Tal Farlow
If you’ve ever spent any time studying
jazz chord melody stylings, then you
probably know who Tal Farlow is.
Though not a household name, Farlow
was a groundbreaking early be-bopper
who achieved initial notoriety playing
in a trio with pianist Red Norvo and
a young Charles Mingus on upright
bass. His virtuosic solo chord melody
inventions are why we still talk about
him today, however. His skill in this
area is unequaled, and at the time of
his professional debut his facility with
solo jazz guitar was positively shocking.
Despite this, Farlow spent his whole
life drifting in and out of the jazz world,
appearing on the scene periodically to
make a record or play a few sets before
heading back to his home town of Sea
Bright, New Jersey, where he made a
living painting signs and giving guitar
lessons out of his house.
ToneReport.com
27