Chance Meeting

The one-time meeting between guitarists Tal Farlow and Lenny Breau came about because Lorenzo DeStefano, who was making a PBS documentary (Talmage Farlow) in 1980, wanted a meeting between the veteran and a rising star. Farlow suggested Breau, and an invitation was extended and immediately accepted by the younger man. After the musicians spent time conversing in Farlow's New Jersey home, they moved to The Sign of the Times, a small nightclub in the tiny town of Rumson, to weave their musical magic. Although this was their first and only performance together, they complement one another's playing as if they had worked as a regular duo. Breau, on his seven-string guitar, is a bundle of energy most of the time, with flurries of notes accompanied by his flawless rhythm. Of course, the senior player is no slouch as a soloist on any of the eight standards heard on this CD, which include "I Love You," "My Funny Valentine," and "What Is This Thing Called Love?" Bassist Lynn Christie and drummer Nat Garrantano are added for the smoking interpretations of "All the Things You Are" and "Cherokee." There's also a brief excerpt of a conversation between Breau and Farlow in the middle of the disc, during which Breau explains a bit about his technique and his familiarity with Farlow's recordings. It's too bad that this enjoyable session was only a one-time affair.