Lenny Breau

Leonard Harold "Lenny" Breau (August 5, 1941 – August 12, 1984) was an American guitarist and music educator. One of the most admired guitarists of his generation in musician's circles in the US, he was known for blending many styles of music including: jazz, country, classical and flamenco guitar. Breau, inspired by country guitarists like Chet Atkins, used fingerstyle techniques not often used in jazz guitar, and with his use of the 7-string guitar and approach to the guitar like a piano, opened up new possibilities for the instrument.

Biography

Breau was born August 5, 1941, in Auburn, Maine. His francophone parents, Harold "Hal Lone Pine" Breau and Betty Cody, were professional country and western musicians who performed and recorded from the mid-1930s until (in Hal Breau's case) the mid-1970s. From the mid to late 1940s they played summer engagements in southern New Brunswick, advertising their performances playing free programs on radio station CKCW Moncton. Their son began playing guitar at the age of eight. When he was twelve, he started a small band with friends, and by the age of fourteen he was the lead guitarist for his parents' band, billed as "Lone Pine Junior", playing Merle Travis and Chet Atkins instrumentals and occasionally singing. Breau made his first professional recordings in Westbrook, Maine at the age of 15 while working as a studio musician. Many of these recordings were released posthumously on a CD titled Boy Wonder.

Lenny Breau (album)

Lenny Breau is an album by Maine-born guitarist Lenny Breau, released in 1979.

History

Originally released on Direct-Disk Labs, it was reissued in 1995 on the Adelphi label and as Lenny Breau Trio on CD on the Genes label in 1999.

Breau's friend and mentor Chet Atkins guests on "You Needed Me".

Reception

Writing for Allmusic, music critic Scott Yanow called Breau "in fine form" and wrote of the album "This album gives listeners a strong example of his legendary artistry." In reviewing the Adelphi reissue for JazzTimes, critic Bill Milkowski wrote "Breau demonstrates mind-boggling facility and fluidity on a jazzy interpretation of Bob Dylan's 'Don't Think Twice (It's Alright)' and on a blistering, pent-up rendition of John Coltrane's 'Mister Night.' Jazz guitarists everywhere need to check out this remarkable (and remarkably overlooked) player."

Track listing