"Easter" by Leo Kottke on Bozo 12 String

Leo Kottke recorded "Easter" several times under a few different titles. My father introduced me to Leo's music and loved this piece in particular, so I have him to thank for this recording. This performance aligns most closely with the version from My Feet Are Smiling. In my last video I played a Bozo built in the 1990s, this is another great pearl trimmed Bozo built a little earlier, in 1976. You can hear the consistency in the tone even though the two guitars are 20 years apart.
www.andrewlardner.com

[@Steve68686]

Man oh MAN! That "above the nut" headstock string bend (1:12, 2:29, 2:34 & 2:43) MELTS MY HEART. EVERY TIME.

[@frogslips]

If I could pick one Kottke dream tune to learn - this is it. What a performance and that guitar sounds beautiful.

[@phyllisaltieri8143]

If I just walked into a room and heard this on the sound system I would think.... Oh That's Leo at the Guthrie. Awesome work!

[@joangeddes2374]

Lovely to hear you interpreting Leo Kottke. I have loved his guitar playing all my life.

[@janzijlstra943]

Marvelously played - so great to hear this wonderful composition on the only instrument that’ll do - the Bozo. Many thanks!

[@klauszollner5171]

No no.... there are so many fantastic 12 stringed guitars, it sounds great on my Taylor LKSM or my BSG J 43 ziricote, too!

[@josephm.noviello1996]

One of the greatest 12 string guitars ever....

[@robertpfeiffer3471]

Listen to the magic of this BOZO super dreadnaught in the hands of a master. Epic!

[@benbo21]

Kottke and a Bozo? Yes please, subscribed. I’m stunned how much this sounds like the recording on My Feet are Smiling. Amazing.

[@douglasalan5783]

Beautiful rendition of one of LK’s loveliest tunes...on the Bozo! You even nailed the “bent neck” harmonics with total control. Bravo, Andrew!

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you sir

[@slashusr]

You capture the very essence of Leo's musical style like no one else and I am grateful. Such a pleasure to watch and listen. That instrument is pure perfection in your hands.

[@davidbradford1934]

Wonderful rendition Andrew. I spent many hours playing the My Feet Are Smiling album. Almost brought tears to hear your take. Glad to hear another disciple of Kottke doing it justice. Great job.

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you David

[@JohnGSchuur]

Verynice guitar Sound and playing👍🎶

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you John

[@uwekasten716]

this bozo 12 string has such an incredible sound... love your play, andrew.. simply wonderful

[@brentw901]

Wow! Spot on! I always wondered what it would look like for Leo Kottke to play that tune on a Bozo. Now I know.

[@joancarlson8704]

Wow. Bravo

[@landrethd]

Beautifully played. Really. It drew a tear to my eye. Thank you

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you Dave

[@guidocolombo8452]

You are great!!!

[@johnk8864]

Outstanding!

[@briancarroll9433]

Fantastic job with this song. A favorite Kottke song. You captured and played the My Feet Are Smiling version, beautifully. Thanks for posting this.

[@billakerley4018]

Well played! The guitar has a fantastic voice.

[@klauszollner5171]

Beautiful cover, love that tune!

[@PatriotsDecendant]

Thank you!

[@MatteoCherchiAcoustic]

Great guitar and very well played!

[@michele21auntiem]

Just so beautiful. Thank you.

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you Michele

[@LenaRiess]

Deep. Thank you very much Andrew!

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you Lena

[@Mark-bj5xf]

I always thought this song was and should be played alone in a dimly lit room just after nightfall looking out towards the sea. Until I saw this video.. very well played. I'll carry my pretentious ass somewhere else now.

[@russelsheartinacage]

Lovely stuff! Glad I discovered your channel. Robbie Basho did a version of this called Variations on Easter. It's actually how I came upon the original by Kottke that inspired it!

[@OpenDGuitar]

Nice playing and tone. Would love to someday obtain a Bozo.

[@JoeCarpenter]

Excellent job!

[@thermalegoogle]

I always look forward to new videos from you, excellent job on this piece.

[@stevegrooms1142]

Beautifully played, Andrew. None of Leo's concert compositions are "easy" to play, but I always have felt the fast pieces are easier than this slow, contemplative composition. There are some extremely subtle things going on with phrasing and timing that make this piece a challenge. You've caught them well. When Leo performed this at the Scholar Coffeehouse in the 1960s he called it Easter on the Sargasso Sea. I always wondered about the album title: "My Feet are Smiling." I heard that Leo froze his feet in a blizzard once when travelling from Minneapolis back to his college in St. Cloud. His car got stuck in drifts and he walked to get help since his girlfriend was with him. He wore odd looking shoes for months after that incident.

[@andrewlardner]

I can agree, recorded several things in the stretch of a few days and this was the hardest to get a good take. Good to hear from you again glad you’re following.

[@WadeHerndon]

Awesome again man! Great tone, timing, attack, everything.

[@leoscott2120]

Nicely done

[@da19570]

Great song thumbs up.

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you David

[@johnhorn2020]

Fantastic rendition.

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you Nic

[@dennisdevolder2609]

Absolutely unreal! I'm forever in debt for your recommending this song to me -- I hope to play it that well one day. I hear something in the section beginning at 1:24 that I'll run past you some time. Thank you for raising the bar!

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you Dennis. Yes quite a bit different from the version out of the old book, many errors in that but I think I discussed the bulk of them with you. Spent a long time thinking about this one.

[@andrewjamrom8913]

Very sensitivity done.

[@OpenDGuitar]

I envy the axe! I’ve had a couple Gibson B45s (and foolishly traded them).

[@GQJ]

what a beautiful sound : Great job :-)) gqj

[@fouramhq]

Absolutely beautiful. Your expression of the mood of the piece is outstanding. Your timing is spot on...and this is a weird tune for timing. I play the tune from the Stropes Kottke book, and do a pretty decent job...but after hearing your rendition, I gotta do some practicing.

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you. You’ll find this to be quite different from the transcription in the book, many incorrect positions used there.

[@fouramhq]

I was watching you very closely and yes, your positions are somewhat different, and appear to be more comfortable than some of the stuff in the book.

[@wchphoto]

Well done, sir!

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you Bill

[@keithwigley1256]

Well ..sublime..and can I have you guitar..

[@robertwhite2628]

Goddam.

[@angelusnovus2203]

check out Variation on Easter by Robbie Basho

[@steveolsondrums9363]

Beautifully played! Can Bozo 12 strings still be found? His website is still on line but it looks out of date. Thanks!

[@andrewlardner]

Bozo passed away a few years ago. Occasionally a 12 string model will come up for sale through a dealer or private seller. They can be pricey.

[@steveolsondrums9363]

Thanks!

[@russellesimonetta9071]

Beautiful tune and not difficult! But like all Kottke and Fahey tunes,, be ready to devote a month to each to get them close. I learned Arkansas Greyhound o k??? One month to perfect the chord changes and a lifetime to get the picking!!!

[@rickynyhoff]

Come on man. I'm trying to eat my friggin breakfast over here. I can't be moaning and ohing while i'm trying to eat my peanut butter toast! And it makes my coffee a lot less enjoyable when I get chills up and down my spine. Lay off man.

[@andrewlardner]

I was just thinking about you the other day.

[@Morten_Nielsen1979]

Is this guitar better than the Taylor LKSM-12?

[@andrewlardner]

"Better" is too subjective. I don't think any guitar other than a real Bozo could come close to replicating the power and tone you hear in his early 70s recordings.

[@corneilledriezen4909]

Awesome playing ! Is it DADGAD tuned, Andrew !

[@andrewlardner]

DGDGBD, aka open G, tuned down

[@jorammorales9716]

Hello