生于1921年美国纽约是Tal Farlow是爵士乐电吉他手中的异数,他的语法让吉他的起伏多变有力,不独如此,为了要成全其吉他音色的刚柔,他还亲手改装其电吉他,将令人惊骇的速度和大胆的和声相结合,创造了革新性的单音演奏风格,推促着爵士吉他演奏进入了bebop时代。给Farlow影响最大的音乐家并不是其他的吉他手,而是传奇的钢琴演奏家Art Tatum和伟大的萨克斯演奏家Lester Young。Farlow首次给爵士乐坛带来冲击是在1949年与Red Norvo三重奏乐团一起演出,乐团的贝司手是Charles Mingus。1954年,Farlow开始为著名爵士乐指挥家Norman Granz的Verve唱片公司灌制唱片。Farlow早期的小型演出即受到不少圈内人士的激赏,1949年Tal Farlow加入Red Norvo乐队,次年更与传奇贝斯手Charles Mingus交锋,展现出有如快刀斩乱麻的吉他音色。不久Farlow却将其演奏重点置于电吉他音色的处理上,其后期加入Artie Shaw五重奏时的录音记载可见一斑。50年代,Farlow进入半退隐状态,出人意表的是,60年代复出后于Prestige的录音作品中,喜见其成熟内敛的吉他表现,与萨克斯风手Sonny Criss的合作更见精彩的演出默契。80年于威尼斯爵士嘉年华中的现场演出更被乐评广誉为当代听过最好的吉他solo。 Tal Farlow是一个天生的速度之魔,他在短短的一年内就已经成为一个出色的专业乐手了。他是第一个讲究演奏技术和手指灵活性的乐手,他的快的离奇的爵士bop乐句至今仍激励着吉他手们达到更高的速度。他对节奏有着深刻的理解,作为Red Norvo三重奏组的吉他手,他仍然能演奏出炽热的solo,使音乐充满生机。
by Scott Yanow
Nearly as famous for his reluctance to play as for his outstanding abilities, guitarist Tal Farlow 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 Shaws 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 ary 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.