Customer Reviews

Return of Tal Farlow

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

He could play fast, but I like his lyricism on the ballads. Distinctive tone (partially having to do with guitar modifications is what I read in the Penguin Jazz Guide) and phrasing and some cool things I don't understand musically. I saw him perform on the National Council for the Traditional Arts' Masters of the Steel String Guitar tour nine or ten years ago. He was followed by Albert Lee (of Emmylou Harris' Hot Band) who said "How can I follow Tal Farlow? The only thing I can do is play louder".

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 (his early work with Red Norvo also being a contender for the #2, of course all in my opinion). 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+.

This incredible 1969 CD was his first in a decade and would be followed by another seven years of silence. Luckily, Farlow had continued playing on a low profile basis in the interim, and he was still very much in top form.
I like Tal very much and own several of his records, as for instance, his 'The swinging guitar of Tal Farlow', which is perhaps his best record and is worth 5 stars. I would also give 5 stars to this 'The Return of Tal Farlow/1969' if it were not for Tal's guitar playing in the theme " My Romance", quite limp or even somewhat vulgar. The remainder of the record is very good. I give it 4 stars.