Tal Farlow's guitar work from the 1950s remains exciting, and Finest Hour, consisting of his Verve work between 1952 and 1956, is dazzling. These small-group recordings of bop and cool jazz feature a number of top performers from the era.

Bassist Red Mitchell, drummer Stan Levey, and pianist Claude Williamson join Farlow for "There Will Never Be Another You," "Fascinating Rhythm," and "How Deep Is the Ocean?" This group blazes through "Tea for Two" at such a quick pace that the tune almost loses its melodic structure (this certainly wasn't the way Django Reinhardt played it!). Farlow provides a sterling example of the technical competence necessary to play bop by stringing notes together at a dizzying rate. Farlow, bassist Vinnie Burke, and pianist Eddie Costa turn out several lively pieces without the help of a drummer. They offer a sprightly version of Cole Porter's "I Love You" and a bluesy take on Clark Terry's "Chuckles."

TRACKS:

1. Tea for Two
2. Have You Met Miss Jones?
3. You Stepped Out of a Dream
4. My Old Flame
5. I Love You
6. Strike up the Band
7. Tenderly
8. How Deep Is the Ocean?
9. Chuckles
10. And She Remembers Me
11. Anything Goes
12. There Will Never Be Another You
13. Skylark
14. Fascinating Rhythm

(UNI$)