On november 18, 2003, art of life records will release the hallmark sessions, a lost album from legendary guitarist lenny breau pictured the previously unreleased session is notable because it was the first time breau was professionally recorded. Released following breaus death in 1984 by guitarchives, a label founded to share his music on a wider scale. Lenny breau fingerstyle jazz by lenny breau digital sheet. By the time he was a teenager, lenny had mastered the chet atkins thumbpick and fingerstyle playing and soon became fascinated by jazz. Art of life al 10092 don francks lenny breau eon henstridge toronto on produced by paul g kohler 2004. The aim of the lenny breau school of music is to tailor each guitar program to the wants and needs of the individual student, while d elivering the fundamentals needed to excel in the styles of preference, including blues, jazz, classical, and rock. Buy lenny breau fingerstyle jazz mel bay presents papcom by breau, lenny isbn.
A very fine collection of lenny breau instrumental tunes transcribed into musical notation and tablature. Breau may not have broken any turf in terms of pushing jazz out of the mainstream, but his interpretive skills and ability to retain a tunes essence while reimagining it in a pure jazz context remains evocative to this day. An incredibly gifted improviser, composer, and teacher whose advanced technique and harmonic knowhow enabled him to walk bass lines, comp, and play melodies at the same time, breau embraced all music. Bachman and cummings return to the stage for the first time in more than a decade. Guitar sounds of lenny breau lenny breau releases allmusic. Maineborn jazz guitarist lenny breau remains influential.
Leonard harold breau, guitarist, singer, composer born 5 august 1941 in auburn, me. He was the only player to do this, his sound was incredible. Leonard harold breau august 5, 1941 august 12, 1984 was a canadian guitarist and music educator. Guitarchives he was the best electric bassist ever including jaco pastorious. Inspired by country guitarists like chet atkins, breau used fingerstyle techniques not often used in jazz guitar. Nems book early lenny breau at the wayback machine archived october 27, 2009. The first part of this textcd contains lennys guitar workshop dealing with building the blues. The first part of this textcd contains lenny s guitar workshop dealing with building the blues.
Lenny breau fingerstyle jazz by lenny breau book and. Welcome to guitars galore my name is hans moust and i run a repair shop for guitars and related instruments in breda, which is in the netherlands. He played the best solo on bass that you ever heard. The life and music of lenny breau by ron forbesroberts university of north texas press 325 pages one long tune makes it abundantly clear that one of breaus worst decisions was his marriage to jewel taylor in 1980. The life and music of lenny breau ron forbesroberts university of north texas press isbn.
Jan 31, 2017 lenny breaus later career was mainly spent performing, teaching, and writing for guitar player magazine lenny died in 1984, aged only 43, but left a huge legacy that should be studied in detail by all jazz guitarists. Discover whats missing in your discography and shop for guitarchives releases. He knew no boundaries and mixed country, flamenco, rock, jazz, classical and psychedelic on. Lenny breau last sessions direct metal mastering 24bit 96khz vinyl rip and redbook posted by. I think if chopin had played guitar, he would have sounded like lenny breau. Breaus astonishing virtuosity influenced countless performers, but. The forgotten geniusan article about lenny breaus innovative guitar technique from guitar world.
The first part contains lennys guitar workshop dealing with building the blues. Lenny breau was an overaccomplished guitarist that saw no other way to further develop himself than to use an custom 7string guitar to advance in technique. Lenny breau was found dead in the rooftop swimming pool of his. Jul 21, 2014 probably the greatest jazz guitarist canada has ever produced, lenny breau was the centre of this musical variety show from winnipeg. Lenny breauvideo clip from one more take, a documentary about guitarist lenny breau.
The late lenny breau was admired throughout the world for his complex fingerstyle jazz stylings. His addiction made him undependable and clubs were reluctant to book him. Shortly after lennys untimely death in 1984, the guitar disappeared, along with lennys widow, never to be seen again. None of the late lenny breaus immediate winnipeg family will attend a performance of 5 oclock bells. Boy wonder cd by breau, lenny and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. As long as i can remember ive been interested in musical instruments and stringed instruments in particular. He was among the first guitarists to digest the impressionistic, postbop chord voicings of pianist bill evans. The transcriptions are very accurate, which will lead you to the all. They are all fantastic but this one is the most touching get it and do what the liner notes suggest. Leonard harold breau august 5, 1941 august 12, 1984 was a canadian guitarist and music. Cabin fever displays the true essence of lennys unbelievable abilities better than any release currently available. All these albums are lenny in top form, or at least in good shape, and one more thing, talking abouth lenny, focused. Guitarchives releases, including boy wonder compiled from tapes made of. The decision was made on this release to simply dump the reeltoreel to cd without editing it down.
Atkins and breau also collaborated on standard brands in 1981. Released following breaus death in 1984 by guitarchives, a label founded to share his music on a wider scale, this cd is an excellent place to start an exploration of his brilliant musicianship. This is simply a great book for anyone thats serious about learning to play solo jazz guitar. Another rarity from my breau collection heres a 26 minute program with lenny breau guitar genius on canadian radio show variety tonight in1983. Chet atkins called lenny breau 19411984 the greatest guitarist who ever walked the face of the earth. Print and download lenny breau fingerstyle jazz sheet music. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A question music fans frequently ask when they encounter lenny breaus virtuosic.
Breaus family wont attend performance winnipeg free press. Lenny breau the lenny breau show 1966 full video youtube. I have all of lenny breaus albums, in various settings. Lenny was so advanced on bass that most guys wouldnt even try to do what. Dave young was born in winnipeg in 1940 and was classically trained. Like so many other kids i started frequenting the local music shops at an early age. Breau used a fingerstyle as opposed to a plectrum style that opened up melodic and harmonic possibilities not. Between 1968 and 1983 he made a series of recordings that are among the most influential guitar albums of the century.
Lenny breau is one of the true geniuses of the guitar. Breau s early rca recordings are eclectic and technically dazzling. Maineborn jazz guitarist lenny breau remains influential 30. Lenny breau canada jazz canadas finest jazz artists. More than leo kottke, john fahey, tuck andress, or joe pass.
Randy bachman founded the independent label guitarchives in 1995 specifically to. Lenny breau was a guitarist with staggering technique and a mind for innovation. Musically speaking, lenny breau august 5, 1941august 12, 1984 had it all. Lenny extended the range of the guitar on the high end, or in the melody. Breau had all the chops down and could play any style as you will hear on this c. Intent on correcting that read more lenny breaurichard cotten. A revered cult figure in the world of jazz guitar, and a member of the canadian music hall of fame, lenny breau was a technical genius with a delicate, idiosyncratic style. He was a most remarkable guitarist, with a huge musical flair and a rare ability to play adventurous lead lines and supporting harmonies at the same time. Lenny breau fingerstyle jazz by lenny breau book and online. Enlightening, for it shows the position and fingering for those perfect lenny chords that always seem to land in the right place at the right time. Lenny breaubrief profile of acclaimed jazz guitarist lenny breau from the canadian music hall of fame. Thanks to the efforts of randy bachman of guitarchives, paul kohler of art of. Jul 05, 2018 another rarity from my breau collection heres a 26 minute program with lenny breau guitar genius on canadian radio show variety tonight in1983.
Svinging on a 7string the complete livingroom tapes standard brands guitar sounds of lenny breau all these albums are just greate, who is the greatest is a matter of taste. Some of that material is available from randy bachmans site. Apr 25, 2019 on november 18, 2003, art of life records will release the hallmark sessions, a lost album from legendary guitarist lenny breau pictured the previously unreleased session is notable because it was the first time breau was professionally recorded. Lenny breau academic dictionaries and encyclopedias. This is the first album of lenny breau that i have acquired, and it seems to have been a very good choice.
Guitar sounds from lenny breau is an album by canadian jazz guitarist lenny breau that was released in 1968. What he did on that 7string was deemed to be impossible, but he did it. Probably the greatest jazz guitarist canada has ever produced, lenny breau was the centre of this musical variety show from winnipeg. Breau began playing the instrument at age seven, and went on to master many styles, especially jazz. For those unfamiliar with breaus magic, swingin on a sevenstring is a perfect place to start. I have all of lenny breau s albums, in various settings. Born to canadian country music singers, lenny breau started out playing country in a sophisticated manner. I want you to know that this play is nothing more than exploitation of lenny and my children. Section 2 presents three great lenny breau solos 5 oclock bells. Now i of course cant verify it and its definitely not in the book but it. Breau was inducted into the canadian music hall of fame in 1997.
Breau developed the ability to simultaneously comp chords and improvise singlestring. He worked with lenny breau from 1961 to 1966 lenny breau show, tv winnipeg 1966. It ran on the network for a few weeks in summer 1966. Section 2 presents three great lenny breau solos 5 oclock bells, little blues, and freight train.
Section 2 presents three great lenny breau solos 5. There are at least 8 currently available albums featuring his impeccable playing and leadership. Mel bay the late lenny breau was admired throughout the world for his complex fingerstyle jazz stylings. Breau spent much time around atkinss office in nashville during and after these. His first two albums guitar sounds from lenny breau 1968 and the velvet touch of lenny breau live. The onetime meeting between guitarists tal farlow and lenny breau came about because lorenzo destefano, who was making a pbs documentary talmage farlow in 1980, wanted a meeting between the veteran and a rising star. None of the late lenny breau s immediate winnipeg family will attend a performance of 5 oclock bells. Breau had continual drug problems from the mid1960s, which he only managed to get under control during the last years of his life.
He mastered every style of playing and merged them together to create his own unique style. Find album release information for guitar sounds of lenny breau lenny breau on allmusic. Despite his genius, lenny breau was woefully underrecorded due to his extensive personal problems, transient lifestyle and untimely demise in 1984. Lenny breau fingerstyle jazz by lenny breau digital. A new westbrook restaurant named in his honor, a canadian music award nomination last year and a planned.
Rabbit records also released as live at bourbon st. The first part contains lenny s guitar workshop dealing with building the blues. Breau s fully matured technique was a combination of chet atkinss and merle traviss fingerpicking and sabicas influenced flamenco, highlighted by righthand independence and flurries of artificial harmonics. Mel bay publications digital sheet music at sheet music plus. His knowledge of the instrument and the music is so vast, and i think thats what knocks people out about him. Breau got his start at age 12 touring with his parents, popular country and western performers hal lone pine breau and betty cody. Rhythm exercises majorminor scales of all 12 keys majorminor pentatonic scales withwithou t blues note. Breau befriended chet atkins, which resulted in breaus first two albums for rca. Jazz on the screen is a reference work of filmographic information and does not point to digitized versions of the items described. Music notes for ebook and online audio sheet music by lenny breau. Lenny breau fingerstyle jazz by john knowles, paperback. He has been active in the jazz scene in toronto since moving there in 1966. The library of congress may or may not own a copy of a particular film or. Breau blended many styles of music, including jazz, country, classical, and flamenco.
The life and music of lenny breau by ron forbesroberts university of north texas press 325 pages one long tune makes it abundantly clear that one of breau s worst decisions was his marriage to jewel taylor in 1980. Maineborn jazz guitarist lenny breau remains influential 30 years after his killing. Lenny breau last sessions by lenny breau on amazon music. By using a sevenstring guitar and approaching the guitar like a piano, he opened up. Canadas most celebrated musicians and songwriters randy bachman and burton cummings have announced a north american tour entitled, together again live in concert. A new electric chair d francks at the purple onion. Mean to me b eldredge from the cbcs trans canada talent caravan winnipeg mb acc by bass and drums auburn, mn produced by cbc radio january 1959. Cabin fever displays the true essence of lenny s unbelievable abilities better than any release currently available. Breaus fully matured technique was a combination of chet atkinss and merle traviss fingerpicking and sabicas influenced flamenco, highlighted by righthand independence and flurries of artificial harmonics. Breau used a fingerstyle as opposed to a plectrum style that opened up melodic and harmonic possibilities not previously explored by jazz guitarists. Section 2 presents three great lenny breau solos 5 oclock. Lenny breau last sessions direct metal mastering 24.
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