Johnny Hiland & Albert Lee at the Ernie Ball/Music Man Show at Summer NAMM 2016

[@hexo-mobius]

Mr. Lee is 75 YEARS OLD and still shredding like a 20 Yr. Old. The Man is an OX. Long Live the King!!

[@richardv.582]

The fact Albert is playing clean is all the more impressive..

[@barnabywylde2224]

Two guys whom most people have never heard of but can play circles around guys everybody has heard of.

[@jbsmedia4967]

So true!

[@michaelponce7326]

Fact...

[@gitpickins763]

'play circles around..." others while having a coffee break! ;)

[@Jay-lr3me]

the respect Johnny has for Albert is beautiful. amazing players

[@terrycurtin1008]

How could this only be views 141k times. This should be at 5 million.

[@neildesperandum6114]

I’m a long-term admirer of Albert Lee and I know it’s not a competition but I must say Johnny Hiland is fantastic.

[@howardmaryon]

I agree, I have been an admirer of AL for very many years, and Johnny Hiland is probably the only other guitarist I have seen that can match him. There may be others still for me to discover......

[@richardv.582]

the fact that Albert can still cut loose is inspireing..

[@howardmaryon]

Years ago, a journalist asked Eric Clapton “what is like being the best guitarist in the world?” He replied “ I don’t know, you better ask Albert Lee”

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

@ Howard Maryon-Davis - Well, good on Eric C. for saying that! Clapton, by his own admission, sometimes needs a "kick in the rump" to get him going, and for a period of time there, when Albert was in his touring band, Lee gave it to him -and in spades. When Lee wasn't pushing Clapton, Donald "Duck" Dunn and Roger Hawkins were. That was a great band, back there in the 1980s. I've seen Lee several times live and have loved his playing for years. He never disappoints. Chops like crazy, but always plays with such taste and tone. I do miss his old Telecaster, though; I don't think his tone on the Music Man is quite as tasty as it was on that vintage Tele. Don't worry, though: Just being picky. He's wonderful. Johnny Hiland is a real monster, too.

[@kgeddes7356]

It doesn’t get any better than this…..breathtaking performances👍👍👍👍👍

[@mefoolonhill]

Hiland is the most efficient guitar player I've ever seen. It's amazing how much stuff he squeezes out of one position on the neck.

[@dennisneo1608]

mefoolonhill Couldn't touch Danny Gatton.

[@lexm9416]

I saw Albert Lee and Hogan’s Heroes including the great Elio Pace at a small,town in Scotland (Kirkcudbrightshire) around 15 years ago - they were all outstanding, particularly Albert of course, b7t also Elio Pace who was incredible. Anyway, my wee story goes like this - CD’s were on sale after the show and Albert was gracious enough to hang around to sign them. I bought all three available, 7t kept them in my pocket when I queued because I wasn’t that bothered about the signature but wanted to talk to Albert and tell him how much I enjoyed the show. As My turn in the queue arrived, he saw that I wasn’t holding a CD and so pushed me along without even really speaking to me, and I realised that he thought I was a cheapskate who didn’t buy anything but was holding up the queue. He was still very polite and I just laughed it off and moved on - the memory still makes me smile and my admiration for him remained as great as before 😊

[@jerrypilgrim9811]

Put Brent mason on stage with them and and you have country's current "holy trinity," but any combo or solo of any of these three guys is an education and a treat for the rest of us!!!

[@axeman2638]

and guthrie trapp

[@kurtford9123]

If there was only room for three then Johnny would have to be removed replaced with Ray Flacke and there you would have it

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

Don't forget Vince Gill!

[@hereicome11]

Like MMA, Football, Basketball etc, everything in life evolves. Johnny has evolved into, IMO, one the top guitarist to ever live. I say that as he could stand in the studio and record with literally any band and any genre.

[@Jointlock]

amen to that! Johnny is the MAN! And a heck of a nice guy.

[@vanguard4065]

Johnny Hiland is one of the greatest ever lived

[@shafersongs]

Off now to break my fingers.

[@stevehardwick1578]

Two of the best.

[@earlycuyler8719]

Would love to see Johnny highland and Joe bonamassa together! The possibilities are endless!!!

[@davidgrout1056]

Great performance. Could watch these guys all day. Hiland has flawless timing and articulation, ridiculous speed and super smooth bends. The stuff from 3:10 to 3:25 is particularly superhuman. Albert is less polished, tends to get ahead of the beat at times, but he is more spontaneous, takes more risks and always pulls off something amazing, like at 3:35-3:42 and 4:39.

[@barkbarkbarkbarkable]

Johnny continues to prove in his humble, casual way, that he's the best guitar master to be born so far.....only wish Hendrix would have lived to Jam with him....imagine that !

[@barkbarkbarkbarkable]

Always considered Albert the best "Chicken Picker", then a friend turned me on to Johnny.....music isn't supposed to be a competition.....but like anything else, conversation always seems to gravitate towards that human trait.....love both these guys !

[@jimwilson5093]

I am having trouble imagining that...

[@NathanRyanAllen]

lol Hendrix would be lost trying to keep up with Johnny...

[@hereicome11]

I don't like to compare, but Hendrix would have looked at Hiland similar to the way B.B King looked at Derick Trucks. "The the best I've ever heard a guitar played, seriously."-B.B King

[@itriedmany]

Hendrix would be lost trying to keep up with Lee also!

[@jerzykosmider3782]

Unbelievable!!!

[@francoissorin8373]

Waaaahooooo ! when 2 giants have fun, every body have fun too !

[@peterjung4163]

Johnny is the most efficient guitar player I've ever seen, in any style. Those chubby fingers produce an astonishing amount of sound without excess motion.

[@johnworby647]

2 masters of the art!

[@joeycota7875]

Is this Real Life....? Amazing!!!! Love It!!!

[@TheDavjo]

Well, you learn something every day. Great song and the first time I have ever heard it.

[@utzuckz]

early Elvis number (1956) with some great Scotty Moore guitar licks (which Albert Lee would have learnt note perfect ~60 years ago)

[@mikaellind9686]

🫡💯🙏🍀🎶🎵🤘💝 woow 😂 so incredible.....

[@blastsucarta1068]

😂did any one else notice the subtle digs he makes toward Albert? One is he says I can't believe I'm standing " up stage" from this guy. Another is that when Albert starts to count the tune Johnny jumps in to count the tune himself. He seems to make it known to Albert that Johnny is the leader of this band.

[@jacobaubin7103]

crazy good!

[@tuckerlivingston8294]

wow!!!!

[@andreguedes9846]

Shooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow

[@LuizBraido]

Wonderfull!!

[@ianwilkinson2731]

Albert has met his match age takes no prisoners 🎸

[@martinhorne7891]

Doesn't get much better than Hiland and Lee.....Brent Mason is another great!

[@russelllittler8145]

This is a 74 year old guy we're talking about here, but I'd have to say, I think the student is even better than the master now. What a career though.

[@dubsbarry9963]

😲 drool.....

[@jimwilson5093]

if I may remind some of you, music is not a competition..lets leave that to the jocks...its an art form and all that that implies..there is no "best" only perhaps some you like more than others...

[@sammccue500]

Right. It's not the Olympics.

[@axeman2638]

There might not be a best but there are those that can do and those that can't.

[@mattstrash]

god shut up

[@jaycook5028]

Music imo is about cooperation. It’s never better than when making someone else sound better.

[@jaycook5028]

Sam McCue it’s a dance not a race.

[@cabbage9398]

Nice work by Ryan Gosling on the bass.

[@Ledprostate]

Crazy good. I like Albert's quack tone a bit better.

[@johnhamilton7797]

Nashville needs to push this. Musicianship over the pretty boys.

[@zounds13]

Holy mother of god

[@murrayelliott9956]

Both incredibly good, Albert is old but gold and Johnny is in his prime ......Albert could have done with more volume and cut.

[@jaycook5028]

Capacity and economy of motion.

[@davidmccarthy9650]

mr. lee plays a musicman as well?

[@crushworldwideinc.4334]

He has for many years. He has a signature model there.

[@davidespinosa1910]

Albert plays to the limit of his technique (and beyond). He takes huge risks, and his phrasing is super interesting -- tons of melody and relatively few stock licks. Nobody sounds like him !

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

Albert Lee is unique in that he has done the wide-open shred-monster thing, but he was also a top Nashville session man for years making triple scale and playing absolutely perfect complimentary parts to make other folks' music sound great. It might have been simple technically, but you could be sure that whether it was flashy or not, it would be a great 8-bar fill or whatever. The guy bought a Ferrari he made so much dough playing hot guitar in that town. Not bad at all! But then he goes out and performs live, too, playing stuff where he can really stretch out and let it rip.... and he sounds tremendous doing that, too. The guy is a legend amongst guitar fans and for good reason. A very nice man and a complete gentleman, too; I met him once briefly after one of his shows.

[@ThatGuitardedGuy]

Johnny the killer

[@paull2815]

Makes me want to burn my guitar and sit in the corner and cry.

[@nogueira-lopesalexandre1337]

albert also

[@Dream-Academy]

Yeah he kinda upstaged Master Lee...

[@WildPhotoShooter]

Im pleased you said "master" Lee , don't forget what heights Albert has achieved in his almost 70 years.

[@Dream-Academy]

Paul L That's what Jimi H did....

[@vincentmorla]

Ryan Gosling is a pretty goid bass player.

[@christianheymann7706]

5 they can play nice & e asy

[@jerrylanglois7892]

And the winner ( the one hitting the most notes ) goes to...

[@brownriceprod]

Leedog choppin wood

[@davidausterman5915]

Unbelievable pair of pickers.

[@Bflatest]

The student has passed the master

[@davidespinosa1910]

Johnny's pretty good. He should be -- he's been studying Albert Lee licks his whole life !

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

So back when Hiland was growing up in rural Maine, dreaming of being a pro musician, he didn't know that guys like Albert Lee used B-benders (and in some cases, B- and G-benders) on their guitars to help them get those hard-to-do steel guitar and other sounds. So Johnny learned them the old-fashioned way - without any mechanical aid whatsoever! Let me tell you - I'm a guitar player myself - it isn't at all easy doing that. You need some big hands and strong, too. And your ear has to be great, too, so that your bends are in tune. Lee is out there playing still, and until not all that long ago, so was his idol, James Burton. But those giants and pioneers of the instrument can rest easy knowing they have well-and-truly passed the baton to the next generation of greats, J.H. included.

[@lambert1702]

Albert should be playing one of his Teles. He has never had good tone with that EB Start clone.

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

Yeah, count me in on that, too.... his tone was at its best on one of those Telecasters he used to play, or even his Les Paul. He used Music Man guitars for years for their ease in packing aboard a carry-on case for flying but it never sounded quite as good as his old Tele. Albert is remarkable whatever he plays, though. I've seen him live and listened to him on recordings for a long time and he always delivers the goods.

[@ibluesba]

Albert Lea and is god

[@eduardoallo8786]

that stage is a very scary and dangerous place for any guitar player

[@ГенриЛор]

😈 !!!!!!!!!!!.......

[@kendesjarlais7577]

johnny's the man, very versatile i very aware of lee's heritage and what he's accomplished, but he's older now and the chops have faded, with time as will johnny's. kudos to both.

[@stringbenderbb]

I do not think it is the age. More lack of practice. In an interview Albert did not show anything on guitar stating...he hasnt touched the instrument for a long time. Interesting topic though---> when does the playing ability decline. At least in classical music there are extremely long careers.

[@kendesjarlais7577]

its age for me .im 56 and play slower, react slower think slower. its only natural. when i was 21 i was way faster, more creative. speed mattered. when your younger your bullet proof, take chances, and look for crazy fast cadences all over that neck. you wanna outgun everyone. thats not to say i don't get around quickly, its just that i did it better when younger/

[@kendesjarlais7577]

Oliver Brochu nice one OLIVER!! HA

[@michaelhaller1762]

This music makes me nervous!

[@timhitt5934]

me too but I still like it but it should probably resolve more lol

[@TheKingG2010]

All I see is praises for Johnny I think Lee was the better Guitarist

[@fattymcfatterson3651]

Love Johnny's playing but damn...too much verb and delay..........................

[@MrAlan0151]

Speed contests are no good for anybody or anything, especially good music

[@lambert1702]

Albert is playing his ass off, but his tone has been so crappy since his stopped using Tele's it's just sad. Albert, that signature model EB is totally anemic, go back to Fender! Compare that crappy EB tone to this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/marCc6iejLBmY68

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

@ lambert1702 - Man alive, do we think alike or what? I have seen Albert Lee live several times, and the guy is simply amazing... but dang, do I miss that Telecaster sound he used to have! He's such a genius on the instrument even his Music Man sounds good.... but not as good as his old Tele used to sound. Man alive he had himself a sound back then!

[@jamesrockford2626]

Johnny absolutely smokes this old guy in all imaginable muscal aspects

[@jean-philippejason6537]

Your lack of respect and knowledge is abysmal.

[@michaelponce7326]

James Rockford that old guy is albert lee, research him on youtube then tell me if that "old guy" can be smoked, aint happening in fact he will smoke you ill bet

[@macreviewz7187]

james the moron rockford! google Albert Lee - he's the top player for that style.

[@irvinknapp6087]

I hardly call that “ being smoked” ! I’m pretty sure Albert never gets “Smoked” !!!

[@jasonmcgrath2768]

James Rockford that is simply the stupidest comment I've ever read

[@jamespettersson2319]

Getting old sucks, love Albert but he has lost a lot of the fastball, still phrases his leads beautifully though.

[@macreviewz7187]

but not yet. Saw him 3 months ago in Europe, 1.5 hours non stop picking, full on. Was insanely good!

[@baseballcapdubs]

You just do yourself a favor and not even try and compete with Big Johnny.

[@zivkovicable]

Well i wouldn't try competing with either myself, but Johnny learn't his licks by listening to Albert Lee records. Albert Lee learn't his by listening to James Burton records, & so on. Standing on the shoulders of giants.