I was learning jazz guitar from a guy who had taken a few lessons from The Little Gypsy. I thought my teacher was incredible. But, he gave me a copy of a tape he’d made of his lessons with Lenny. Lenny could make his guitar sound like a calliope, orchestra, piano, or anything else he wanted. This was back in the middle ‘70’s. After listening to the tape… Short of saying, “What’s the friggin’ use?”, I saw him for what he was: a musical savant. God just sends us a few geniuses at a time. And he sent us guitar players Lenny.
The most unrecognized perfectionist behind six strings ever... As chet atkins expressed.... Ever time he conducts the guitar im speechless with his perfection. Time for lenny to be recognized...
In the world of guitars, that endorsement speaks volumes. Chet was the definition of Supreme guitar playing. His wide spectrum of collaboration and sharing his wisdom with others was integral to who he was. Another collaborator, Tommy Emmanuel, was chosen,,, by Chet himself to carry the torch.
The facility, timing and musicality in his right hand alone was staggering. Undoubtedly one of the greatest of all time. Another Canadian guitar legend.
@@adtorresitpro I would agree that Lenny was adept at flamenco techniques but it was his ability to create a fusion of all known right hand techniques into his own thing that made him so incredible. As a child he played country music with his family and also learned standard folk right hand techniques like Travis picking as well as some classical techniques. I took some lessons with a jazz player here in Toronto who used to hang with Lenny and he told me of his many influences. I also used to live in a house that had several apartments and the guy across from me was a jazz guitarist who owned one of Lenny's old jazz boxes. Lenny was completely unique and a guitar genius.
Tragic life story, full of brilliant accomplishments performing feats on guitar that have not all been duplicated. And a day to day rambling life needing a high, unfortunately. I met Lenny in the 60s in Edmonton when I was a young folk player, and as many people know, he was a gentle, kind, modest person who just wanted to play jazz, and most importantly learn something different every day, improving his skills. I get the impression from listening to his albums that every time he played a favourite tune it had to be improved or varied somehow. Playing a tune was always more of a further exploration than a performance of a perfected tune.
just saw your question. The lesson was of course mind blowing. I thought of myself at that point, in my mid-20s, as a serious, rather advanced guitarist. I'd studied classically with several of Segovia's proteges (Lorrimer, Ghiglia, Tomas); jazz improv at Umass with Archie Shep and Max Roach; as a teenager had sat in with Koko Taylor and other blues legends in the Chicago area where I grew up; had transcribed Charlie Parker and Wes Montgomery jazz solos ... yada yada. Lenny was so far beyond what I imagined might be possible on the guitar... He told me about the 7-string he was having built. A low 'c'? I asked. No, a high A, strung with fishing line. What are you going to do with a high 7th string? 'Oh man, now I can get all seven notes of a scale in one chord.' My head started spinning at that point. Then there were those harmonics...
Peter Dammann that must have been a pivotal moment in life for you..the thought of sitting down with him made me shudder..and reading your more detailed description made the hairs on my arms stand up..
Peter Dammann that's a great story! Everything I've read about Lenny or video I have watched shows what a constant student he was and how open he was to show people anything. He was such a humble dude. I remember my dad telling me about him when I started playing guitar but I was too into heavy metal to understand how great he was. His playing inspires me to study and enjoy it.
I was lucky enough to have walked into a jazz club in 1973 in Vancouver, BC, where Lenny Breau was playing. He was stunning! I went back every night for his 2 week gig. Love Lenny! He will forever be the most unbelievable musician I have ever heard play. Such beauty but amazing technique, too!
learned some lenny breau stuff back in the day, tip, if your left hand is not in a good position it will cramp like its never cramped before, the guys dexterity, strength, and musicality bely how damn easy he makes it look, do not be fooled by the 'soft' playing, that's his incredible control. the guy's hands were unbelievable, he barre's a position and then plays all these intricate melodies with the rest of his fingers, it is not an easy thing to do.
The most unrecognized musician that deserves to be on the Canadian walk of fame because of his truly amazing talents above and beyond...just as randy Bachman who was Lenny's friend and student in the early 60s...
In 2010, I visited Spain and Grenada as I was discovering Jazz. I imagined a flamenco version of Bluesette, guessing it was so evident to turn bluesette flamenco that someone should have done this before... After a few researches, I found this and, my god, it was far beyond what I imagined! Lenny Brau is a genius 😊
A bold statement, ridiculous even....especially when there are so many genres, styles to consider. Jazz has Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, McLaughlin, Dimeola to name a few. Flamenco has Paco de Lucia. Country has Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Danny Gatton, Brent Mason. Then of course there's Tommy Emmanuel; some relative unknowns like Terry Kath and Roy Buchanan, and a cat named Hendrix, to consider.
HeavyMental It is a bold statement. Lenny could play any style at a Master skill level. If you don't believe me than check out what these people had to say about Lenny. Quotes "Lenny Breau played more great stuff at one time than anybody on the planet... with feeling and tone. He was the best that ever lived, bar none." -Danny Gatton "He is one of the true geniuses of the guitar. I suppose he is a musician's musician. His knowledge of the instrument and the music is so vast, and I think that's what knocks people out about him. But he's such a tasty player too. I think if Chopin had played guitar, he would have sounded like Lenny Breau." -Chet Atkins, CGP "[Lenny] is the best I have ever heard, and I have heard some players!" -Jerry Reed, CGP "He had the ability to reach into your heart." -Larry Carlton "He dazzled me with his extraordinary guitar playing... I wish the world had the opportunity to experience his artistry." -George Benson "Lenny Breau was the most innovative guitarist since Wes Montgomery." -Phil Upchurch (Phil also mentions that Wes became a huge Lenny fan after hearing just one album by him in the late 60s - most likely "Velvet Touch") "What really got me was the soul behind all the playing." -Mike Stern "Regardless of style, few musicians have been universally held in such high esteem by their peers." -Jim Ferguson, "Lenny Breau Remembered", Guitar Player Magazine 1984 "The late Lenny Breau was an uncrowned king of jazz fingerstyle guitar. A relatively unknown voice on the instrument, he startled newcomers to his music by his ability to comp chords behind himself sounding like two guitarists, ring out lengthy bell-like harmonic passages, tastefully blend his influences of country, jazz and flamenco and fluidly improvise in this style." -Brawner Smoot, "The Immortal Lenny Breau" 1986 "It was the freshest, most exciting thing I had heard in years. ... He...was doing things that I never dreamed of. It was one of the greatest days of my life, the first day I heard Lenny." -Chet Atkins "Lenny is the greatest guitar player in the world today. I think he knows more guitar than any guy that's ever walked the face of the earth, because he can play jazz, he can play a little classical, he can play great country--and he does it all with taste." -Chet Atkins "My first reaction was a combination of jealousy, envy, admiration - because he was so good and so original. I thought, 'Oh my God. This guy is light years ahead of me and so many other people around here.'" -Ed Bickert "I have found a better player than I am." -Merle Travis, describing a then 12-year-old Lenny "Breau was perhaps the most technically brilliant guitarist of our time. ... Gatton thought Breau was the best ever." -Steve Wolf, article from Danny Gatton's official hall of fame page "It must be remembered that Coltrane's Jazz in 1962 was better known for experimentation.... This type of eccentric and unorthodox playing, which most musicians and guitarists could not comprehend, nor play, appealed to Lenny. When Lenny sat in...when Lenny's turn came to play, the effect was electrifying. Coltrane leaned over with eyes wide-open, looked at Lenny's hands, and smiled." -George Sykornyk, on Lenny's encounter with John Coltrane "Even when Lenny noodled, it was a feast!" -Frank Zappa's words through Steve Vai "The late Lenny Breau was a true jazz guitar genius who ranks alongside Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery as one of a select few inspired innovators who set new standards of creative artistry in Jazz Guitar history. Lenny's musical influences were truly diverse. They ranged from Country fingerstyle master Chet Atkins, Jazz Guitarists Johnny Smith and Tal Farlow, Flamenco virtuoso Sabicas, Jazz pianist Bill Evans and sax titan John Coltrane. Drawing from these eclectic sources Lenny created a truly unique voice in the guitar world. Lenny's unprecedented technical facility and depth of musical insight allowed him to play Bill Evans style chord voicings simultaneously with improvised single note lines. His country and classical right hand techniques allowed for great independence of parts and subtle tonal and dynamic shadings. Lenny possessed a singular blend of techniques and musical knowledge that often created the illusion of two and sometimes three musicians eminating from a single guitarist." -Guitarchives "He was the best electric bassist ever including Jaco [Pastorious]. He played the best solo on bass that you ever heard. It was ridiculous. Lenny was so advanced on bass that most guys wouldn't even try to do what he was doing because it was light years beyond anything they could ever think about." -Don Thompson, universally regarded one of the greatest jazz bassists and multi-instrumentalists ever "One day I was at Chet's and he told me he wanted me to meet this guitarist. Lenny was upstairs playing. Even before I made it half way up the stairs I was hearing things that were astonishing. Ten minutes later I was sitting with Lenny who began to play harmonics such as I have never in my life, and then I started learning right there and then. Chet, and he mentions it in his autobiography, always regretted that he didn't film that session. To this day, there is no one in the world who can do what Lenny did and we are all indebted to his legacy." -Tommy Emmanuel "Then Lenny Breau came along, and he could play like everyone: Chet, Joe [Pass], Bill Evans, Gene Autry [laughs], and that's what really floored me. When you're learning what Lenny does, you're learning everything, because he was covering so many genres. It was frustrating, really." -Phil deGruy "His intuition was the predominant force in his playing, rather than his intellect. ... He knew the chords he was playing, and he could spell them out if he had to, but he was more into musical colors, which he largely achieved using harmonics'simultaneous, cascading, and various amalgamations. He was always finding something new." -Phil deGruy "One night I heard out of the blue just as I was getting ready to go to sleep this guitar player singing quietly with harmonics, and different voicings, and I felt this electric bolt go through me. I sat up and I couldn't believe what I was hearing." -Lorne Lofsky "He was just this great, wonderful personality that I was attracted to because he seemed so free in his own right. Lenny had the guts to play what he wanted to play. He always played from the heart and he never pretended anything when he was playing, never tried to impress. He didn't buy into the bullshit. There was just total honesty all the time and that was why he was so special. Didn't matter who was around, he was continually himself. He didn't know how to do anything else or be anything else. That's one of the reasons I loved him so much: he was always, always true." -Judi Singh "Lenny was amazing, one of those people who make you feel like you've arrived." -Peter Appleyard "I was stunned; stunned is the word. Here was this little guy with this ready smile who had so much respect for other people and their music and was so encouraging about whatever you were doing. Completely selfless in that way. Then he picked up his guitar and it was like someone from another planet playing - effortless genius, just effortless. Totally apropos, no matter what it was. Every note that came out of his guitar would be like it was dictated from the music muses of the universe. He just totally tuned into what I was doing, which is why every one of those takes [on the album] is a first take (virtually all of the recordings on Lenny's official albums were first takes)... As far as I was concerned, I felt I had the good fortune to accompany a genius on that album." -Beverly Glenn-Copeland (referring to her eponymous debut album from 1970) "Every great guitarist I have been privileged to know - and the list includes Oscar Castro-Neves, Mundell Lowe, Gene Bertoncini, Ed Bickert, Reg Schwager, the late Emily Remler, and more - has considered Lenny a wunderkind at minimum, even some kind of musical miracle. The universality of Lenny's interests on the instrument led him to the most total technique on guitar I have ever heard." -Gene Lees, legendary music critic "When you look over the guitar literature of the past, Sor, Tarrega, the transcriptions of Segovia and more, when you look back down through the instrument's history to the time before it had six strings, you are compelled to think that more than just maybe, Lenny Breau was the most accomplished guitarist in history." -Gene Lees "He was a mess.... he was a mess...." -Leonard Cohen
@@heavymental1456 Not a bold statement at all. He was an otherworldly guitarist with staggering skills and versatility as that long glorious list of quotes attests to.
Lenny deserves to be at the top of any list of greatest fingerstyle players. I was blown away the first time I saw video of him. He could play so many styles with incredible technique (incredibly dexterous five finger right hand), exceptionally tasteful virtuosity, and made it all look effortless.
Rare out of all the great guitar players that have picked up the instrument who takes the instrument to places that it has never been before....Lenny is one of those guys. This is a stunning performance.
Articulate, inventive, precise, from the heart. No tricks or useless licks! Simply an amazing musician that was a member of the guitarist pantheon including: Paco de Lucia, Django Reinhardt and Lenny Breau
LENNY...the guy who could out -Flamenco the Flamnencos, out -Brazil the Brazilians, out-pick the finger pickers and Wes Montgomery said, "Don' t listen to anything I'm doing, listen to this cat from Canada, Lenny Breau."
@@vestibulate Right on, Bro.... Wes said that to Phil Upchurch.... shows a lot about how perceptive and humble was Wes. He's still number one for my Bro and me.... well, we bought all his LP's new. We still break out in a cold sweat listening to the, "Incredible Jazz Guitar" LP. Peace from Texas.
When recording, Lenny made it clear that he could never play the same piece the same way twice. So, you either went with the first take (most common), or he might ask to do it again (but sometimes still went with the first take, anyway). I once saw him accompany an excellent female singer/songwriter/guitarist (in his usual modest and generous style), where they had done a rehearsal before the show but he then proceeded to play his accompaniments completely differently in the live performance. The woman (whose name I forget) was initially surprised by his improvisations but then amazed by them, to the point where she clearly wanted to just sit back and listen to Lenny.
Is that around the 2:40 section? He's playing like Bill Evans with a unison chord phrasing. That part, at least to me, is unlike anything I've ever heard a guitarist but Lenny be able to do. Well, it's more about his overall inventiveness and the ability to actually play it in th moment too. Astounding.
After listening and collecting too many guitar players records, Lenny is No. 1 choice. There are too many that come in 2nd place and for sure many many in the 3rd place. But this angel doesn't play guitar, he is a soul men healer. R.i.p. brother Lenny
You know, over the years I’ve heard a lot about Lenny but never had the chance to look his works up. I can safely say everything that was said is completely true. In fact, it just may fall short of describing what an incredible composer and guitar player he was.
Andy Summers tells an amazing story of how he called Lenny Breau up for a lesson out of the blue. "It'll be expensive though .....$45" and was over within the hour.
According to Ron Forbes-Roberts (One long tune: the life and music of Lenny Breau - 2006 University of North Texas Press - page 112), this is from a CBC television show called In Person, aired on the New Year's Eve in 1966.
Well, at least it'd then be a point of pride in accomplishment, if you get to be the one to first introduce them to Lenny. I still feel appreciative of the guy who got me to sit down & listen to the Rolling Stones, for example.
@@Composer19691 Thing is, people aren't all in love with guitar playing like we are. And there ARE a lot of different styles of guitar to choose to listen to.
This was recorded on the CBC show "In Person" on New Year's Eve of 1966 in Toronto using Lenny's model A-1 Ramirez guitar. The flamenco beginning is a slightly altered version of Taranta which he would later go on to record on a few different records. Quick phrase of Miles Davis' Milestones and then goes into Toots Thielemans' Bluesette. All of this and pretty much anything about Lenny Breau's life can be found in "One Long Tune: The Life and Music of Lenny Breau," which is an extremely well-researched biography with extensive interviewing by Ron Forbes-Roberts.
Austin French many years ago I watched some kind of documentary special on TV where Tal Farlow and Lenny were playing together. Any idea what the title was?
Andy Summers refers to Lenny Breau as the "greatest guitarist of all time"...High praise indeed...
lol
I was learning jazz guitar from a guy who had taken a few lessons from The Little Gypsy. I thought my teacher was incredible. But, he gave me a copy of a tape he’d made of his lessons with Lenny. Lenny could make his guitar sound like a calliope, orchestra, piano, or anything else he wanted. This was back in the middle ‘70’s. After listening to the tape… Short of saying, “What’s the friggin’ use?”, I saw him for what he was: a musical savant. God just sends us a few geniuses at a time. And he sent us guitar players Lenny.
Well said !
The most unrecognized perfectionist behind six strings ever...
As chet atkins expressed....
Ever time he conducts the guitar im speechless with his perfection.
Time for lenny to be recognized...
That documentary with Chet talking about Lenny is how I discovered Lenny. Chet was amazed at his gift.
In the world of guitars, that endorsement speaks volumes. Chet was the definition of Supreme guitar playing. His wide spectrum of collaboration and sharing his wisdom with others was integral to who he was. Another collaborator, Tommy Emmanuel, was chosen,,, by Chet himself to carry the torch.
So much so that he had seven string guitars made so he could expand his musical vocabulary.😮
When Danny "The Humbler" Gatton declares you to be the ultimate humbler, that truly tells you something.
The facility, timing and musicality in his right hand alone was staggering. Undoubtedly one of the greatest of all time. Another Canadian guitar legend.
Breau was born August 5, 1941, in Auburn, Maine. He and family didn't move to Canada until he was 16.
His right hand ability was standard flamenco ability. Just americans were ignorant of those capabilities
@@adtorresitpro I would agree that Lenny was adept at flamenco techniques but it was his ability to create a fusion of all known right hand techniques into his own thing that made him so incredible. As a child he played country music with his family and also learned standard folk right hand techniques like Travis picking as well as some classical techniques. I took some lessons with a jazz player here in Toronto who used to hang with Lenny and he told me of his many influences. I also used to live in a house that had several apartments and the guy across from me was a jazz guitarist who owned one of Lenny's old jazz boxes. Lenny was completely unique and a guitar genius.
@@adtorresitpro What Americans were/are ignorant of Spanish or classical technique? That's not a smart or accurate comment.
@@jsamc Huh... I didn't know that! A friend of mine used to play a bit with him during the country days. Thanks for the info!
Tragic life story, full of brilliant accomplishments performing feats on guitar that have not all been duplicated. And a day to day rambling life needing a high, unfortunately. I met Lenny in the 60s in Edmonton when I was a young folk player, and as many people know, he was a gentle, kind, modest person who just wanted to play jazz, and most importantly learn something different every day, improving his skills. I get the impression from listening to his albums that every time he played a favourite tune it had to be improved or varied somehow. Playing a tune was always more of a further exploration than a performance of a perfected tune.
thank you to whoever posted this. Took a lesson with Lenny in Maine in the late '70s. The most mind-blowing guitarist of any genre I have ever seen.
Peter Dammann how was the lesson?
just saw your question. The lesson was of course mind blowing. I thought of myself at that point, in my mid-20s, as a serious, rather advanced guitarist. I'd studied classically with several of Segovia's proteges (Lorrimer, Ghiglia, Tomas); jazz improv at Umass with Archie Shep and Max Roach; as a teenager had sat in with Koko Taylor and other blues legends in the Chicago area where I grew up; had transcribed Charlie Parker and Wes Montgomery jazz solos ... yada yada. Lenny was so far beyond what I imagined might be possible on the guitar... He told me about the 7-string he was having built. A low 'c'? I asked. No, a high A, strung with fishing line. What are you going to do with a high 7th string? 'Oh man, now I can get all seven notes of a scale in one chord.' My head started spinning at that point. Then there were those harmonics...
Peter Dammann that must have been a pivotal moment in life for you..the thought of sitting down with him made me shudder..and reading your more detailed description made the hairs on my arms stand up..
Peter Dammann that's a great story! Everything I've read about Lenny or video I have watched shows what a constant student he was and how open he was to show people anything. He was such a humble dude. I remember my dad telling me about him when I started playing guitar but I was too into heavy metal to understand how great he was. His playing inspires me to study and enjoy it.
Randy Bachman was his student.
I was lucky enough to have walked into a jazz club in 1973 in Vancouver, BC, where Lenny Breau was playing. He was stunning! I went back every night for his 2 week gig. Love Lenny! He will forever be the most unbelievable musician I have ever heard play. Such beauty but amazing technique, too!
learned some lenny breau stuff back in the day, tip, if your left hand is not in a good position it will cramp like its never cramped before, the guys dexterity, strength, and musicality bely how damn easy he makes it look, do not be fooled by the 'soft' playing, that's his incredible control. the guy's hands were unbelievable, he barre's a position and then plays all these intricate melodies with the rest of his fingers, it is not an easy thing to do.
The most unrecognized musician that deserves to be on the Canadian walk of fame because of his truly amazing talents above and beyond...just as randy Bachman who was Lenny's friend and student in the early 60s...
wow like someone said in the comments. this guy should be in the Canadien walk of fame. probably the best guitarist of all time.
In 2010, I visited Spain and Grenada as I was discovering Jazz. I imagined a flamenco version of Bluesette, guessing it was so evident to turn bluesette flamenco that someone should have done this before...
After a few researches, I found this and, my god, it was far beyond what I imagined!
Lenny Brau is a genius 😊
lenny was an absolute monster
The "buddy rich" of the guitar...an absolute master
Lenny Breau. The best there ever was and probobly ever will be, period. We miss ya Lenny.
A bold statement, ridiculous even....especially when there are so many genres, styles to consider. Jazz has Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, McLaughlin, Dimeola to name a few. Flamenco has Paco de Lucia. Country has Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Danny Gatton, Brent Mason. Then of course there's Tommy Emmanuel; some relative unknowns like Terry Kath and Roy Buchanan, and a cat named Hendrix, to consider.
HeavyMental It is a bold statement. Lenny could play any style at a Master skill level. If you don't believe me than check out what these people had to say about Lenny.
Quotes
"Lenny Breau played more great stuff at one time than anybody on the planet... with feeling and tone. He was the best that ever lived, bar none."
-Danny Gatton
"He is one of the true geniuses of the guitar. I suppose he is a musician's musician. His knowledge of the instrument and the music is so vast, and I think that's what knocks people out about him. But he's such a tasty player too. I think if Chopin had played guitar, he would have sounded like Lenny Breau."
-Chet Atkins, CGP
"[Lenny] is the best I have ever heard, and I have heard some players!"
-Jerry Reed, CGP
"He had the ability to reach into your heart."
-Larry Carlton
"He dazzled me with his extraordinary guitar playing... I wish the world had the opportunity to experience his artistry."
-George Benson
"Lenny Breau was the most innovative guitarist since Wes Montgomery."
-Phil Upchurch
(Phil also mentions that Wes became a huge Lenny fan after hearing just one album by him in the late 60s - most likely "Velvet Touch")
"What really got me was the soul behind all the playing."
-Mike Stern
"Regardless of style, few musicians have been universally held in such high esteem by their peers."
-Jim Ferguson, "Lenny Breau Remembered", Guitar Player Magazine 1984
"The late Lenny Breau was an uncrowned king of jazz fingerstyle guitar. A relatively unknown voice on the instrument, he startled newcomers to his music by his ability to comp chords behind himself sounding like two guitarists, ring out lengthy bell-like harmonic passages, tastefully blend his influences of country, jazz and flamenco and fluidly improvise in this style."
-Brawner Smoot, "The Immortal Lenny Breau" 1986
"It was the freshest, most exciting thing I had heard in years. ... He...was doing things that I never dreamed of. It was one of the greatest days of my life, the first day I heard Lenny."
-Chet Atkins
"Lenny is the greatest guitar player in the world today. I think he knows more guitar than any guy that's ever walked the face of the earth, because he can play jazz, he can play a little classical, he can play great country--and he does it all with taste."
-Chet Atkins
"My first reaction was a combination of jealousy, envy, admiration - because he was so good and so original. I thought, 'Oh my God. This guy is light years ahead of me and so many other people around here.'"
-Ed Bickert
"I have found a better player than I am."
-Merle Travis, describing a then 12-year-old Lenny
"Breau was perhaps the most technically brilliant guitarist of our time. ... Gatton thought Breau was the best ever."
-Steve Wolf, article from Danny Gatton's official hall of fame page
"It must be remembered that Coltrane's Jazz in 1962 was better known for experimentation.... This type of eccentric and unorthodox playing, which most musicians and guitarists could not comprehend, nor play, appealed to Lenny. When Lenny sat in...when Lenny's turn came to play, the effect was electrifying. Coltrane leaned over with eyes wide-open, looked at Lenny's hands, and smiled."
-George Sykornyk, on Lenny's encounter with John Coltrane
"Even when Lenny noodled, it was a feast!"
-Frank Zappa's words through Steve Vai
"The late Lenny Breau was a true jazz guitar genius who ranks alongside Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery as one of a select few inspired innovators who set new standards of creative artistry in Jazz Guitar history.
Lenny's musical influences were truly diverse. They ranged from Country fingerstyle master Chet Atkins, Jazz Guitarists Johnny Smith and Tal Farlow, Flamenco virtuoso Sabicas, Jazz pianist Bill Evans and sax titan John Coltrane. Drawing from these eclectic sources Lenny created a truly unique voice in the guitar world.
Lenny's unprecedented technical facility and depth of musical insight allowed him to play Bill Evans style chord voicings simultaneously with improvised single note lines. His country and classical right hand techniques allowed for great independence of parts and subtle tonal and dynamic shadings. Lenny possessed a singular blend of techniques and musical knowledge that often created the illusion of two and sometimes three musicians eminating from a single guitarist."
-Guitarchives
"He was the best electric bassist ever including Jaco [Pastorious]. He played the best solo on bass that you ever heard. It was ridiculous. Lenny was so advanced on bass that most guys wouldn't even try to do what he was doing because it was light years beyond anything they could ever think about."
-Don Thompson, universally regarded one of the greatest jazz bassists and multi-instrumentalists ever
"One day I was at Chet's and he told me he wanted me to meet this guitarist. Lenny was upstairs playing. Even before I made it half way up the stairs I was hearing things that were astonishing. Ten minutes later I was sitting with Lenny who began to play harmonics such as I have never in my life, and then I started learning right there and then. Chet, and he mentions it in his autobiography, always regretted that he didn't film that session. To this day, there is no one in the world who can do what Lenny did and we are all indebted to his legacy."
-Tommy Emmanuel
"Then Lenny Breau came along, and he could play like everyone: Chet, Joe [Pass], Bill Evans, Gene Autry [laughs], and that's what really floored me. When you're learning what Lenny does, you're learning everything, because he was covering so many genres. It was frustrating, really."
-Phil deGruy
"His intuition was the predominant force in his playing, rather than his intellect. ... He knew the chords he was playing, and he could spell them out if he had to, but he was more into musical colors, which he largely achieved using harmonics'simultaneous, cascading, and various amalgamations. He was always finding something new."
-Phil deGruy
"One night I heard out of the blue just as I was getting ready to go to sleep this guitar player singing quietly with harmonics, and different voicings, and I felt this electric bolt go through me. I sat up and I couldn't believe what I was hearing."
-Lorne Lofsky
"He was just this great, wonderful personality that I was attracted to because he seemed so free in his own right. Lenny had the guts to play what he wanted to play. He always played from the heart and he never pretended anything when he was playing, never tried to impress. He didn't buy into the bullshit. There was just total honesty all the time and that was why he was so special. Didn't matter who was around, he was continually himself. He didn't know how to do anything else or be anything else. That's one of the reasons I loved him so much: he was always, always true."
-Judi Singh
"Lenny was amazing, one of those people who make you feel like you've arrived."
-Peter Appleyard
"I was stunned; stunned is the word. Here was this little guy with this ready smile who had so much respect for other people and their music and was so encouraging about whatever you were doing. Completely selfless in that way. Then he picked up his guitar and it was like someone from another planet playing - effortless genius, just effortless. Totally apropos, no matter what it was. Every note that came out of his guitar would be like it was dictated from the music muses of the universe.
He just totally tuned into what I was doing, which is why every one of those takes [on the album] is a first take (virtually all of the recordings on Lenny's official albums were first takes)... As far as I was concerned, I felt I had the good fortune to accompany a genius on that album."
-Beverly Glenn-Copeland
(referring to her eponymous debut album from 1970)
"Every great guitarist I have been privileged to know - and the list includes Oscar Castro-Neves, Mundell Lowe, Gene Bertoncini, Ed Bickert, Reg Schwager, the late Emily Remler, and more - has considered Lenny a wunderkind at minimum, even some kind of musical miracle. The universality of Lenny's interests on the instrument led him to the most total technique on guitar I have ever heard."
-Gene Lees, legendary music critic
"When you look over the guitar literature of the past, Sor, Tarrega, the transcriptions of Segovia and more, when you look back down through the instrument's history to the time before it had six strings, you are compelled to think that more than just maybe, Lenny Breau was the most accomplished guitarist in history."
-Gene Lees
"He was a mess.... he was a mess...."
-Leonard Cohen
Joe Lach yea I don’t think I can argue with that
@@heavymental1456 Not a bold statement at all. He was an otherworldly guitarist with staggering skills and versatility as that long glorious list of quotes attests to.
@@JoeLach So What they say that Hendrix was the best! Means nothing.
Lenny deserves to be at the top of any list of greatest fingerstyle players. I was blown away the first time I saw video of him. He could play so many styles with incredible technique (incredibly dexterous five finger right hand), exceptionally tasteful virtuosity, and made it all look effortless.
Rare out of all the great guitar players that have picked up the instrument who takes the instrument to places that it has never been before....Lenny is one of those guys. This is a stunning performance.
!What a genius! Lenny was the master of the masters.Probably from another planet.otherwise this cant be explained
Thank's for posting
Masterful! Flawless! Genius! Lenny Breau is the best unknown guitarist of the world IMHO! Gone way too soon...
No one ever can compare to the complete genius of Lenny breau....there will never be the master as Lenny still is today...
today we have matheo mancuso, incredible virtuoso to
A masterclass in right hand technique. An absolute guitar master.
not just his amazing technique and knowledge,everything is played with feel,the flamenco passage at the beginning is proper flamenco,awesome
This is simply the top of the top...
Just discovered this fantastic video! Unreal.
Also, I the first half of this video an improvisation of "Taranta"; "Bluesette" starts at about 1:43.
Articulate, inventive, precise, from the heart. No tricks or useless licks! Simply an amazing musician that was a member of the guitarist pantheon including: Paco de Lucia, Django Reinhardt and Lenny Breau
This is one of the best performances I've ever seen.
*UNREAL* guitar playing. Lenny just blows me away.
My brother, Jimma Matejek, country guitarist ...and my guitar hero Randy Bachman...both love this dude, and he rocks it for me too!
One of the greatest ever!
So powerful of a player! And those beautiful chord melodies!!
LENNY...the guy who could out -Flamenco the Flamnencos, out -Brazil the Brazilians, out-pick the finger pickers and Wes Montgomery said, "Don' t listen to anything I'm doing, listen to this cat from Canada, Lenny Breau."
Jim Griffin did Wes really say that? Lol
@@lol-ui9bt Yeah, Wes really said it.
@@vestibulate Right on, Bro.... Wes said that to Phil Upchurch.... shows a lot about how perceptive and humble was Wes. He's still number one for my Bro and me.... well, we bought all his LP's new. We still break out in a cold sweat listening to the, "Incredible Jazz Guitar" LP. Peace from Texas.
Yes, and coming from Wes, one the very best !
Wes and Lenny. Merci
mind blowing stuff...total master.
Thanks for posting this.Lenny was a mesmerizing, unique and brilliant musician.
When recording, Lenny made it clear that he could never play the same piece the same way twice. So, you either went with the first take (most common), or he might ask to do it again (but sometimes still went with the first take, anyway).
I once saw him accompany an excellent female singer/songwriter/guitarist (in his usual modest and generous style), where they had done a rehearsal before the show but he then proceeded to play his accompaniments completely differently in the live performance. The woman (whose name I forget) was initially surprised by his improvisations but then amazed by them, to the point where she clearly wanted to just sit back and listen to Lenny.
Loved his vertical movements for the quartal chord sequence. Awesome!
Is that around the 2:40 section? He's playing like Bill Evans with a unison chord phrasing. That part, at least to me, is unlike anything I've ever heard a guitarist but Lenny be able to do. Well, it's more about his overall inventiveness and the ability to actually play it in th moment too. Astounding.
Magnificent
Omg what! This is astonishing art. Lenny breau. Recognize.
the only guy who ever accomplished jazz/flamenco fusion - two of the most difficult genres to master individually.
I've just discovered this, and Lenny Breau.. Absolutely the top of the game. Guys like Davey Graham wished they were this guy...
Comping the chords and playing the melody! Wow!
yep !!
RIP LB transformative guitarist. Never forgotten. 🇨🇦❤️
Absolutely incredible.
I mean...just, waaaaaaaaaaaa incredible !
A master’s master!
flawless
Wow, he seemlessly mixes a flamenco taranta with jazz. That´s real flamenco right there!
Always brilliant how he approached these songs and his voicings
Heaven!
^..^
Guitar gods worship Lenny, with good reason.
Beautiful guitarist, tank you very much RUclips
always puts a smile on my face and i get tingles
Fantastico!!!!
After listening and collecting too many guitar players records, Lenny is No. 1 choice. There are too many that come in 2nd place and for sure many many in the 3rd place. But this angel doesn't play guitar, he is a soul men healer. R.i.p. brother Lenny
love the milestones quote @1:28
Jason Filloramo pretty hip!
Jason Filloramo, I thought I heard a snippet of "These Are A Few of My Favorite Things" in there too.
beautiful!
You know, over the years I’ve heard a lot about Lenny but never had the chance to look his works up. I can safely say everything that was said is completely true. In fact, it just may fall short of describing what an incredible composer and guitar player he was.
man he is unbelievable. wow. what a discovery.
Been waiting forever for some new Lenny Breau uploads. Thank you soooooo much.
genio absoluto !!!!!!
He really was the master! Amazing guitar.
yes Lenny you're talking to me. thank you
magnifico e unico
great thanks for posting. been needing some new lenny clips.
Amazing and wonderful
Never heard this guy before..... wow!! So impressive ✔️
Lenny B. All time G.O.A.T.
Lennie Breau, un fuera de serie!!!! 🎸
He practiced every waking hour. And longer if he had 'something' to help him stay awake longer.
I got so into the performance I forgot what year it was and smacked my monitor to get better reception...
GOAT
Legend !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Andy Summers tells an amazing story of how he called Lenny Breau up for a lesson out of the blue. "It'll be expensive though .....$45" and was over within the hour.
Clean as a whistle.
No wasted phrases. Like Gozilla in Mayberry!
According to Ron Forbes-Roberts (One long tune: the life and music of Lenny Breau - 2006 University of North Texas Press - page 112), this is from a CBC television show called In Person, aired on the New Year's Eve in 1966.
Great book! I have it in my collection. I read it over the course of three days- I practically DEVOURED the book!!!
The one and only!
fantastic!
magnificent
I get annoyed when people (esp. guitarists) have not heard of Lenny Breau.
Dan Frechette ...I feel the same. I question their efforts in truly seeking out the great ones. Like I have to educate them.
Well, at least it'd then be a point of pride in accomplishment, if you get to be the one to first introduce them to Lenny. I still feel appreciative of the guy who got me to sit down & listen to the Rolling Stones, for example.
@@Composer19691 Thing is, people aren't all in love with guitar playing like we are. And there ARE a lot of different styles of guitar to choose to listen to.
Yeah WTF. Why did I not learn about this man until just now!
Maybe we're still unaware of better guitarists out there, and people are irritated at us for that. Hmmmm....
A complete one off, a guitarist's guitarist.
Incredible voice leading - not just choppy chords !
Wow❤
Wow!!!!
mind = blown ;)
Great.........!!!!!!!
Danny Gatton quote about Lenny got me here
MUCH TO SEE MUCH TO LEARN
The best that never was.
He won’t make any lists of the greatest though, but he def should!
The chromatic sequence starting at 2:33 is absolutely beautiful
UM ESPETÁCULO!É CLASSE AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!
That smile after killing the song
Lenny with a capo!
1:09 Beautiful transition.
1:25 Zakk Wylde was probably inspired by this so he plays very similar in T.A.Z. at 0:25.
💛🌼🌱😀
@ 1:00 If I weren't watching this and just hearing it, I would think there are definitely TWO guitarists playing!
This was recorded on the CBC show "In Person" on New Year's Eve of 1966 in Toronto using Lenny's model A-1 Ramirez guitar. The flamenco beginning is a slightly altered version of Taranta which he would later go on to record on a few different records. Quick phrase of Miles Davis' Milestones and then goes into Toots Thielemans' Bluesette.
All of this and pretty much anything about Lenny Breau's life can be found in "One Long Tune: The Life and Music of Lenny Breau," which is an extremely well-researched biography with extensive interviewing by Ron Forbes-Roberts.
Austin French many years ago I watched some kind of documentary special on TV where Tal Farlow and Lenny were playing together. Any idea what the title was?
@@goodun6081 You can find it on RUclips "Tal Farlow & Lenny Breau"
I'm new to Lenny Breau, Austin. What is your favorite album by him? I'm looking for a recommendation. Thanks.
The closest I'll ever come to playing like that is sitting on a stool just like his, which I have at home.
it's audible that he got a lot of inspiration form Bill Evans and tried to bring these ideas to the guitar
Blue Collar by BTO got me here.