the only reson i keep progressing further and further into musical studies and guitar playing is mainly because of this man. please if there is someone els that can compare to this (jazz) somebody let me no i want to listen
this is pure talent not gussied up in a nashville or la studio lenny had it PURE RAW TALENT he proved it beyond he fought his inner self many times for this greatness..he worked hard damned hard physically hurting himself,seen him in 1965 through 1968 @tornto jazz clubs and he never quit always gav his ultimate in phrasing chording reading the minds of the singers and crowds he grew and drew from this.NEVER FORGET LENNY BREAU!!!!!!
Thanks. I first discovered Lenny when I chanced upon the documetary " Genius of Lenny Breau " ... needless to say, I was blown away by the passion and ease of his playing and also amazed that he hadn't made a bigger splash in the pool of collective conscience... Sad what life can do to sensitive people. I've searched for his music on CD and so far have found only 1-"Mosaic" a small collection compiled and released by Randy Bachman, I believe... I LOVE IT !
Very nice ...indeed. This is my favourite guitar video of all time. The best is when the camera goes behind Lenny and Lenny is giving his bass player the rythme using his head and the bass player is glued to his groove...Wow...thats what I call the best I have ever seen and heard. What a great player.
I am sure CBC has an huge collection of Lenny's playing. I just hope someone has the brains to release this again to the public ...after all it was our tax dollars that made it Cheers Dave W
I'm a Lenny Breau fanatic, I'm in love with the guy, I started a therapy group for people like me...... Lenny was so hot...I'd be equally honoured if you joined the group and shared some of your personal feelings on Lenny for those who are equally warped and deranged.
what about Montreal... two brothers, great jazz guitarists, now gone... Ivan and Nelson Symonds... and so many others we never heard... there was once a great jazz music and club scene in Montreal in the 40's and 50's...
garrett at a small club during the jazz festival. Garret said he had a special guest then brought out LB. You could hear a pin drop in the place while the pair traded awesome licks
Great memory. When reading the book of his life One Long Tune, I got excited when I read the part about his stint with Dr. Music, and then how they played in Calgary, I was there (it was a fantastic concert at the Stampede, the best part of it in my youthful opinion - by a long shot. Dr. Music was awesome).
If you haven't read it, that book has lots of stories about the scene in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa -- reads like a history of Canadian jazz in that period.
not enough people outside of guitar playing circles know about this guy and that is sad....he was sure a monster...the stuff he pulled off on the guitar is unprecedented.
Too true- his conception was so deep and revolutionary that to me anyway, he is way in the company of Hall & Bickert - and would have probably "scared" them on any given night.... he scares me right now.....
Lenny had real small hands. His reach was amazing. He was born with a pinky finger that was at least an inch removed from his 3rd finger. He could partial barre the 3rd and 4th strings with his 3rd finger and not mute the 2nd string. I transcribed this. I have large hands and even though flexible in the tip-segments, cannot play this the way Lenny does.
The ES125 has a slim neck,
Sometimes virtuosic playing appears when when you least expect it. ......
Ok,here's what I know about Lenny,he was one of the greatest talents,EVER. I don't care where he is from. I'm still furious to this day he was taken away from us.God..what he could have done!!
Not sure why some Americans feel the need to deny Lenny's Canadian-ness. It's a fact. The phrase "all his relatives were American" is incorrect. He had relatives in New Brunswick and Manitoba as stated in the book One Long Tune. He lived with the relatives in New Brunswick in his youth. His family was of French-Canadian background. You may want to speak to a Franco-American about what that means to them. I have, and they told me -- it is who they are. Please just accept that and move on.
Lenny stayed with friends of his parents in NB, not relatives. According to One Long Tune he had no relatives in MB and knew no one when he got to Winnipeg. His mother was an American citizen. His dad was not French Canadian and was born in Maine. His grandfather was an American citizen. I lived in Portland for six years and knew many, many Franco Americans. Most of them had never been to Canada and couldn't have cared less about it. Lenny was an American who lived in Canada for awhile.
I don't get it? You're joking... Canada = poor? no... The middleclass of Canada are much more wealthy than the middle class in Us... but for the Higherclass, it's opposite...
i'm a metal (in the style of Guns n Roses, Black Sabbath, and Judas Priest) and proto-punk (Iggy and the Stooges, the Who, MC5) guitarist but i really want to learn jazz guitar just to keep myself well versed in different genres. whenever i look for an influence in jazz i'll find it in either Lenny or Wes Montgomery, but i have admired Lenny, and jazz itself, for almost 2 years. I have a lot to learn about jazz but with guys like Lenny to look up to it somehow makes it easy
Your willingness and enthusiasm to look at other genres is admirable, and will no doubt lead you to become all the guitarist you can be! The wonderful thing about guitar, with your attitude, is that you can spend a lifetime playing and always have something more to learn and to play!
I really enjoy Lenny's playing in his early CBC period. He taught us inprov. with the clean jazz & blues ...& tasteful guitar- Thks for posting my favourite performance
I have never seen one before, but the shape of the headstock appears to be a Guild, as do the pickups which were like P90's but were "Franz" at that time. Sounds great!
i grew up with melody breau , she was my sisters buddy ... and chet was assocciate of mine in winnipeg . 20 yrs ago ... im not sure but i think he runs a music school in wpg
these people who insist on making claims about who is a better guitar player are totally missing the point. It's all about great music and artistry. If you want to rank order people then go to the sports videos.
dead on. his parents were from Winnipeg and Melfort, and they moved to Maine 2 years before he was born and moved back to Winnipeg when he was 6 after a bit of moving all along the northeastern coast, mostly in Canada though.
According to Lenny's authorized biography One Long Tune, he was born in Auburn Maine in 1941. He moved to Winnipeg at the age of 16. His dad Harold Breau (Hal Lone Pine) was born in Maine in 1916. He came to Winnipeg 40 years later with Lenny. Lenny's mom Betty was born in Quebec in 1923 but lived there only 1 year. She was brought up in Auburn Maine. She lived in Winnipeg for 2 years. Lenny never had Canadian citizenship. He left Canada in 1976 and died 8 years later.
But still he is considered Canadian... I well, I don't concur... I'm sure Lenny would consider himself a Canadian too, but wouldn't care about where he was born... Or I'm really sure Lenny didn't gave a hell for what he was from...
But still I never heard someone considered him as American, but his family is all Canadian, so I would consider Canadian... But whatever!
Lenny's mom and dad were American. All his relatives were American. He never had Canadian citizenship. He lived more than half his life in the US. He was barred from entering Canada from 1976 to 1981. His last wife was American and he married her in the US. They had a child who is American. Lenny died in the US. At the time he died he had no legal status in Canada at all. HE WAS AMERICAN!!!
Then why is he considered Canadian? Who gives a shit! All this confusing stuff said about him... He was mostly known to Canadians through shows. So he was a North American.... Did Lenny thought he was American or Canadian, we don't know, but surely if someone would ask him that question if he would still be a live, he wouldn't give a fuck, seriously! He was a human... What difference would it make if he was American? Miles Davis was Canadian, Leonard Cohen was Canadian, etc!... but who cares?
Well now I shouldn't believe shit that my music teacher in school says to me anymore...
But still a human made music! Jazz is an american based music, but Lenny didn't played jazz because it was american, no one cared about that... But still I play jazz... Aw wtf am I saying? lol
Well many ppl thought as Lenny as Canadian because of shows.. What does it matter? I didn't brought someone else did down in the more comments.
Proud to be a human! We don't need no racism, natioalism, etc...
Is it a New Orleans music? Or maybe St. Louis? Perhaps Chicago or New York? Is Jazz less L.A.? What about Montreal?
I like what Dave Brubeck said about jazz has having as much connection to Klezmer music and European harmony. Sure there are roots from the Black Slaves and African music. But, don't think that European music has no connection to the creation of jazz. Jazz has drawn from many styles.
This video was most likely recorded by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). They may have archival footage available for purchase if you contact them.
I hope all the young budding guitarists who think the world of Jimi Hendrix and Jimmie Page could pay some attention to Lenny Breau, easily the most overlooked genius of the jazz guitar, and certainly the most gifted musician ever to come from our state of Maine. C'est magnifique!
I'm reading One Long Tune, and it goes into what he does there Jon.
"At one point, (00:56) he plays a rising chord sequence as a turnaround between the repeated A sections of the AABA form. Instead of resolving this figure when he arrives at the first bar of the second A section, where typically a turnaround would end, he continues it for several more bars, successfully and effectively blending it into the tunes harmonic structure."
When it doesn't resolve it creates such great tension!
I just read One Long Tune and that is the same conclusion that I came up with too.... she was a crazy woman.. that is such a loss. I am a huge fan of his and spent much time listening to 5:00 clock bells. I wore the record out transcribing it...
Actually, you can't compare apples to oranges. If you listen to the music, chances are it's enjoyed, and in the end that's all that REALLY matters. But Lenny was technically more advanced that Chet was on many different levels, but that doesn't make anyone BETTER at anything, it's all about the music not the musician.
Also, I went out a few times with the drummer here who is Wayne Finnucan, (That's Dave Young on bass) He was a good drummer and the best looking guy of his age in Winnipeg besides Lenny!!!) Magical times in that frosty prairie city.
Holy Crap!! Are you DH from Higgins??!! This is GG the pianist's bro from Pembina. If its you get in touch!! I was in Toronto last year and turned Dave Y onto this video. He couldn't believe it.
I knew Lenny in Winnipeg starting when he was 15 or 16. He was a genius even then. When he came to town he was the world's greatest Chet style player. Then he went away for a year to live in Moose Jaw with his dad and when he came back he was the hottest jazz guitarist in town. I remember lots of partys in the late 50's and 60's where Lenny would play for hours everything from wild bebop to old country songs that he'd sing. We all loved him and I still miss him and his beautiful laugh.
Holy Cow!!! I've never even heard of this guy. He;s incredible. Is he still playing. Can anyone recommend some of his CDs? How do I find out more about him? Unbeilevable!
Best stuff is on The Complete Living Room Tapes, Live at Bourbon Street, Guitar Sounds from Lenny Breau and The Velvet "Touch of Lenny Breau Live (if you can find it on CD.) The best thing written on Lenny in his biography One Long Tune which is all about him and his music. A great read and easy to find on Amazon. Enjoy!
He died Aug 1984, he was off drugs and his guitar was not stolen. Not sure why LA pd did not go after his wife. Very lame investigation
Only Lenny Breau .. Now is out of print. For sure it is best one. Standard Brands is the one with Chet, Guitar sounds from Lenny Breau and Velvet Touch of Lenny Breau are the 2 old RCA ones reissued.
I have the old vinyl of L.B. Now, it has very best versions of Vision, Ebony Queen, and Freight Train. It was published by Sound Hole in Nashville.
It was advertised in guitar player magazine back in the 70's. I had never heard him play before but his picture was so intense that I figured he must how to play.
When I heard it I totally freaked out. Maybe I convert it sometime to digital format.
I talked to Lenny on the phone 2 times; I was going to fly out for lessons. I was getting ready to book the flight when he died. He charged $50 an hour but would let you tape it.
Lenny Breau loved Jimi's playing, thats a documented fact. Also, Miles Davis, one of Lenny's most significant influences, was searching for a new direction to his music in the 60's and was talking to Hendrix about doing a recording in the months leading up to Jimi's untimely death. Miles recording Bitches Brew (The ground breaker of Jazz fusion BTW) could have featured Hendrix! Can you imagine?
I sure wish people would educate themselves before making comments!
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
lenny was being nice to simplton blues player with a couple of boring scales lotsa fuzz and fancy dress costume,and little guitar party tricks...Hendrix as showman..brilliant as a guitarist...crap
Lenny spent hours listening to Hendrix and according to musicians who worked with him especially in the mid 70's, he would often get into a Hendrix mode in performance and wail like Jimmy. Lenny also explored feedback under Jimi's influence
Lenny's ability as a musician was commensurate with his ability to recognize brilliance in other players without jealousy or envy.
This is an attitude that certain people commenting here could learn a great deal from.
what are Lenny's best works? Im just discovering him now and what I just heard in this video is unreal. The voicing near 1:50 is what really makes it awesome for me. Could you give me some suggestions please? Thanks man.
a great start would be The Velvet Touch of Lenny Breau... really shows his virtuosity and versatility in playing everything from bebop to country to flamenco.
The Livingroom Tapes is absolutely wonderful - features both solo playing (and even some singing) and duets with clarinet.
Live at Bourbon St is an excellent late period gig with Dave Young on bass.
Cabin Fever features some of his most extemporaneous and contemplative playing.
of course, you can't go wrong with his early albums, Guitar Sounds and The Legendary Lenny Breau Now
Last Sessions features what is his (in my opinion) greatest masterpiece: Paris. So it's worth tracking down for that alone.
and, perhaps, best of all is his album of duets with Chet Atkins: Standard Brands ...perhaps the most melodic, creative, fresh and tasteful guitar album of all time. (:
All great recordings recommended by geosochi... My personal favourite (and in my opinion the best) is the Live at Bourbon St. disc. Displays Lenny at the height of his talents with great recording quality- especially for a disc recorded in a restaurant- AND it's a double album, so there's more material to enjoy.
Guitar Sounds From Lenny Breau, The Velvet Touch of Lenny Breau (get the LP if you don't want to pay 150 dollars for the CD) The Complete Living Room Tapes, The Hallmark Sessions, Live at Bourbon Street, Swinging on a Seven String.
Guitar Sounds and Living Room Tapes are must haves in my opinion but all the rest are important too.
There are lots of others too. Get the book One Long Tune. Ron Roberts the author describes Lenny;s albums in detail and points out the really major ones.
I really appreciate your comments about attitude.... so well said!
For me , I like tell young people to listen carefully ....it is all about the artistry .. & Lenny Breau is such a treasure. This first half of the video (Georgia on My Mind) is the most profound piece with amazing jazz artistry.
@talfactor I don't believe this for one minute. Lenny and Jimi were from different musical worlds. I happen to look at both as my heros but your claim that Lenny wailed is not believable. Lenny hardly bent a string in his whole career. Apples and oranges.
Thanks guys. Has anyone seen a CBC video from 1973 where Lenny did a half hour show with a sort of folk singer named Beverly Glen Copeland who he did an album with in Toronto? I read about it in One Long Tune, Lenny's bio but it doesn't seem to exist. The book also mentions a CBC show from 1966 where Lenny plays Taranta and Bluesette on classical. Anyone know anything about these ones?
seems to me probably around 5'8"... and like breaulenny said, lenny did have average size hands at most, yet he had very well developed and flexible fingers which allowed him to do pretty much anything he wanted, even stretches that guitarists with big hands couldn't do.
What makes Lenny different than most other jazz guitarists is that his fingerstyle technique enabled him to define and sustain the 3rd and 7th of the chord like a bebop pianist's left hand, while playing the melody over the top. He does it in several phrases here, generally using the 2nd and 3rd fingers for the underlying chord. van Eps and Ted Greene did similar things but often went for a bass line too.
Wow!! Where is this from? Someone gave me the biography on Lenny for Christmas called One Long Tune. Fantastic!! I've been trying to track down everything by him since. Can anyone help?
I would have defied any guitarist in the world to watch him play when he was alive and not be impressed the dude was scary. The day I saw him play live, I felt like throwing my guitar away and picking up bongos. One of the nicest guys I ever met.
I just say this; In my opinion, Lenny and Joe are the best jazz guitarist EVER PERIOD. Lenny is my favorite of the two but they were both legends and both had unique attributes.
i don't, but if you do a search on him here, you'll find several excellent videos (there used to be about a dozen others, but unfortunately they have been taken down, probably due to copyright issues)
Oh yeah, Joe Pass was also great man ! I love his playing. I just meant Lenny plays more with the band, gives more room for his band/players...chord-solo is a busy sound..Lenny can do it better I guess...
Lenny also known as Sonny lived in Schenectady at about the age of 13,14? in between Main and Canada. They rented an apartment from my Dad's uncle. My Grandfather taped him with himself on percussion. What was remembered was that he was doing Chet Atkins note for note. Yankee Doodle/Dixie. The Tapes were carelessly thrown out about 30 years ago.
You know what is most incredible about this clip is lenny is only about 20-21. Brings tears to the eyes...there is ni other like lenny, only students of the craft, of harmony and accompanyment
Now that is an awesome guitar video! Thank You!
TexasToneBlog 1 month ago
He was the greatest way, way back and we didn't take notice. What a loss....
mailadai 3 months ago
Other wordly ! Does anyone have a transcription of this?
trenth47 5 months ago
You can hear his influence in so many players like Tuck and Danny G. and even Stanley Jordan. We miss you brother. See you next time.
livemusichere 6 months ago
If anyone's interested, I've got a transcription of this - just drop me a message
ishouldpractice 6 months ago
@ishouldpractice, I would love a transcription. you have it posted anywhere?
KillinAdam 4 months ago
@KillinAdam Hey - i've uploaded it to davidtoule.wordpress[dot]com, along with a few others, more coming soon! Enjoy, and subscribe for updates!
ishouldpractice 4 months ago
@ishouldpractice, I would love a transcription. you have it posted anywhere?
KillinAdam 4 months ago
should be the worlds national anthem.
golds04 7 months ago
He is my uncle ! (:
rebreau15 8 months ago
@rebreau15 He's my third cousin! Small world ey?
mirandann2010 6 months ago
the only reson i keep progressing further and further into musical studies and guitar playing is mainly because of this man. please if there is someone els that can compare to this (jazz) somebody let me no i want to listen
cb6588 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I found the tabs on this site axemagazine.it
matsimo76 8 months ago
this is pure talent not gussied up in a nashville or la studio lenny had it PURE RAW TALENT he proved it beyond he fought his inner self many times for this greatness..he worked hard damned hard physically hurting himself,seen him in 1965 through 1968 @tornto jazz clubs and he never quit always gav his ultimate in phrasing chording reading the minds of the singers and crowds he grew and drew from this.NEVER FORGET LENNY BREAU!!!!!!
TheFiddlerforlife 10 months ago
Thanks. I first discovered Lenny when I chanced upon the documetary " Genius of Lenny Breau " ... needless to say, I was blown away by the passion and ease of his playing and also amazed that he hadn't made a bigger splash in the pool of collective conscience... Sad what life can do to sensitive people. I've searched for his music on CD and so far have found only 1-"Mosaic" a small collection compiled and released by Randy Bachman, I believe... I LOVE IT !
1968sliceoflife 11 months ago
There just aren't enough videos like this around. Fantastic. :)
ilikejazzalot 1 year ago 2
Lenny sure "owns" this one.
He's still my favorite jazz guitarist.
brookdalebill 1 year ago 2
lenny started to play in his daddys band age 15 and they did some way cool rockabilly songs..
Rickstarbrown 1 year ago
this is so great
Joeey 1 year ago
this is beautiful.
kirksiesz 1 year ago
Very nice ...indeed. This is my favourite guitar video of all time. The best is when the camera goes behind Lenny and Lenny is giving his bass player the rythme using his head and the bass player is glued to his groove...Wow...thats what I call the best I have ever seen and heard. What a great player.
I am sure CBC has an huge collection of Lenny's playing. I just hope someone has the brains to release this again to the public ...after all it was our tax dollars that made it Cheers Dave W
dwebster50 1 year ago 8
truly one of the best to ever play the instument
MrCinabuns 1 year ago 2
there's just something about lenny's style that draws you in. the guy is so fluid. amazing phrasing and chops.
tomitstube 1 year ago 4
I'm a Lenny Breau fanatic, I'm in love with the guy, I started a therapy group for people like me...... Lenny was so hot...I'd be equally honoured if you joined the group and shared some of your personal feelings on Lenny for those who are equally warped and deranged.
TheRealKurtJames 1 year ago 3
A real treat to those who like good music and a very eloquent example of modernity
msalimon 1 year ago 2
what about Montreal... two brothers, great jazz guitarists, now gone... Ivan and Nelson Symonds... and so many others we never heard... there was once a great jazz music and club scene in Montreal in the 40's and 50's...
CrackerJackLee 1 year ago
This has to be some of the coolest and smoothest sounding jazz that I have heard in a long time.
castlehilldude 1 year ago
Great video!!
libertatus 1 year ago
Lenny lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba for some time. That's where Randy Bachman met him. The lived in the same neighbourhood.
darkoanton5 1 year ago
had the pleasure of catching Lenny Breau in
edmonton in the early-80s.
a buddy took me to see
amos
garrett at a small club during the jazz festival. Garret said he had a special guest then brought out LB. You could hear a pin drop in the place while the pair traded awesome licks
immcgee 1 year ago
@immcgee
Great memory. When reading the book of his life One Long Tune, I got excited when I read the part about his stint with Dr. Music, and then how they played in Calgary, I was there (it was a fantastic concert at the Stampede, the best part of it in my youthful opinion - by a long shot. Dr. Music was awesome).
If you haven't read it, that book has lots of stories about the scene in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa -- reads like a history of Canadian jazz in that period.
ramiller100 1 year ago
My uncle, Joe Waye played with him when Lenny was just a kid and said he was an amazing player then!
63tolo 1 year ago
not enough people outside of guitar playing circles know about this guy and that is sad....he was sure a monster...the stuff he pulled off on the guitar is unprecedented.
TokaCola 2 years ago 3
Too true- his conception was so deep and revolutionary that to me anyway, he is way in the company of Hall & Bickert - and would have probably "scared" them on any given night.... he scares me right now.....
sitarnut 1 year ago
amen. Just try to play a transcription of even this...he must have had BIG hands
handdancin 1 year ago
Hey Handdancin,
Lenny had real small hands. His reach was amazing. He was born with a pinky finger that was at least an inch removed from his 3rd finger. He could partial barre the 3rd and 4th strings with his 3rd finger and not mute the 2nd string. I transcribed this. I have large hands and even though flexible in the tip-segments, cannot play this the way Lenny does.
The ES125 has a slim neck,
Sometimes virtuosic playing appears when when you least expect it. ......
Cheers,
jasman699 1 year ago
@jasman699- interesting, thanks for letting me know! Keith Jarrett also has small hands...where there's a will, there's a way i guess.
handdancin 1 year ago
i don't give a shit what country he was from, and neither did the guitar.
DexRok 2 years ago
Ok,here's what I know about Lenny,he was one of the greatest talents,EVER. I don't care where he is from. I'm still furious to this day he was taken away from us.God..what he could have done!!
biggfingger5 2 years ago
wasn't it good ol' fashioned heroine?
same as all the greats?
DexRok 2 years ago
@DexRok If you mean how he died,I think he was strangled. Why he was murdered,I don't know.I'm no authority.
biggfingger5 2 years ago
Not sure why some Americans feel the need to deny Lenny's Canadian-ness. It's a fact. The phrase "all his relatives were American" is incorrect. He had relatives in New Brunswick and Manitoba as stated in the book One Long Tune. He lived with the relatives in New Brunswick in his youth. His family was of French-Canadian background. You may want to speak to a Franco-American about what that means to them. I have, and they told me -- it is who they are. Please just accept that and move on.
theforgottencylon 2 years ago
Lenny stayed with friends of his parents in NB, not relatives. According to One Long Tune he had no relatives in MB and knew no one when he got to Winnipeg. His mother was an American citizen. His dad was not French Canadian and was born in Maine. His grandfather was an American citizen. I lived in Portland for six years and knew many, many Franco Americans. Most of them had never been to Canada and couldn't have cared less about it. Lenny was an American who lived in Canada for awhile.
agoblinist 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Comment removed by author
Fuzzy192006 2 years ago
Great and dig a youthful Dave Young playing electric with a pick !!
guitboot 2 years ago
Of course he's Canadian. He never really made any money, right?
theguitarsummit 2 years ago
I don't get it? You're joking... Canada = poor? no... The middleclass of Canada are much more wealthy than the middle class in Us... but for the Higherclass, it's opposite...
LinkBulletBill 2 years ago
The passage from about 1:25 to 1:45 is simply sublime. Its hard to even put into words how that just simply translates to beautiful guitar playing.
swimbum1 2 years ago
LB performs with the Bob McMullin Quartet featuring George LaFleche on vocals, Frank Burke on trumpet, Wayne Finucan on drums, and bassist Dave Young
Skiarp 2 years ago
Lenny is just great
i'm a metal (in the style of Guns n Roses, Black Sabbath, and Judas Priest) and proto-punk (Iggy and the Stooges, the Who, MC5) guitarist but i really want to learn jazz guitar just to keep myself well versed in different genres. whenever i look for an influence in jazz i'll find it in either Lenny or Wes Montgomery, but i have admired Lenny, and jazz itself, for almost 2 years. I have a lot to learn about jazz but with guys like Lenny to look up to it somehow makes it easy
jorghad6 2 years ago
Your willingness and enthusiasm to look at other genres is admirable, and will no doubt lead you to become all the guitarist you can be! The wonderful thing about guitar, with your attitude, is that you can spend a lifetime playing and always have something more to learn and to play!
jamestdawson 2 years ago
I really enjoy Lenny's playing in his early CBC period. He taught us inprov. with the clean jazz & blues ...& tasteful guitar- Thks for posting my favourite performance
David Webster - Calgary
dwebster50 2 years ago
one of the masters; very moving
MrElvern 2 years ago
sure would like to know what the make of that bass guitar is
pnoynoir 2 years ago
I have never seen one before, but the shape of the headstock appears to be a Guild, as do the pickups which were like P90's but were "Franz" at that time. Sounds great!
jamestdawson 2 years ago
i just cant believe this is a 21 year old, its demoralizing
handdancin 2 years ago
Lenny played straight ahead Jazz in those days ..Sweet !!
SIRONEDRAGON 2 years ago
i grew up with melody breau , she was my sisters buddy ... and chet was assocciate of mine in winnipeg . 20 yrs ago ... im not sure but i think he runs a music school in wpg
MrPissed1 2 years ago
His way of playing is very transparent, he just gently touches the guitar. It sounds like a ghost guitar just playing away hauntingly.
twistswitch 2 years ago 3
What a beautiful to put it.
westerisbester 2 years ago
these people who insist on making claims about who is a better guitar player are totally missing the point. It's all about great music and artistry. If you want to rank order people then go to the sports videos.
navazguitar 2 years ago 16
I concur. Who's better, Wes or Joe Pass? Neither, they are both great!
pikdude 2 years ago
I hate how everyone thinks he was born in Canada, he was born in Auburn, Maine<<< MAINE!! united states!
Pianomanteacher 2 years ago
yeah, but his parents were Canadian and i'm pretty sure he was raised here, too.
sageSPH 2 years ago
dead on. his parents were from Winnipeg and Melfort, and they moved to Maine 2 years before he was born and moved back to Winnipeg when he was 6 after a bit of moving all along the northeastern coast, mostly in Canada though.
BlueBombers4Life 2 years ago
According to Lenny's authorized biography One Long Tune, he was born in Auburn Maine in 1941. He moved to Winnipeg at the age of 16. His dad Harold Breau (Hal Lone Pine) was born in Maine in 1916. He came to Winnipeg 40 years later with Lenny. Lenny's mom Betty was born in Quebec in 1923 but lived there only 1 year. She was brought up in Auburn Maine. She lived in Winnipeg for 2 years. Lenny never had Canadian citizenship. He left Canada in 1976 and died 8 years later.
Great ,great bio!!
westerisbester 2 years ago
But still he is considered Canadian... I well, I don't concur... I'm sure Lenny would consider himself a Canadian too, but wouldn't care about where he was born... Or I'm really sure Lenny didn't gave a hell for what he was from...
But still I never heard someone considered him as American, but his family is all Canadian, so I would consider Canadian... But whatever!
LinkBulletBill 2 years ago
Lenny's mom and dad were American. All his relatives were American. He never had Canadian citizenship. He lived more than half his life in the US. He was barred from entering Canada from 1976 to 1981. His last wife was American and he married her in the US. They had a child who is American. Lenny died in the US. At the time he died he had no legal status in Canada at all. HE WAS AMERICAN!!!
Read his bio One Long Tune. It's all there.
Juriswindow 2 years ago
Then why is he considered Canadian? Who gives a shit! All this confusing stuff said about him... He was mostly known to Canadians through shows. So he was a North American.... Did Lenny thought he was American or Canadian, we don't know, but surely if someone would ask him that question if he would still be a live, he wouldn't give a fuck, seriously! He was a human... What difference would it make if he was American? Miles Davis was Canadian, Leonard Cohen was Canadian, etc!... but who cares?
LinkBulletBill 2 years ago
Are you saying Lenny didn't know he was American?!?!? I mean the guy was a bit naive but not stupid.
And if you don't care about his nationality, why bring it up?
And btw, Miles Davis was definitely not a Canadian! Where the hell did you come up with that?
agoblinist 2 years ago
Well now I shouldn't believe shit that my music teacher in school says to me anymore...
But still a human made music! Jazz is an american based music, but Lenny didn't played jazz because it was american, no one cared about that... But still I play jazz... Aw wtf am I saying? lol
Well many ppl thought as Lenny as Canadian because of shows.. What does it matter? I didn't brought someone else did down in the more comments.
Proud to be a human! We don't need no racism, natioalism, etc...
LinkBulletBill 2 years ago
I don't understand the need to argue over whether or not Lenny was Canadian. Just setting the record straight.
agoblinist 2 years ago
@agoblinist
WTF? I'm not arguing... Why do you think so?
LinkBulletBill 2 years ago
Is it a New Orleans music? Or maybe St. Louis? Perhaps Chicago or New York? Is Jazz less L.A.? What about Montreal?
I like what Dave Brubeck said about jazz has having as much connection to Klezmer music and European harmony. Sure there are roots from the Black Slaves and African music. But, don't think that European music has no connection to the creation of jazz. Jazz has drawn from many styles.
darkoanton5 1 year ago
@darkoanton5
Jazz started at New Orleans though... Check out the unbeatable documentary JAZZ!
It 42 hours long all information about jazz, and goes throughout the history of jazz!
LinkBulletBill 1 year ago
Comment removed
Juriswindow 2 years ago
Comment removed
LinkBulletBill 2 years ago
Amazing. Hauntingly beautiful for sure!
KatSilence 2 years ago
Great chemistry here, what a beautiful sound. Lenny is a true inspiration to guitar players across the globe.
KeithWhalen11 2 years ago 2
I'd like to see Joe Satriani or Shag (or whatever the hell his name is) try something like that!! AR AR AR!!
franco6719 2 years ago
is this version of the song available on any cd? I know theres a version of this on his first album - but its different and I like this one better.
weightlifter27 2 years ago
Unfortunately not. This was a Canadian TV show made in the early 1960s.
Maybe someday it will appear on a Lenny anthology. Let's hope.
geosochi 2 years ago
this beginning of the song is cut off, do you have the full version like the one they show on the genius of lenny breau, but w/o the talking?
geoffreyefloyd 2 years ago
@weightlifter27 i have the sound file if you want it. i ripped it off of here.
bentnosewp 1 year ago
@weightlifter27
This video was most likely recorded by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). They may have archival footage available for purchase if you contact them.
diamondnight 8 months ago
any idea who the bass player is?
kalbass 2 years ago
That's Dave Young, who collaborated with Lenny many times throughout his career (for more, check out their album Live at Bourbon St)
geosochi 2 years ago 2
@geosochi - What a great bass tone! Kay FTW.
BassGuitarMag 1 year ago
I hope all the young budding guitarists who think the world of Jimi Hendrix and Jimmie Page could pay some attention to Lenny Breau, easily the most overlooked genius of the jazz guitar, and certainly the most gifted musician ever to come from our state of Maine. C'est magnifique!
signjay 2 years ago 3
I'm from Maine, and love him. You are correct.
ZackPomerleau 2 years ago
Comment removed
loren1283 2 years ago
Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh , very nice Lenny
monkeysbum999 2 years ago
Yeah, he walks through the turnaround, but he doesn't resolve it on the first bar of the A section.
ALBANZEE 2 years ago
I'm reading One Long Tune, and it goes into what he does there Jon.
"At one point, (00:56) he plays a rising chord sequence as a turnaround between the repeated A sections of the AABA form. Instead of resolving this figure when he arrives at the first bar of the second A section, where typically a turnaround would end, he continues it for several more bars, successfully and effectively blending it into the tunes harmonic structure."
When it doesn't resolve it creates such great tension!
ALBANZEE 2 years ago
I think that's a very good description. It would be worth it to analyze it and see exactly how he does blend it into "the tunes harmonic structure".
I've listened to jazz guitar all my life and I've never heard anything quite like it. But Lenny makes it sound completely natural and perfect.
talfactor 2 years ago
All he did was "walk through" the turnaround.
Nothing complex... jazz bassists do it all the time.
Jazz bassists don't do it with chords though.
The genius of Breau's playing isn't in the parts.
It's the fact that he's doing so many different things at once.
Awesome!!!
haunter112 2 years ago
It's so damn hard to describe the progression starting at 0:56
The quality of the audio distorts the sounds so it's tough to distinguish betwee hi and lo voices
Jon00Wesley00Harding 2 years ago
I'm related to lenny breau, never got to meat him thou, damn wife had to kill him, what a ass of a wife
danmt5qm9oy 2 years ago
I just read One Long Tune and that is the same conclusion that I came up with too.... she was a crazy woman.. that is such a loss. I am a huge fan of his and spent much time listening to 5:00 clock bells. I wore the record out transcribing it...
gtrplyr013 2 years ago
Wow, I just started checking out Youtube and what a feast of Lenny Breau stuff. Whoever posted these vids--a big thank you!
talfactor 2 years ago
This cat is insanely good! All these youngsters listening to Buckethead and EVH should be checking THIS out!!!
spanfreckl 2 years ago
Lenny Breau was simply the greatest all around guitarist that ever lived.
JazzDaveDotCom 2 years ago 2
sorry but I think you mean Chet atkins
ryreinhardt 2 years ago
Got that right.
talfactor 2 years ago
Actually, you can't compare apples to oranges. If you listen to the music, chances are it's enjoyed, and in the end that's all that REALLY matters. But Lenny was technically more advanced that Chet was on many different levels, but that doesn't make anyone BETTER at anything, it's all about the music not the musician.
canadianRadio 2 years ago
When and where did I compare Chet and Lenny or say that Lenny wasn't more technically advanced than Chet? Sure you're responding to the right person?
talfactor 2 years ago
I thought you were agreeing with ryreinhardt.. my bad
canadianRadio 2 years ago
No, I was agreeing with JazzDaveDotCom. A natural mistake though the way the replies are stacked. Cheers.
talfactor 2 years ago
Superb, thank you very,very much.
arsofe 2 years ago
Also, I went out a few times with the drummer here who is Wayne Finnucan, (That's Dave Young on bass) He was a good drummer and the best looking guy of his age in Winnipeg besides Lenny!!!) Magical times in that frosty prairie city.
rolliegyrl2 2 years ago
Holy Crap!! Are you DH from Higgins??!! This is GG the pianist's bro from Pembina. If its you get in touch!! I was in Toronto last year and turned Dave Y onto this video. He couldn't believe it.
blindcommisioner 2 years ago
Awesome! An honor to know Dave Young watched this video. I hope he's well.
geosochi 2 years ago
I knew Lenny in Winnipeg starting when he was 15 or 16. He was a genius even then. When he came to town he was the world's greatest Chet style player. Then he went away for a year to live in Moose Jaw with his dad and when he came back he was the hottest jazz guitarist in town. I remember lots of partys in the late 50's and 60's where Lenny would play for hours everything from wild bebop to old country songs that he'd sing. We all loved him and I still miss him and his beautiful laugh.
rolliegyrl2 2 years ago
Holy Cow!!! I've never even heard of this guy. He;s incredible. Is he still playing. Can anyone recommend some of his CDs? How do I find out more about him? Unbeilevable!
uncleblah 3 years ago
Best stuff is on The Complete Living Room Tapes, Live at Bourbon Street, Guitar Sounds from Lenny Breau and The Velvet "Touch of Lenny Breau Live (if you can find it on CD.) The best thing written on Lenny in his biography One Long Tune which is all about him and his music. A great read and easy to find on Amazon. Enjoy!
blindcommisioner 3 years ago
The Legendary Lenny Breau ..Now! and his last Swingin' on a Seven-String are my favs. The one with Chet is good too along with the first 2 RCA ones.
He was strangled by his last wife and is dead.
SonicArchives 3 years ago
Wow! Did his wife go to jail? When did this happen?
I checked Amazon and none of those albums except Swingin on a Seven String is available it seems.
uncleblah 3 years ago
He died Aug 1984, he was off drugs and his guitar was not stolen. Not sure why LA pd did not go after his wife. Very lame investigation
Only Lenny Breau .. Now is out of print. For sure it is best one. Standard Brands is the one with Chet, Guitar sounds from Lenny Breau and Velvet Touch of Lenny Breau are the 2 old RCA ones reissued.
I have the old vinyl of L.B. Now, it has very best versions of Vision, Ebony Queen, and Freight Train. It was published by Sound Hole in Nashville.
SonicArchives 3 years ago
thanks for the heads up SA, BC and BL. I'll check them all out if I can find them
Has anyone else read the biography on Breau that Blind C mentioned?
uncleblah 3 years ago
Yes it is very good book quite depressing though
SonicArchives 3 years ago
You can get the complete livingroom tapes and live at bourbon ST on amazon.
His cabin fever is also greate
breaulenny 3 years ago
The Legendary Lenny Breau ..Now! is greate,,but very hard to get..How did you get it?
breaulenny 3 years ago
It was advertised in guitar player magazine back in the 70's. I had never heard him play before but his picture was so intense that I figured he must how to play.
When I heard it I totally freaked out. Maybe I convert it sometime to digital format.
I talked to Lenny on the phone 2 times; I was going to fly out for lessons. I was getting ready to book the flight when he died. He charged $50 an hour but would let you tape it.
SonicArchives 3 years ago
I also freaked out first time I heard him,some 3 yeares ago..still do
breaulenny 3 years ago
yeah he was playing better than hendrix all the way back in early 60's even something like Hallmark sessions was totally impressive given his age
YragQuillo 3 years ago
hendrix wasn't good enough to be this guy's roadie
ryreinhardt 2 years ago
Lenny Breau loved Jimi's playing, thats a documented fact. Also, Miles Davis, one of Lenny's most significant influences, was searching for a new direction to his music in the 60's and was talking to Hendrix about doing a recording in the months leading up to Jimi's untimely death. Miles recording Bitches Brew (The ground breaker of Jazz fusion BTW) could have featured Hendrix! Can you imagine?
I sure wish people would educate themselves before making comments!
Cheers
jasman699 2 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
lenny was being nice to simplton blues player with a couple of boring scales lotsa fuzz and fancy dress costume,and little guitar party tricks...Hendrix as showman..brilliant as a guitarist...crap
ryreinhardt 2 years ago
it's unfortunate that you have such an opinion
geosochi 2 years ago
Lenny spent hours listening to Hendrix and according to musicians who worked with him especially in the mid 70's, he would often get into a Hendrix mode in performance and wail like Jimmy. Lenny also explored feedback under Jimi's influence
Lenny's ability as a musician was commensurate with his ability to recognize brilliance in other players without jealousy or envy.
This is an attitude that certain people commenting here could learn a great deal from.
talfactor 2 years ago 9
what are Lenny's best works? Im just discovering him now and what I just heard in this video is unreal. The voicing near 1:50 is what really makes it awesome for me. Could you give me some suggestions please? Thanks man.
theancient74 2 years ago
a great start would be The Velvet Touch of Lenny Breau... really shows his virtuosity and versatility in playing everything from bebop to country to flamenco.
The Livingroom Tapes is absolutely wonderful - features both solo playing (and even some singing) and duets with clarinet.
Live at Bourbon St is an excellent late period gig with Dave Young on bass.
geosochi 2 years ago
Cabin Fever features some of his most extemporaneous and contemplative playing.
of course, you can't go wrong with his early albums, Guitar Sounds and The Legendary Lenny Breau Now
Last Sessions features what is his (in my opinion) greatest masterpiece: Paris. So it's worth tracking down for that alone.
and, perhaps, best of all is his album of duets with Chet Atkins: Standard Brands ...perhaps the most melodic, creative, fresh and tasteful guitar album of all time. (:
geosochi 2 years ago
All great recordings recommended by geosochi... My personal favourite (and in my opinion the best) is the Live at Bourbon St. disc. Displays Lenny at the height of his talents with great recording quality- especially for a disc recorded in a restaurant- AND it's a double album, so there's more material to enjoy.
Good luck in your travels
Jon00Wesley00Harding 2 years ago
Guitar Sounds From Lenny Breau, The Velvet Touch of Lenny Breau (get the LP if you don't want to pay 150 dollars for the CD) The Complete Living Room Tapes, The Hallmark Sessions, Live at Bourbon Street, Swinging on a Seven String.
Guitar Sounds and Living Room Tapes are must haves in my opinion but all the rest are important too.
There are lots of others too. Get the book One Long Tune. Ron Roberts the author describes Lenny;s albums in detail and points out the really major ones.
talfactor 2 years ago
@talfactor
I really appreciate your comments about attitude.... so well said!
For me , I like tell young people to listen carefully ....it is all about the artistry .. & Lenny Breau is such a treasure. This first half of the video (Georgia on My Mind) is the most profound piece with amazing jazz artistry.
Cheers
Dave
Calgary
dwebster50 1 year ago
@talfactor Yeah, the best attitude is to let it be what is it. it's not good nor bad, it just is..
canadianRadio 11 months ago
@talfactor I don't believe this for one minute. Lenny and Jimi were from different musical worlds. I happen to look at both as my heros but your claim that Lenny wailed is not believable. Lenny hardly bent a string in his whole career. Apples and oranges.
springcreekfarmer 8 months ago
Thanks guys. Has anyone seen a CBC video from 1973 where Lenny did a half hour show with a sort of folk singer named Beverly Glen Copeland who he did an album with in Toronto? I read about it in One Long Tune, Lenny's bio but it doesn't seem to exist. The book also mentions a CBC show from 1966 where Lenny plays Taranta and Bluesette on classical. Anyone know anything about these ones?
Sundryandall 3 years ago
sorry don't wanna brag but that's how i found who he was
floydtibbs 3 years ago
lenny and his wife lived with my mom and dad for a few months not long before he died
floydtibbs 3 years ago
Did Lenny have smaller hands?
Does anyone know how tall he was?
just wondering.
def one of the best
casszen 3 years ago
Lenny had smalla hands. But an unusual long and strong little finger,,he also had a long strech.
His touch was wery light, One of his albums is called The Velvet Touch..
Chet Atkins named that album
breaulenny 3 years ago
do u know how tall he was
casszen 3 years ago
seems to me probably around 5'8"... and like breaulenny said, lenny did have average size hands at most, yet he had very well developed and flexible fingers which allowed him to do pretty much anything he wanted, even stretches that guitarists with big hands couldn't do.
geosochi 3 years ago
What makes Lenny different than most other jazz guitarists is that his fingerstyle technique enabled him to define and sustain the 3rd and 7th of the chord like a bebop pianist's left hand, while playing the melody over the top. He does it in several phrases here, generally using the 2nd and 3rd fingers for the underlying chord. van Eps and Ted Greene did similar things but often went for a bass line too.
EADGBE54 3 years ago
lenny breau is incredible
DeepSeaSeamus 3 years ago
Wow!! Where is this from? Someone gave me the biography on Lenny for Christmas called One Long Tune. Fantastic!! I've been trying to track down everything by him since. Can anyone help?
Sundryandall 3 years ago
This is from a CBC TV show called "A Touch of Jazz"
You can buy this and other shows that Lenny played on from the Winnipeg CBC office. Check Google, they do have a website.
jasman699 3 years ago
ES 125 - I have one but wish I could play 1/100 of what Lenny could do. Oh my god...what an amazing player
gtrvox 3 years ago 2
I would have defied any guitarist in the world to watch him play when he was alive and not be impressed the dude was scary. The day I saw him play live, I felt like throwing my guitar away and picking up bongos. One of the nicest guys I ever met.
benthemiester 3 years ago 4
I just say this; In my opinion, Lenny and Joe are the best jazz guitarist EVER PERIOD. Lenny is my favorite of the two but they were both legends and both had unique attributes.
cprattguitar 3 years ago
Both are up there, definitely. But, are you familiar with Ed Bickert...
geosochi 3 years ago
YES YES YES Lenny reminds me so much of Ed Bickert. Do you have any videos of ed on youtube.
loren1283 3 years ago
i don't, but if you do a search on him here, you'll find several excellent videos (there used to be about a dozen others, but unfortunately they have been taken down, probably due to copyright issues)
geosochi 3 years ago
this guy was way beyond Joe Pass chord-solo guitar....he can groove deeply and make the band sound even better..fine and classy
nessmarioness 3 years ago 2
Hey,Joe Pass kicks ass too. Saw him in person twice. Different is all. They were both gods
hotrodius 3 years ago
Oh yeah, Joe Pass was also great man ! I love his playing. I just meant Lenny plays more with the band, gives more room for his band/players...chord-solo is a busy sound..Lenny can do it better I guess...
nessmarioness 3 years ago
first time ive seen footage of lenny. superb technique and feel. first class.
Benfatbackbeat 3 years ago 4
when I think Im getting "good" at the guitar I watch Lenny and he reminds me that I have sausages for fingers.
coltranelovetrain 3 years ago
take advantage of that.
i have thicker fingers too, so i use that to fret two strings at once if i want to.
betalive 3 years ago
no one to this day can play like this!
belectronix 3 years ago 3
He's only 20 or 21 in this vid.
hotrodius 3 years ago 2
my god this man is a genius!! always get goosebumps when i listen to lenny breau...
ryanwade2006 3 years ago 2
Very humbling to watch
hotrodius 3 years ago 2
une révélation... pure musique !
rikiki65 3 years ago 2
He's simply amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
anitadavideduo 3 years ago 2
Lenny also known as Sonny lived in Schenectady at about the age of 13,14? in between Main and Canada. They rented an apartment from my Dad's uncle. My Grandfather taped him with himself on percussion. What was remembered was that he was doing Chet Atkins note for note. Yankee Doodle/Dixie. The Tapes were carelessly thrown out about 30 years ago.
Scott4Jesus 3 years ago 5
You know what is most incredible about this clip is lenny is only about 20-21. Brings tears to the eyes...there is ni other like lenny, only students of the craft, of harmony and accompanyment
guitstefano 3 years ago 3
hey george, say hi sometime, you rule!!! Andrew here!
jkoff76 3 years ago 3
Aw, too bad it cuts off! Hey, are there any clips of Lenny playing bass? Apparently he was awesome.
skinstretcher 3 years ago
For a moment I thought they were gonna play "take 5"
jonnda 3 years ago
He captures the mood of a Bill Evans trio record with a guitar. My hat's off to him!
Modes9 3 years ago
Ah that technique...pure genius.
bluesborn 3 years ago 3
i heard he was from Winnipeg MB, would someone confirm this for me
kookone 3 years ago
yea
fullcoug11 3 years ago
I think he was born in Maine, US.
poqoia 3 years ago