Talmage Holt Farlow (June 7, 1921 – July 25, 1998) was an American jazz gui… Read Full Bio ↴Talmage Holt Farlow (June 7, 1921 – July 25, 1998) was an American jazz guitarist. He is considered one of the all-time great jazz guitarists.
Farlow was born in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1921, with his first introduction to a stringed instrument being the mandolin (tuned like a uke), as a young child. Nearly as famous for his reluctance to perform publicly as for his outstanding abilities, he did not take up the instrument until he was 21, but within a year was playing professionally and in 1948 was with Marjorie Hyams' band. While with the Red Norvo Trio from 1949–1953, Farlow became famous in the jazz world. His huge hands and ability to play rapid yet light lines, which earned him the nickname "Octopus", made him one of the top guitarists of the era. Where other similar players of his day combined rhythmic chords with linear melodies, Farlow preferred placing single notes together in clusters, varying between harmonically enriched tones based on a startling new technique.
After six months with Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five in 1953, Farlow put together his own group, which for a time included pianist Eddie Costa. In 1958, Farlow retired from full-time performing and settled in Sea Bright, New Jersey, returning to a career as a sign painter. He continued to play occasional dates in local clubs, however. In 1962 the Gibson Guitar Corporation, with Farlow's participation, produced the "Tal Farlow" model in their prestigious Artist Model line. The production model has a mandolin-style scroll at the top of the body.
In 1968 while living in Sea Bright, Tal Farlow visited Phil Petillo's Studio Workshop every Saturday up until the early 1980s. Dr. Petillo, with legendary Tal Farlow, built what was known as the Full House Concept First Octave Divider, which was a stool that had a built-in amplifier and a pedal to control it. It provided smooth, rich warmth to the sound of the guitar with volume without distortion while allowing the artist more freedom of movement when performing. At this time, Phillip designed Tal a specialized guitar with a moving pickup that had nylon tracks underneath the pickguard to adjust the pickup in any position between the end of the fingerboard and bridge for jazz performances to suit his own individual needs, and to introduce young players to jazz and its components. They had a good creative working relationship for many years.
Farlow 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. He was profiled in the documentary film, Talmage Farlow, made in 1980/81. The guitarist can be heard on his records for Blue Note (a 10" LP in 1954), Norgran (later Verve, 1954–60), and Prestige (1969), as well as those for Concord.
Farlow died in New York City on July 25, 1998.
Farlow was born in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1921, with his first introduction to a stringed instrument being the mandolin (tuned like a uke), as a young child. Nearly as famous for his reluctance to perform publicly as for his outstanding abilities, he did not take up the instrument until he was 21, but within a year was playing professionally and in 1948 was with Marjorie Hyams' band. While with the Red Norvo Trio from 1949–1953, Farlow became famous in the jazz world. His huge hands and ability to play rapid yet light lines, which earned him the nickname "Octopus", made him one of the top guitarists of the era. Where other similar players of his day combined rhythmic chords with linear melodies, Farlow preferred placing single notes together in clusters, varying between harmonically enriched tones based on a startling new technique.
After six months with Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five in 1953, Farlow put together his own group, which for a time included pianist Eddie Costa. In 1958, Farlow retired from full-time performing and settled in Sea Bright, New Jersey, returning to a career as a sign painter. He continued to play occasional dates in local clubs, however. In 1962 the Gibson Guitar Corporation, with Farlow's participation, produced the "Tal Farlow" model in their prestigious Artist Model line. The production model has a mandolin-style scroll at the top of the body.
In 1968 while living in Sea Bright, Tal Farlow visited Phil Petillo's Studio Workshop every Saturday up until the early 1980s. Dr. Petillo, with legendary Tal Farlow, built what was known as the Full House Concept First Octave Divider, which was a stool that had a built-in amplifier and a pedal to control it. It provided smooth, rich warmth to the sound of the guitar with volume without distortion while allowing the artist more freedom of movement when performing. At this time, Phillip designed Tal a specialized guitar with a moving pickup that had nylon tracks underneath the pickguard to adjust the pickup in any position between the end of the fingerboard and bridge for jazz performances to suit his own individual needs, and to introduce young players to jazz and its components. They had a good creative working relationship for many years.
Farlow 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. He was profiled in the documentary film, Talmage Farlow, made in 1980/81. The guitarist can be heard on his records for Blue Note (a 10" LP in 1954), Norgran (later Verve, 1954–60), and Prestige (1969), as well as those for Concord.
Farlow died in New York City on July 25, 1998.
Yardbird Suite
Tal Farlow Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Yardbird Suite' by these artists:
Al Cohn It's hard to learn How tears can burn one's heart But…
Al Cohn & Phil Woods It's hard to learn How tears can burn one's heart But…
Al Cohn Zoot Sims It's hard to learn How tears can burn one's heart But…
Carmen McRae It's hard to learn How tears can burn one's heart But…
Charlie Parker Charlie Parker - Alto Saxophone Miles Davis - Trumpet Lucky …
Greg Abate It's hard to learn How tears can burn one's heart But…
Herbie Mann It's hard to learn How tears can burn one's heart But…
Herbie Mann & Phil Woods It's hard to learn How tears can burn one's heart But…
Herbie Mann - Be Bop Synthesis It's hard to learn How tears can burn one's heart But…
Miles Davis charlie parker tune: Eddie Jefferson arrangement) Verse I --…
Mose Allison It's hard to learn How tears can burn one's heart But…
Phil Woods It's hard to learn How tears can burn one's heart But…
Rebop/Herbie Mann It's hard to learn How tears can burn one's heart But…
Warne Marsh Trio/Quartet Hey He The Playing That really The He’s He he’ll And He You …
We have lyrics for these tracks by Tal Farlow:
A Foggy Day I was a stranger in the city Out of town were…
All Through The Night The day is my enemy, the night my friend, For I'm…
Anythings Goes Times have changed And we've ofter rewound the clock Since t…
Autumn in New York Nilsson Harry Miscellaneous I Guess The Lord Must Be In New …
Autumn Leaves The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of…
Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you You've…
blues I got a big surprise when I saw you smile I…
But Not for Me Old man sunshine listen you Never tell me dreams come true J…
Bye Bye Baby I got a big surprise when I saw you smile I…
Everything I've Got Don't stamp your foot at me It's impolite To stamp your foot…
How About You When a girl meets boy Life can be a joy But the…
How About You? When a girl meets boy Life can be a joy But the…
How Deep Is the Ocean How much do I love you? I'll tell you no lie How…
How Deep Is The Ocean? How much do I love you? I'll tell you no lie How…
how long has this been going on As a tot, when I trotted in little velvet panties, I…
How Long Has This Been Going On? As a tot, when I trotted in little velvet panties, I…
I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me Yesterday you came my way, And when you smiled at me, In…
i got rhythm Don't stamp your foot at me It's impolite To stamp your foot…
I Remember You This lovely day will lengthen into evening We'll sigh goodby…
I'll Remember April This lovely day will lengthen into evening We'll sigh goodb…
I've Got You Under My Skin I've got you under my skin. I've got you deep in…
If I Had You I could show the world how to smile I could be…
If I Were A Bell Ask me how do I feel, Now that we're cosy and…
It How did I know that the warmth of the glow…
Just Friends Just friends, lovers no more Just friends, but not like befo…
Lessons In Love Lately, I find myself out gazing at stars, Hearing guitars…
Little White Lies The moon was all aglow But heaven was in your eyes The…
love walked in Lately, I find myself out gazing at stars, Hearing guitars…
Lullaby of Birdland Lullaby of Birdland, that's what I Always hear when you…
Mood Indigo You ain't never been blue; no, no, no, You ain't…
Moonlight Becomes You Moonlight becomes you, it goes with your hair You certainly …
No Greater Love There is no greater love Than what I feel for you No…
Prelude to a Kiss If you hear A song in blue Like a flower crying For the…
September Song Oh, it's a long, long while from May to December But…
Skylark Skylark Have you anything to say to me? Won't you tell me…
stardust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
Sweet Lorraine Everything is set, skies are blue, Can't believe it yet, but…
Taking A Chance On Love Here I go again, I hear those trumpets blow again. All…
The Man I Love Yesterday you came my way, And when you smiled at me, In…
The More I See You Each time I look at you is like the first…
There Is No Greater Love There is no greater love Than what I feel for you No…
These Foolish Things Oh! Will you never let me be? Oh! Will you never…
Walkin' The night is young, the skies are clear So if you…
Yesterdays Yesterdays, yesterdays Days I knew as happy Sweet sequeste…
You And The Night And The Music Time after time I tell myself That I'm so lucky to…
You Are Too Beautiful You are too beautiful, my dear, to be true And I…
You Don't Know What Love Is You don't know what love is 'Til you've learned the meaning…
You Stepped Out Of A Dream You stepped out of a dream You are too wonderful to…
You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To You'd be so nice to come home to You'd be so…
Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart Never could carry a tune, never knew where to start You…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Joe Nania
I AM HERE FOR TAL FARLOW - NOT ONLY FOR HIS GREAT GUITAR PLAYING - BUT FOR HIM BEING A KIND , WELL MANNERED , SOFT SPOKEN HUMAN BEING - ALL MY LOVE TO HIM AT ALL TIMES DEAD OR ALIVE , JOE NANIA A.K.A. HOLLYWOOD JOE
bingochoice
one the great guitarists of all time
cj green
@PB Idk either, he's insane, has inspired directly and indirectly genetationS of guitarists, and is a bebop and melodic madman, yet he's barely mentioned even in guitar communities
Joseph Nania
@das Aggropop Absolutely the greatest mind on the guitar of all time - melodic- harmonic - out there - playing outside - back in and then out again - no problems with key changes - one right into the other - harmonic thoughts and structures 100 years ahead of when HE made the sounds back in the 1950s - - so then as I write this on JUNE 10 2019 - - WE all are still not there yet as time goes on - WE will get to where HE was in another 30 years or so
more daring than anyone before or after-
Joseph Nania
@PB HE -
gets my love forevermore
Mark Bridwell
For the greatest jazz guitar duet check out
Tal & Don Arnone, on Tal's first Blue Note record.
@das Aggropop
das Aggropop
number one in my book. i just the love the sound like other people love pizza.
Cesare idee Musicali
amazing
Gabriele Falchieri
The best
elodiedazur
Eddie Costa ♥ (p), Tal Farlow (g), Vinnie Burke (b).
NYC, May 31, 1956. Verve MGV-8201.