Universal Japan
1956
Tal
About This Album
Tal Farlow was hitting his stride in 1956; he was named by Down Beat magazine critics as the very best jazz guitarist in the world, and for all the right reasons. Where other similar players of his day combined rhythmic chords with linear melodies, Farlow preferred placing single notes together in clusters, varying between harmonically richened tones based on a startling new technique. His spider-like fingers handled the guitar in a way no other player could match, and this physical approach set Farlow apart from all others. The evidence is clearly heard on this trio recording sans drummer, ably helped by the wonderful pianist Eddie Costa and bassist Vinnie Burke. At his core a bopper, Farlow fairly flies through this stack of standards with astounding dexterity, and makes it all sound so easy when in fact it is not. At his most relaxed "Isn't It Romantic" is surprisingly polite, but Farlow plays with the guitar, plucking strings and letting them briefly resonate with a sound that is compellingly arresting. But he's completely astounding on the hardest swingers like the stunningly fast Clark Terry tune "Chuckles," where he and Costa play in tandem, and Farlow actually picks a few chords.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,4,5 and 6)

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