Talmage Farlow (TV 1981)

A musical portrait of the legendary American jazz guitarist.

Director:

Lorenzo DeStefano

Stars:

Tal Farlow, George Benson, Lenny Breau

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
Tal Farlow	...	Himself
George Benson	...	Himself
Lenny Breau	...	Himself
Tommy Flanagan	...	Himself
Red Mitchell	...	Himself

Storyline

TALMAGE HOLT FARLOW's half-century career in jazz embodied the unusual. Born June 7, 1921 in Greensboro, North Carolina, he was supposed to grow up and become a textile plant worker like his father. Instead, he spent countless hours tuned in to remote radio broadcasts of Count Basie, Benny Goodman and Coleman Hawkins. By the late 1940s, the polite, lanky boy with the massive hands had moved to New York after playing in dance and society bands down south. Tal's highly innovative style and unique sense of harmony soon established him as a vital link in the chain begin by the guitarist Charlie Christian. His work in the bands of Buddy DeFranco, Artie Shaw, and in the landmark Red Norvo Trio with Charles Mingus in the early 50s eventually launched him on a successful and much-heralded career as a leader, resulting in many international awards including Downbeat magazine's New Star of 1954. At the top of his form in 1958, Tal Farlow walked out of the limelight as suddenly as he'd walked ...

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography

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Details

Official Sites:

Lorenzo DeStefano

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 July 1981 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Sea Bright, New Jersey, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Productions A-Propos

Technical Specs

Runtime:

59 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Chance Meeting"
Tal Farlow & Lenny Breau

User Reviews

A lesson in Life and Music

This is more a window briefly opened to a man's soul than just a jazz portrait. Being a superb showcase for lost masters like Farlow, Flanagan or Breau in exquisite intimate line-ups, the philosophical weight may prevail even over the music itself. Tal was both the humblest guy versus the greatest performer, so he chose fishing and painting signs on boats anonymously near his wife for years, while the whole world was struggling for him to haunt the stage again. Despite of his unique tremendous input in jazz, he shows unsatisfied with his own achievements in life. An overwhelming lesson by a true genius.