Search - Tal Farlow :: Autumn in New York

Great jazz guitar from one of the world's great guitarists

09/06/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Tal Farlow Autumn In New York Poly; ASIN: B00000891T When guitarist Tal Farlow died in July, 1998, at the age of 77, he left behind an unmatched legacy of jazz guitar music. He began his career as a contemporary of the centuries' most recognized and influential jazz guitarists and quickly rose to a pre-eminent position among them. A sign painter by trade, Tal Farlow took up the guitar after hearing Charlie Christian on the radio. He was so impressed with Christian's playing that he went out and bought a fourteen dollar guitar. He taught himself how to play by learning all of Charlie Christian's solos off Benny Goodman records. That was in North Carolina in the late 1930's. In the 1940's Tal Farlow was in New York beginning to influence and capture the imaginations of jazz guitarists and jazz fans with his unique sound and style. He made a number of recordings with Buddy deFranco and Red Norvo before making a series of recordings under his own name in the 1950's. These recordings include "Tal", "This is Tal Farlow", "The Tal Farlow Album" and "Autumn in New York". It was this series of recordings that established Tal Farlow as one of the greatest jazz guitarist of all time. Most of these early recordings remain on vinyl only and most of these are in the hands of collectors. So,it is a real treat when a Tal Farlow album is reissued. "Autumn in New York", contains all the elements of the Tal Farlow sound; clearly articulated lines played throughout the range of the guitar, chromatic chords, complex solos that frequently quote other songs, speed, and that special tone that is immediately recognized as Tal Farlow. All of these elements are heard in "Strike Up The Band". The title song is played in an introspective ballad style. It begins with a chord melody solo that demonstrates the unusual chord forms that mark Farlow's playing. When the rest of the band joins in Farlow restates the melody in a single line style and then moves into a typically complex and flowing Tal Farlow improvisation. This one tune is worth the price of admission, but continue listening. Two selections are Tal Farlow originals; "And She Remembers Me", and "Tal's Blues". The balance are standards that carry the special Tal Farlow mark. Rodgers and Hart get ample representation here with "I'd Like To Recognize The Tune", "Little Girl Blue" and "Have You Met Miss Jones". The vinyl version of this session ends with the romping rendition of the Ray Noble classic "Cherokee". If you'd like to know what kind of music a great jazz guitarist was making in the 1950's this CD is a good place to start. If you'd like to know why guitarists today (young and old) acknowledge a debt to Tal Farlow, this CD is a must. After more than 40 years this music doesn't just hold up, it continues to set a standard for great jazz guitar."