The Genius of Lenny Breau documentary

[@arianluna4548]

Thank you for making this documentary about your dad. His command of his instrument is Godlike. A rare breed.

[@bongofury333]

It's as close to an angel playing an harp before your eyes on this earthly plane. A real touch of heaven. Thankyou beautiful daughter for this tribute. And thanx for the post.

[@sitarnut]

Judi Singh has one of the most beautiful voices I've heard in some eighty years of playing and listening to jazz.. Soul, intonation, phrasing, natural Vibrato...the works. Canada should create a "Judi Singh Day", put up statutes and honor her contributions. And then, there's the amazing Tom and Judi LP.

[@tomcoryell]

It was interesting hearing him play Bouree. I followed his column in Guitar Player magazine and the last part was based on Improvising over Bouree. The column ended abruptly of course when Lenny died. I was deeply saddened, but continued on learning Bouree by buying a cassette of Segovia playing Bouree and learning it that way. I can’t improvise over it like Lenny yet, but I’m retired now and have the time to work on it. Lenny definitely inspired me as a young guitar player. Thank you for this documentary!

[@jefftheschauer1]

I wish they would make a movie about his life. Not a documentary but a motion picture. He deserves that much. They did it for Mozart. They should do it for him.

[@johntechwriter]

"The greatest guitar player to walk the face of the earth." Chet Atkins on Lenny Breau. Like Mozart, he ended up in an unmarked grave.

[@DUGGER1947]

Lenny couldn't have had an acknowledgement of his guitar talent given by a more credible source than "Mr. Guitar" himself, Chet Atkins.

[@OrpheusObjectMRH]

They were both geniuses.

[@pgroove163]

why would his family not buy a grave marker?..

[@Theworkingbassplayer76]

We should chip in and buy one for him

[@pg123ab]

I found the unmarked grave and left flowers

[@jmcljazz6733]

Thank you for sharing the life story of your dad Lenny. It was very touching..

[@andyokus5735]

This made me feel so sad. With Lenny it was like what Jesus said: " Be in the world but be not of it". And his daughter Emily was so stunning and elegant. I can relate to Lenny so much. You really have to sell your soul to make it. They want you to be a clown, a puppet. I've been in the Zone cause I play lots of instruments and I have struggled with addiction most of my life. But Lenny was always in the Zone. You see narcotics block everything out so there's only the music and the guitar. Lenny needed a real strong manager who could hire a babysitter and a bodyguard. Maybe then he could of made it to the top. RIP Lenny Breau.

[@tripledotter9520]

Andy Summers talks about his guitar lesson with Lenny Breau and how he taught him about Harmonics in his recent interview on Rick Beato's channel.

[@coreymihailiuk5189]

Absolutely one of the greatest guitar players ever. I have known other guitar players who knew Lenny and he was a legend long before he became one. His story is both so inspiring and yet a tragedy. He needs to be remembered. Few will equal his talents any time soon. A true original and a flawed but beautiful gentle genius.

[@tommaguzzi1723]

i think to get to Lenny's level a gifted person would have to commit so much of their life to practice that like Lenny they would lose the ability to function as a normal person and take care of themself physically or financially without extensive help. Lenny like many others never had that and paid the ultimate price for their obsession

[@coreymihailiuk5189]

@@tommaguzzi1723 I would agree, that someone with Lenny's ability would have to play guitar 10 hours a day for years to acquire that level of skill and complete freedom on the instrument. I think it would have to be an obsession to get that good. And let's not forget that with all that work you still need to possess a level of creative genius that is beyond most players.

[@techsquirrel]

Agreed. I did live audio engineering for Lenny, numerous concerts in the 1970s. Most amazing guitarist I ever knew or heard.

[@kellmerWF52]

Breaks my heart., but I guess being a genius has its downfalls. There was nobody who could cross genres like Lenny. The pure creative genius just flowed out of him.

[@midnightcassettelibrary5171]

Thank you making this touching documentary. Thank you Lenny for the musical gifts and may you rest in peace brother. Lately when I’ve been listening to his work I’ve been enjoying moments where he made his guitar also sound like a sitar, harp and recently heard a moment where it briefly sounded to my ears like an electric piano. Always investing surprises to be heard in his work.

[@hellboundrubber4448]

The coroner reported that Breau had been strangled. Breau's wife, Jewel, was the chief suspect, but she was not charged.

[@duelenigma7732]

So sad that junkies had to add Lenny to their misery . A musical hazard that takes many . Thank you for creating this insightful look at the life of a musical genius . As a 70 year old Canadian and guitar lover I heard about Lenny Breau since the 60s , now I know some of the history . RIP Lenny , really saddening

[@clarkrobertson7982]

Amazing. I have just discovered this artist. And, he was truly an artist!

[@jasonmudgarde286]

So glad this is back on RUclips, many thanks, lenny a largely unrecognised genius.

[@sitarnut]

Lenny's clean classical tone is the equal of anyone I've heard from Segovia to Julian Bream. He could have made a swell living just playing the classical guitar works. Even Wes Montgomery said, "Don't listen to anything I'm doing, but listen to this cat from Canada, Lenny Breau." Seeing Gene Lees on this documentary is beyond heavy - superb writer, reviewer, and wrote the English lyrics to some of Antonio Carlos Jobim's most famous songs.

[@billbernhard3582]

Feel the feeling of immense gratitude accompanying these excerpts from Mr. Breau's brief passage through jazz. I'm reminded of the atmospherics around Chet Baker, but on a different, more gentle plane. Such a talent ! Enormously cerebral !

[@jimji5116]

Lenny was playing for a week at a folk club in Ottawa, where I saw him playing. I got to talk to him, and asked him for a guitar lesson. Lenny said to come to his motel the next morning. I arrived with my guitar, which was tuned to open G tuning. He picked up my guitar and started playing Black Mountain Rag!
After he said he had to go out so I left, but very impressed!

[@johntechwriter]

So cool. Good for you! I lived in Ottawa at the time but never would have approached this genius!

[@BaronEvola123]

The best, most versatile guitarist EVER.

[@bongofury333]

Chills the whole time. Oh my goodness. Musicians and music like this is HOW I NO THERE IS A GOD.

[@FloridaManMatty]

It’s amazing to think that at the same time Lenny was living in Nashville, Shawn Lane was just a couple hours away in Memphis. What I would give just to sit in the same room with those two. No guitars…just two geniuses sharing the same space. It’s sad knowing that two of the most gifted guitar players to have ever walked the Earth both passed on so young.

[@johnblood10]

Lane’s playing was otherworldly. The live improv stuff he did with Jonas Hellborg & Jeff Sipe is some of the most incredible music I’ve ever heard.

[@johnthompson478]

😢

[@andyokus5735]

Shawn struggled with drugs too. That's what killed him so young.

[@elmolewis9123]

It's been many years since I've seen this documentary. Thanks for sharing.

[@steveburchfield5576]

You would think certain wealthy fingerpickers could have at least put a headstone on Lennys final resting place. RIP Lenny!!!

[@jimjustice581]

Heaven got one heckuva guitar player.

[@andyokus5735]

Maybe someone will see this and put one there.

[@robbramwell512]

Absolutely a beautiful and brilliant guitar player!

[@JimMaisonneuve-ri9vg]

Lenny came to town to play at the local club where I a hanger out. I met Lenny and he agreed to give me a lesson and he invited me to meet him at his motel.
I arrived and he invited me in. I had brought my D18 which was tuned to open G. Lenny took the guitar out and started playing Black Mountain Rag!
Unbelievable beautiful
After Lenny said he had a appointment and couldn't give me a lesson. So we exchange our goodbyes!

[@pendleburyable]

Wonderfully archived doc,thankyou.

[@Paul-cq3hu]

Kudos to his beautiful daughter for the great documentary. I hope it doesn't take a half a century to reopen the case, like it did for the late rolling stone Brian Jones

[@metothemoon1227]

The two best documentaries are: Michel Petrucciani, and this documentary about Lenny Breau

[@donnasingh1891]

I remember the first time I met Lenny…my aunt Judi brought him to a family gathering…he came to our house…taught my brothers a few things on the guitar. He as so sweet, gentle and shy. It was a few years before I realized what a guitarist he was…in fact I don’t think I really liked nderstood his amazing talent. His daughter Emily made this film…quite a film to watch for someone who knew a different Lenny.

[@WellnessRosterHQ]

He was the world's greatest guitarist when living and still after his death. He probably crossed some dealers the wrong way. Sad. Chet tried to protect him from himself, but he could not be there 24 7. Nobody could. Sad, but what a talent.

[@mikedegazio]

saw him play in Berklee Boston Mass in 1975 truly stunning

[@Freddyguitarslim]

did an indian tribute to Ravi….. wow!!! amd now i see finally a bio and more stuff???? this is incredible amd I thank u w every cell of my being!!!! nn

[@michaelroche5744]

Incredible. Thank you so much much.

[@Cantstandtherock]

Lenny blew me away before Van Halen or anyone, what a player!

[@tomcoryell]

I cared nothing about Van Halen and studied Lenny’s column religiously. I didn’t know about his struggle with addiction.

[@gambeats1]

I first heard his name from a guitar player in DC I toured with.Just an amazing talent be sad sad life story.

[@maineguitarists]

When i read he was interred in an unmarked grave i almost got sick. How can someone of his talent and fame end up like this? His little brother Denny lives in Maine and performs locally often. Although not the jazz giant he plays different styles including fingerstyle, flat picking, banjo etc. And sings. I never go to see Lenny. RIP. tom

[@LoveOneAnotherHeSaid]

Great warning for truly talented souls. It's Music Business - consisting of Music and Business - two hats.

[@berachtdorian6191]

His combination of knowledge and technique is without equal.

[@Paul-cq3hu]

May God bless you Emily in all your days😘

[@andyokus5735]

The beauty of her father's music manifested in her and on her.

[@ShadowhandofDune]

This was a great video, and I laughed out loud at 7:56 thanks

[@WellnessRosterHQ]

Chet told a story about a time they visited someone and Lenny stole some drugs from the bathroom cabinet and took them. Had not idea what it was! Chet said they got back in the car he noticed Lenny was not "right"! LOL.

[@Drewster58]

Nice to be able to see this again

[@sidstephen2584]

In the early 60s I was 19-20 yrs old and I lived for a couple of summers with a bunch of jazz musicians from Vancouver in Sylvan Lake, Alberta (long story ...) and heard LB for the first time - loved the man, loved his music, hated what the junk life did to him. PJ Perry (great Canadian jazz saxophonist) was there also, H ruined his youth too, but he kicked it. RIP Lenny.

[@pgroove163]

great artist... great documentary

[@JackTheSkunk]

Lenny was not a tall man and he had small hands....I don't know how he was able to play on guitars with a wide fingerboard but he did and he did it brilliantly.
When Chet Atkins told an artist "that was pretty good" it was like a rave review but I think he was in awe of Lenny's talent. I think they had kind of a father/son relationship as well but not even Chet could keep Lenny away from his demon drugs.
Lenny was a "tortured genius" because of those damned useless drugs. One can only imagine how he might sound today had he lived.

[@glenncooperfrosch]

His playing was outside the world we know

[@nealixd.3011]

Crazy how I never heard of this fellow all my life. He was truly talented, one of the few guitarists on the level of Chet Atkins. Chet, Lenny and Phil Keaggy are the three guitarists whose pure guitar playing styles really stand out to me. A lot of folks play great jazz or blues based music, but these type of players are in a league of their own. Too tragic his ending.

[@jahblowme4364]

You've never heard of shawn lane or Ted greene or Danny gattom

[@nealixd.3011]

@@jahblowme4364 I knew Danny Gatton personally in MD. Talked to him three weeks before he died. He fixed two guitars for me when he had his repair shop in Oxon Hill, MD back in 1979. He is a legend, no doubt.

[@bobsquires4521]

First off, Lenny was the greatest guitar talent - see at 31:33. Secondly, the lewd breakaway at 7:57 is utterly hilarious - and from a different time? and planet! lol

[@MSYNGWIE12]

THANK YOU FOR GIVING THE WORLD A HEAD'S UP TO A CANADIAN GENIUS WHO NEVER GOT HIS DUE IN HIS LIFETIME AND STILL DOESNT- my father met him long, long ago in a bar in Winnipeg, Manitoba and my father who drank, led me to believe Lenny died in the 1970's leaving behind only 2 albums! Blessedly there are more albums though I doubt they will be affordable- I didn't even know he was married. My father wasn't a well man and the "Leonard" he was fixated on, was Leonard Cohen- I just glanced up and saw his daughter- wow what a beauty! So could one of you recommend a biography? Or tell me a bit about your Dad, and get him played- even Canada's seminal jazz station, Jazz91fm, Canada, very rarely plays a guitar genius- shame on us pitiful Canadian's- we still DON'T STAND UP FOR OUR ARTISTS- young people think Leonard Cohen was American because he lived in L.A. I'm in rehab too so I don't judge- Thanks. Namaste

[@NickC769]

A true genius

[@comet1618]

12:58 these chords touched my spirit. grandma chords

[@johnnysurfs]

I love George Benson. If he likes someone he just dishes out the props. None of that holding back because of ego.

[@johntechwriter]

George Benson played guitar. Lenny played something else.

[@kipponi]

Ted Greene in this video great too.

[@permculture]

Once again we have another video where the music overplays the dialog distracting from the information to be presented. Heck, I can go find Lenny Breau recordings, I want to hear what the folks have to say.

[@JD-pg1qs]

Musical genius with an innocent soul

[@daynenobodyIV]

thanks for this

[@edmorris6588]

Amazing Amazing 🙏🙏🙏

[@colemanmech]

I wonder if there is a facebook group for Lenny? In these days, I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to raise money for a headstone and show appreciation from his fans to him and his family

[@jeanneannvalfre9581]

Still one of the greats…..play on Lenny…..☮️🎶🔛🌎

[@ElectricCelt56]

Nice introduction to a legend.

[@garypaquin9571]

Lenny had a vast assortment of guitars, all custom built by boutique luthiers. Who were they? What did he ask for? Was he ever satisfied with one particular axe?
Aldo’s please teach the homicide detective how to pronounce the deceadent’s name. He was a virtuoso musician, not a can of beer!!

[@edgardodomingo5029]

Lenny Breau is the guitarist-greats, guitarist

[@earlsabash1841]

A wonderful talent with great technical ability. His habit for drugs like Chet Baker kept him under the table. Their vocal phrasing and life style were in many respects extremely simular as depression and heroin destroyed their great ability to continue the preformance of great art.

[@andypullega5479]

Great stuff! The sound and video aren't linked up..is it just me?

[@stuartewoldt1513]

When Lenny was talking about using Heroin i seriously thought he was talking about the business side of music and having to play shows over and over again for money instead of want. The music business will seduce you but then it becomes soulless because its the same thing over and over again and it eats away at your soul

[@Freddyguitarslim]

here i thought the records i had over the years and that was only a couple: one was i think the Whisky a GOGO possible but Live in LA anyway and wow

[@surfgod509]

his playing was so unique

[@stjepkoboban358]

Chat atkins tried to save him. could not. .............................................................

[@johntechwriter]

Lenny was too sensitive for this heartless world.

[@rjlchristie]

With junk, you make your choice, you reap the results.
Throughout most of this biography I kept contrasting how Julian Bream managed his life and guitar career with how this guy mismanaged his.

[@wardharrison]

Don, Francks!!!

[@stjepkoboban358]

Genius devasteted by drugs, sad,sad.......................................................................

[@metothemoon1227]

And know the industry pharmaceutical wants us to be healthy with vaccines...
Haha

[@jimjustice581]

It’s a recurrent theme, unfortunately.

[@augustusbetucius2931]

I wish the names of some of those people were. Who was the guy in the headband talking about Aldous Huxley? Also, what was the story about where someone slapped Lenny after telling him not to play that kind of music behind him ever again? It seems like some footage is missing

[@burtmann3921]

A true gift from GOD. 😢

[@guitarplayerfactorychannel]

He was Mozart. Both had unmarked graves.

[@charsibaba6960]

Not the full doc. Just saying

[@scottstanford3832]

Wow... thank you to Jeff Skunk Baxter for pointing this guy out to me!

[@edwardlouisbernays2469]

The Guitar God~ Lenny Breau~~
Joe Pass was also hooked on meth however Joe went to Synagon Treatment ~ I also went to Synagon treatment brogan here in San Francisco - I am 73 Years old now ~ been clean since 1980's~ thanks to Belief in My Jewish Faith. I was Stricken when Lenny Died. He was still a child~ i AM WEEPING AS I WATCH THIS VIDEO.

[@ThatGoodSoundOn]

song at 14:00 ?

[@Libertariun]

10:58 there’s a boat that’s leaving soon…

[@williamwalsh6282]

Did Lenny ever cross paths with Joco?

[@sparkswood9540]

What is with all the cuts. Where is the full doc??

[@sitarnut]

It should be free to the world, his genius, but you have to PAY to get the whole thing.

[@AFaceintheCrowd01]

I think I can safely say no good ever came from the abuse of drugs - particularly heroin and cocaine. I suppose someone could make an argument for acid and grass, maybe.

[@morganahoff2242]

I've heard that Lenny Breau wasn't good at nearly everything: he was terrible with money, not good in relationships, a bad driver...but man could he play guitar!

[@ivanarapov5495]

Is there anywhere a full version?

[@ShiftyTribes]

Have to buy/rent it from his daughter who made the films company, its ironic because Emily says the whole point of this film is to preserve her fathers legacy and introduce him to a new generation of listeners, but has pursued copyright claims on every free version available across the internet for the money., essentially ensuring the availability, let alone the knowledge of lennys genius will only shrink to complete obscurity and be completely forgotten within decades due to greed. Sad to see

[@jmcljazz6733]

@@ShiftyTribes You have a lot of gaul to speak about things you know nothing of. Why bother, your comments are offensive. You should have realized how how much he ment to her.

[@ShiftyTribes]

@@jmcljazz6733 lol man I know alot more about this documentary than you, I molded my playing after lenny since childhood. If you find what I said offensive you are ridiculously sensitive, and thats your problem, what I said was the truth. Emily did a great job on the film but shutting down peoples ability to view it goes against the sentiment of the movie. You obviously didn't read my comment, if you did you certainly didn't have a sober thought before you replied 🙄 merry christmas

[@hotdoggravy]

The technique is breathtaking, but I can't listen to this music

[@fictionmusicproductions]

I really wish they didn't play the music under the interviews...how distracting

[@jojojosmart1]

poor audio.

[@spulos1]

ruclips.net/video/m94rSTt7nWE/видео.htmlsi=eJi0TP5yc2e6tW1x

[@ianstukenborg437]

I think I used to much ..... Tiger Balm... Lol

[@sujanadhikari754]

Me too bro :'D

[@humanbeing5300]

Interesting that he died in circumstances similar to Brian Jones

[@MSYNGWIE12]

You hear people say, "oh they play as if making love to the instrument..." BUT, IT'S ONLY "A JAZZY LINE" - pardon the pun but WATCHING HIM, EVEN IN A ROOM WITH LIONA BOYD- I don't think his family should joke about his drug use though...I'm in rehab and I STILL wish I was high on opiates, I see Marianne Faithfull and she's a "trigger" and when I discovered this program, I said, "Lenny, make me high". He didn't have the proverbial abusive childhood so WHY- ? Was it partly, the hippie days, ah here's Leonard Cohen! Was Lenny bipolar? Emily you are SO BEAUTIFUL LIKE A VOGUE COVER, better, your lips are REAL...

[@nononouh]

6

[@allanwells4886]

Pity he played around with drugs.

[@216trixie]

He had been free of drugs for a few years when he was murdered.

[@papagreenemusic]

WHOOPS!!
7:57 - "I AM TRYING TO GET LAID!!" from "Tales Of The City"...
How'd that get in there? 😉

[@MichaelKentSmith]

Right?? WTF?

[@papagreenemusic]

@@MichaelKentSmith Looks like he didn't get enough time.

[@MichaelKentSmith]

@@papagreenemusic I think this is an old VHS tape off the TV and that must have been a commercial?
Lenny sure didn't get enough time. Good gosh, what would he have developed if he could have gotten clean...

[@ianstukenborg437]

@@MichaelKentSmith looks like it was taken from TV on airwaves, then to VHS, then to a CD, then uploaded, then back to CD, then aVHS, THEN RELOADED! LOL

[@ianstukenborg437]

Good thing it didn't interrupt one of his phrases! That's all I'm saying!

[@berndluers8612]

Compare him to outer players. I Mean !like clapton or !Benson .OMG .I THINK GUITAR PLAYERS KNOW WHAT IM TRYING TO SAY😮😮

[@rayray8687]

I agree, Breau was far more versatile than either Clapton or Benson who were both pretty structured guitarists.

[@JAYSONGS]

Mark Ruffalo make the film. (The resemblance is close). Get a coach for us players so we cannot be ‘distracted’ (disappointed) by ‘visual inaccuracies’. Please, please, please?

[@Wilsnap]

What is this awful editing...? This is not the entire documentary.

[@nicholasgargano7396]

Eddie van Halen would blow this guy away

[@sash7551]

Huh?

[@stutzbearcat5624]

😂🤣🤣🤣😂

[@cruiseguitar]

😂😂😂

[@guermeisterdoodlebug7980]

Yes, only guitarist ever to rank up there with Roy Clark. But commenters on some channels would insist Roy was better.

[@sash7551]

@@guermeisterdoodlebug7980 not being a connaisseur I looked up Roy Clark and was blown away Thanks ! Wonder if Roy and Lenny ever crossed paths ?

[@MELONenSURPRISE]

Technically good guitar player but it Sounds a bit empty...i see someone wanted to make a Great documentary no matter what...but you can fool some People some time

[@sash7551]

ruclips.net/video/ZzaSBfe1-OQ/видео.htmlfeature=shared

[@stutzbearcat5624]

Bro clean your ears! 😁

[@andyokus5735]

Mush brain.

[@yusefandersen]

?????

[@tomcoryell]

Let’s hear what you can play……