 1998
Genre(s)	Mainstream jazz, bebop, cool jazz
Occupation(s)	Guitarist
Instrument(s)	Guitar
Associated acts	Red Norvo, Artie Shaw

Talmage Holt Farlow (June 7, 1921 – July 25, 1998), better known as Tal Farlow, was a jazz guitarist born in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1921. Nearly as famous for his reluctance to play as for his outstanding abilities, Tal 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.

[edit] Select Discography

The Tal Farlow Quartet (1954; Blue Note)
The Tal Farlow Album (1954; Norgran)
The Artistry of Tal Farlow (1955; Norgran)
The Interpretations of Tal Farlow (1955; Norgran)
A Recital by Tal Farlow (1955; Norgran)
Swing Guitars (1955; Norgran)
Tal (1956; Norgran)
The Swinging Guitar of Tal Farlow (1957; Verve)
This is Tal Farlow (1958; Verve)
The Guitar Artistry of Tal Farlow (1960; Verve)
Tal Farlow plays the music of Harold Arlen (1960; Verve)
The Return of Tal Farlow (1969; Prestige)
Tal Farlow Guitar Player (1974; Prestige)
Trinity (1976; CBS Sony)
Fuerst Set (1977; Xanadu Records)
Second Set (1977; Xanadu Records)
A Sign of the Times (1977; Concord Records)
Tal Farlow '78 (1978; Concord Records)
On Stage (1981; Concord Records)
Chromatic Palette (1981; Concord Records)
Cookin' on all Burners (1983; Concord Records)
Poppin' and Burnin' (1984; Verve)
The Legendary Tal Farlow (1985; Concord Records)
All Strings Attached (1987; JazzVisions)
Standards Recital (1993; FD Music)
Project G-5: A Tribute to Wes Montgomery (1993; Evidence)
Jazz Masters 41 Tal Farlow (1995; Verve)
Tal Farlow (1996; Giants of Jazz)
Chance Meeting (1997; Guitarchives TAL FARLOW & LENNY BREAU - MUSIC FROM THE SOUNDTRACK OF "TALMAGE FARLOW".)
Live at the Public Theatre (2000; Productions A-Propos THE TAL FARLOW TRIO (w/ Tommy Flanagan & Red Mitchell - MUSIC FROM THE SOUNDTRACK OF "TALMAGE FARLOW".)
Tal Farlow's Finest Hour (2001; Verve)
Tal's Blues (2002; Past Perfect)
Two Guys with Guitars (2004; Frozen Sky Records)
The Complete Verve Tal Farlow Sessions (2004; Mosaic)