Lenny Breau Plays with Chet Atkins: Nashville 1977

Lenny Breau had no bigger fan than his mentor and close friend Chet Atkins whom he first met in Nashville in 1966.
During the years that Lenny lived in Nashville (1977-80) he often hung out in Atkin's office and the two would jam and trade riffs.
When a German film crew came to Nashville in 1977 to make a documentary on the city and its music, they interviewed Chet who was vice president of RCA at the time. Chet promoted Lenny whenever he had the chance, so he arranged for LB to be in his office during the interview. As the interview opens the listener can hear Chet extolling Lenny's excellence as a guitarist under the German voice over. Chet and Lenny then pick up their guitars and play two tunes together.
We thank collector and roots music buff Manfred Helfert for passing along to us the longer video from which this segment was taken.
1. Intro
2. Lover Come Back to Me 01:05
3. Recuerdos de Alhambra 03:17
The Lenny Breau Archives Channel is dedicated to making rare recordings of Lenny Breau available to his fans. If you are interested in hearing this material, please subscribed to this channel. We will be posting new material regularly

[@garykoliger]

Lenny stayed at my home in Edmonton in the mid seventies for about six months. I learned more from him about playing guitar in that time than the entire rest of my life. He was a force of nature and a great friend. The world lost a musical genius when he left us all those years ago. If there is a God Lenny is playing for eternity in His band and loving every second. He was a genuine force of nature like no other.

[@thelennybreauarchives5675]

Beautifully put. Thanks for leaving this comment.

[@maxzapom]

What do you mean by stayed at your home I mean why would he

[@garykoliger]

@@maxzapom He needed a place to stay while in town and I offered and he accepted. What's your issue?

[@maxzapom]

@@garykoliger nothing just curious

[@thelennybreauarchives5675]

@@maxzapom Gary Koliger is mentioned in the biography of Lenny Breau called One Long Tune. According to the book, he was and perhaps still is an Edmonton musician who became a good friend of Lenny after meeting him at a local club.

[@86Sporty58]

This makes me cry. The love Chet had for Lenny, broke his heart when he passed. I miss Chet so much. He was my "audio father". I've listened to him and tried to emulate him for over 50 years. I miss you guys and hope to see you when I get there. Thanx so much.

[@thelennybreauarchives5675]

Yes, the look of joy on Chet's face when they finish playing the first tune shows exactly the level of his feelings for Lenny as a musician and friend.

[@DaniloMarrone]

Absolutely priceless! Two legends enjoying each other’s company and playing sublime music.

[@berachtdorian6191]

Chet's not kidding. I don't think that I have ever seen him so happy. I also think that that is the best that I've ever heard him play.

[@LightSnowOvernight]

I had the wonderful pleasure of seeing Lenny Breau play in 1969 at Le Hibou in Ottawa. The host introduced him as "Lenny Breau and his fabulous forty fingers"

[@Nappi1996]

Crazy. This is ZDF, one of Germany’s biggest TV channels. Great that they showed Chet and Lenny 😍

[@richardbradley3684]

I applaud them for doing it. The BBC used to have interesting arts & music content. Sadly, no longer.

[@peskyfervid6515]

Chet was many things, executive, talent scout, recording artist, etc., but first and foremost Chet was a musician with music deep in his soul. I think that was the common bond with Lennie. They recognized the musicianship in each other, and when it came to music, they were definitely 'soul mates'.

[@mbp7060]

Chet loved Lenny. It broke his heart when Lenny died.

[@vernoningles4919]

GOD GAVE THE WORLD A GREAT TALENT WlHEN HE GAVE US,CHET ATKINS

[@hammertownpavao]

Chet Atkins is The G.O.A.T!

[@Martinjazz16799119]

We all love Lenny !!!

[@tizaniceday9249]

What a gem of a video.Two of the 20th Centurys greatest guitarists. And their styles complemented each other so well.Lenny had no more fervent admirer than Chet Atkins.

[@dwebster50]

My fave guitar players of all time. Then Ted Greene , the Tommy E. Cheers and thanks for sharing 🇨🇦😊🇨🇦

[@perfectoid8376]

Same except I would put ted above anyone. Nice list tho.

[@donsimons9810]

have to second Ted as first. Chet and Lenny close behind

[@bigrichard97]

I LOVE these guys.....that playing on don't think twice and the easy interaction they had was beautiful..lenny looked well here too

[@jaycollins9244]

The first tune they played was Lover Come Back to Me.

[@donaldcright5292]

Love them both individually, but together ? Oh my, just awesome !

[@ozzyruleshere]

Chet Atkins playing a Chet Atkins Gibson with another greatest guitar player. This is a Monumental performance!

[@Chiller11]

Chet Atkinson was a great guitarist. His tremolo technique is brilliant and a bit of a surprise from a guy you often associate with country style music. Lenny Breau is next level. He started out playing Chet Atkins tunes with his family band but his mature playing combined country, jazz, flamenco, and created something brilliant and unique. Pity his wife murdered him.

[@fungiformenow]

I met the late great Lenny Breau in Saskatoon in the early seventies. He didn’t teach me too much about the guitar but he gave me one unforgettable piece of advice. He introduced me to moleskin pants and, by golly, I never looked back. In the depth of the terrible Canadian winter they will keep you dry and warm. Their anti-viral qualities will protect you from the worst of the flu strains, including Covid.

[@daynenobodyIV]

beautiful..magical

[@hoffy1003]

Chet's right hand technique is freakishly fantastic.. Pure Talent Geesh !

[@jamesbattiest3885]

A friend of mine told me about Lenny breau . I loved his playing .

[@Alexander-rh5hf]

Precious

[@bernhardnizynski4403]

What amazing pickers!

[@beverlyducharme433]

Holy Cow! Where did this come friend. It's fantastic.

[@pionkome]

Chet's great play....I almost cried. Thank you very much for this video, I may watch this hundreds times.

[@conartist267]

Two geniuses ❤

[@christianforbes5145]

Pure genius!

[@OthO67]

Brilliant!

[@bossanovaboy]

Really great!

[@stephanvogt8038]

Lenny was the best.No wonder that Chet admired him.

[@jason698]

There is no best my friend. Music is subjective

[@stephanvogt8038]

@@jason698 Generally you are right.But i know no other guitarrist who played jazz,flamenco,western and in classical style.

[@jason698]

@@stephanvogt8038 Lenny I would call a "jack of all trades but a master of none". An absolute monster player but I still believe there is no best.

[@danielcashguitar]

Incredible!

[@guitareveryone]

What could you really say about Lenny Breau….Gee, what an amazing player, just amazing. And teamed up with Mr Guitar, well ….listening says it all.

[@boguitar87]

Best KZbin Video in a long time. Thanks so much! What a gem!

[@dogechannel872]

Chet even can play classical guitar pieces

[@hammertownpavao]

Chet did & could play it all - Chet is The Greatest!

[@VidarLund-k5q]

Chet, master of all trades and jack of none.

[@ddivar8149]

Love them both!I was raised on chet

[@mateuszraciborski]

Love this video! Two greats - Chet and Lenny.

[@poguie]

Go the nylon strings!! Very nice.

[@dantean]

It's COMPLETE madness Chet Atkins looking up to YOU and YOUR guitar playing. It's as if god himself had come to you with help straightening out his golf swing or get better at shooting pool, or something.

[@theruzz]

Great video. There's a strange comment near the start where it says Chet is there with "seine Schuler" (his student!) Lenny Breau! Obviously, they had no idea of Lenny's importance at that moment.

[@tomculhane6648]

Fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@VidarLund-k5q]

Finger picking, flat picking and hybrid picking at the same time. Amazing.

[@ThisLoveIsSweet]

Why have I never even heard of this guy? He was more popular in Europe? I can't help but wonder if he influenced Chet's rather unusual use of nylon strings for his music. Gibson released the Chet model guitar in 1981 which used nylon strings, the first solid body guitar to do this. I will check out more of this great player. Thanks for posting this. Does LB always play a classical guitar like this one?

[@boguitar87]

Chet used nylon string guitars from the early 60s on, long before meeting Lenny. Lenny also played a lot of electric guitars as you can hear on his records.

[@ThisLoveIsSweet]

@@boguitar87 awesome. Thank you

[@chandlertheorange]

LB played steel string acoustic as well but his speciality was a 7 string guitar built for him. Wide neck etc. His skill is amazing as he makes does things on the 7 string that emulate Bill Evans on jazz piano. Lenny's skill at playing bar chords with bass and melody on a nylon guitar are off the chain. He was a freak of nature on guitar but never was one to take accolades etc. His downfall was his inability to handle everyday life and drugs etc. He was a true genius and probably most underrated guitarist of all time.

[@jubydude]

Lenny had many admirers. . .including Randy Bachman (Guess Who, BTO) and Danny Gatton (played with Roger Miller, Robert Gordon, had relentless rockabilly chops) .

[@FOXLIES]

Chet's right hand is like a fan

[@TheWaterman2011]

Two spirits dancing

[@thingy2780]

wonderful- I'd just like to see Chet's right hand a bit more

[@VidarLund-k5q]

It's the classical right hand technique, nothing else.

[@stevenburton7922]

Wow

[@stephanleo]

"Lenny Bräu" - Is that a good beer? You betcha it is!

[@Henry-W-Schlemmer]

Bro, it is pronounced "bro"

[@folkarchivist]

@@Henry-W-Schlemmer Yes, but the German announcer mispronounced it as "Bräu" -- which is, indeed, the German word for "Brew".

[@giacintocistola9452]

❤

[@Papa-Dima77]

was it Chets pool in a shape of the guitar? Super cool!! Both are brilliant fingerstyle masters!!

[@thelennybreauarchives5675]

Index for videos on Lenny Breau Archives Channel www.youtube.com/@thelennybreauarchives5675/videos

[@inthebasement]

Goodness me!

[@andymelendez9757]

Yeah Lenny wasGREAT!!

[@thepurpletrip8645]

♥️

[@davederoux3361]

I didn't know Chet Atkins was in High Plains Drifter.

[@midnightaustin9287]

what is that song they played on the intro? i listen to it often but i don't know the ttile!

[@thelennybreauarchives5675]

Sorry, don't know. Any Chet Atkins' buffs out there recognize this tune?

[@richardgratton7557]

I think it’s called « Lover Come Back »

[@maxzapom]

3:19 is this recuerdos de la Alhambra???

[@thelennybreauarchives5675]

Yes it is.

[@EdRode]

Is the rest of the German Documentary on KZbin?

[@thelennybreauarchives5675]

I'm not sure but the clip here is the only appearance of Chet in the documentary which is slanted more towards classic Nashville people like Roy Acuff and Minnie Pearl.

[@garykoliger]

@@thelennybreauarchives5675 Bless you for documenting all of this so well. I loved Lenny like he was my brother. He was a great and most generous guy.

[@SteveDave29]

Winderschön

[@hyperboogie]

How very Manolo Sanlucar 👍

[@jaycollins9244]

Jesus...Lenny was tasty!!

[@Lowden025]

At times Lenny sounds like Django a little bit

[@Fearzero]

Lenny is better solo.

[@corybarnes2341]

It's really interesting to watch the way Chet varies his proximity to the sound hole when picking to alter the tone and dynamics.

[@Cockneyartist]

RIP both x