Frank:

If you ever met Tal Farlow, you'd be amazed at how large his hands were. I had idolized him since I was a teenager, and finally got to hear him "live" and the Blue Note in New York City about ten years ago. He was on a double bill with George Shearing... two genuine old-timers. I got there early and sat at a front table with me knees six feet away from where Tal was sitting and had a chance to talk with him briefly when he came out to se up his amplifier and check his guitar. It was a real honor to hear him, even though his fingers had stiffened up and he couldn't do those fantastic, CLEAN, breaks that he was famous for in his prime. When he'd take a long run, he'd let the bass or drummer take a solo while he shook his right hand to loosen it up for the next solo. George Shearing, interestingly, had become far more adventurous and free in his approach to the piano. I find his 1950's recordings too locked into a "sound" to really enjoy them any more, but I bought a recent cassette, and they were actually recording the evening for a future release.

It's good to see someone becoming freer and more "youthful" as they get older..

Maybe there's hope for us, Frank..

Jerry