Jazz Articles about Lenny Breau

Mating Dance of the Cosmic Pandas

by Patrick Burnette
September 5, 2019

It's all things twangin' and screaming this time, as the boys look at four albums by guitarists. Some settle for six strings, some demand four, but all are one shade of awesome or another... and some make pretty impressive O-faces. The boys then each pick their three favorite guitarists, and the results may surprise you. Once the pickin' and a strummin' is dispensed with, Prince's Originals gets a thorough-look at from two guys who know eighties music 'cause they lived ...

One Long Tune: The Life And Music of Lenny Breau

by Elliott Simon
August 13, 2006

One Long Tune: The Life And Music Of Lenny Breau Ron Forbes-Roberts University of North Texas Press ISBN:157441210 Born on the cusp of the beat and hippie generations, guitarist Lenny Breau epitomized both but fit into neither. Hailed by many as the greatest guitarist of all time, he remains largely unknown outside of guitar circles and his murder at the age of 43 in 1984 is still unsolved. One Long Tune is an in-depth ...

Lenny Breau: Swingin' on a Seven-String

by John Kelman
June 25, 2005

While guitarist Lenny Breau's innovations may not seem so significant now, he was like a bolt of lightning when he emerged in the '70s out of Manitoba, Canada. A true self-accompanist who integrated virtuosic skills in jazz, country, and flamenco into an unmistakable voice, Breau made his guitar sound like an ensemble. Legend has it that Chet Atkins was walking down the hall of a Nashville studio and, hearing music coming out of one of the rooms, said to himself, ...

Lenny Breau: The Hallmark Sessions

by Elliott Simon
November 16, 2003

Following the reissue of Lenny Breau's Complete Living Room Tapes, Art of Life Records has released another CD of historical import and musical excellence. Recorded in 1961, The Hallmark Sessions are the heretofore unreleased first studio recordings of this guitarist who most capably fused classical, flamenco, and country finger picking with contemporary jazz. Seven of the thirteen unique cuts feature a trio consisting of 20-year-old Breau, 17-year-old bassist Rick Danko and 21-year-old drummer Levon Helm. The sound quality, aside from ...

Lenny Breau & Brad Terry: The Complete Living Room Tapes

by Elliott Simon
April 16, 2003

Guitarist Lenny Breau's short life (1941-1984) is a movie waiting to be made. Before his still unsolved murder, he was able to bring a new voice to the guitar by adapting country fingerpicking technique to the intricacies of modern jazz. A Breau hallmark was his highly developed ability to play bass, chords and single notes concurrently - in effect having a trio in his right hand.

The newly re-released Complete Living Room Tapes, with clarinetist Brad Terry, ...