Lenny Breau - Stella By Starlight

[@peskyfervid6515]

The world got an incredible bargain with Lenny Breau. He gave us so much, and took so little.

[@billyfitzgerald834]

He took a lot out of people's medicine cabinets apparently lol

[@lincolnfish4021]

​@@billyfitzgerald834Damn that's crazy💀💀💀

[@golds04]

Must be hallucinating- im blinking. Can it really be this beautiful??? Geezz. A reputation well earned. And a hard knock life. Ty Lenny- inspiring.

[@metrakos]

Lenny is the greatest pound for pound guitar player of all time… boy genius to hallmark sessions … no one combined, chet and flamenco with hard be bop with such musicality and harmonic depth

[@Sean-398]

imo Ted Greene is also up there, but yea Lenny is incredible

[@jaytea42]

Lenny was Unique Gifted Genius. Got to see him do this in 1980.

[@lazur1]

It's always too soon when a great dies, but in Lenny's case particularly, he'd continued a steep learning curve his entire career. We had the opportunity for Tal to show us what he could do. In Ted's death, the greatest loss was losing him as a teacher. With Lenny gone, I believe we've been deprived of ever hearing his best work, which could be, (at least, considered by fans like me), to be the best guitar playing ever.

[@LoveOneAnotherHeSaid]

LOL. Any death. Yours...

[@LightSnowOvernight]

I grew up in Canada where I used to see him on TV from time to time. I attended a concert of his in 1970 at the Le Hibou coffee house in Ottawa. I still remember him being introduced as "Here's Lenny Breau and his 40 magical fingers" : )

[@bobbystahr]

it certainly seemed that way didn't it....missing him every day!!!!

[@LoveOneAnotherHeSaid]

The Owl. makes sense.

[@SIRONEDRAGON]

I saw Lenny play about 6 months before he died at GIT in Hollywood.. He was FABULOUS!

[@FellowHuman137]

Lenny died 5 hours before i was born, found him on one of those who died on your birthday google searches. And goddamn i'm sad he died, but if he hadn't a croaked it when he did, i would never have heard him.

[@Joshualbm]

The guy who made that guitar for Lenny is Kirk Sands. He mentioned that he was working on a double neck with 7 lower and 12 string upper, just prior to Lenny's death. Lenny wanted to have the spaces between the 12 string wide enough to pick them independently with his right hand. Imagine what he could have done with that kind of arrangement!

[@christineblack4654]

please someone can we get this man in the Canadien walk of fame.

[@mikeheaton8424]

He sure deserves it !

[@casares35]

I saw this cat when I was fourteen years old in a church in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Lenny Breau was the chalk for guitarists. If you don't believe me ask fellow Winnipeggers, Neil Young and Randy Bachman who were regulars at his gigs, when like me they were teenagers and aspiring musicians. RIP, Lenny.

[@aymericdoucet6289]

He is among the ten best jazz guitarists for sure, but he had something more... Something indescribable, a special soul, a deepness, a fragility, with a mistery cloud emanating from his music as well as his personality. Tal Farlow had this aura to my sight too. Well, it's just my perception.

[@namtil]

Lenny Breau - one of the few REAL masters.

[@jasonmudgarde286]

One of the best guitarists ever, taken away from us too soon.

[@danashane]

He used to play at a little bar called The Cellar Door in Auburn, Maine, late 70s/early 80s. My girlfriend and I looked old enough to drink and could get away with it there. We didn't know who he was. Just this little French guy, kinda drunk-ish, sitting on stage and playing just like in this video, for hours. Sometimes clarinetist Brad Terry would join him. Everyone in the place would become transfixed. It's crazy to be right up close to a genius like Lenny Breau while he's playing. He had a very light touch, looked like he his hands floated over the guitar. The bar was a pretty relaxed place and I believe this was reflected in his performances. Just playing w/out any pressure.

[@trabrex7697]

Grew up in Lenny's parents hometown. Got a few stories about Lenny. Saw him play half a dozen times.

[@dog-n2b]

those harmonics are GORGEOUS

[@richardmangogna5806]

I saw Lenny twice . Once in 1980 and in 1981 at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston. 😮 I have the first one recorded on an old cassette . What you and hear is what you get . Virtuoso magic . R.I.P..

[@mikerogers879]

The talent is amusing. Slowly rolling along... initially misunderstood while slowly finding its way into the listener’s harmonic memory. A rare feat.

[@frankdiscussion2069]

thank god for the youtube we have this wonderful video

[@MichaelGrecoGuitar]

this video never gets old. I'm so glad i bought the dvd of this. Such beautiful playing.

[@ozzyruleshere]

I love the smoke and fireworks guitar shredders but i like this more. Not many could play this technically smooth.

[@merrlinn1]

***** He reminds you of Bill Evans because he was influenced by his harmonic approach and replicated it on his 7 string. I love the story when Lenny played in LA the first time and all the top guitarists including Joe Pass came to see him and walked out in total awe.

[@breakfastplan4518]

@SRV1 Cold Blooded... But your comment is right on the mark!

[@johnhguitar]

This 7-string guitar was made by Mr. Sand and is on display at the Guitar Shoppe in Laguna Beach, CA.

[@AuSableBrownie]

Just incredible to see the complete mastery of his insturment and the gorgeous music that results, Just thrilling and moving to watch and listen. The man was an artist of the highest order.

[@speaktoithoratio]

+Wanda Mundy Later in life he compared Lenny to Chopin.

[@krelbar]

+Conrad Sweatman Who is 'he'? Cant find Wanda's comment.

[@juniornash386]

AuSableBrownie you are so right

[@zipidachimp]

small world! saw him at Hibou, bank st, 2nd floor, about '63 or '64 with Don Francks and Ian Henstridge on bass. My first exposure to a true genius artist. Bloody cold winter night, typical ottawa.

[@johntechwriter]

I was there a few years later watching Peter Jermyn play the Hammond B3 with the Modern Rock Quartet. Saw Soft amachine there, too. I'm talking 1968-69.

[@duanespooner6649]

Lenny made a few appearances in an after hours Jazz Club that I attended in the 1960's on 124 street, his stage presence was awesome Lenny played, we all listened and learned.

[@shanebreau1718]

Genius...Lenny is one of a kind.

[@TM-jo4wz]

Been following Lenny for years. Now revisiting this. Extraordinary!! Who could follow this? Especially that time period.

[@martinaxman2033]

Thinking about Lenny and listening to this almost makes me cry. This is SO good.

[@projectcoco]

Lenny was the guitar man that I loved most as a young boy in Toronto at Georges,as a lot of us old boys hung out, terrific.Meanwhile back in L.A ( Lenny's new tune), with Don Thompson on Bass and Terry Clarke on Drums and Doug Riley on Keys.A great performance, and obviously memorable to this day. This was before Steve Kennedy and his lovely wife had their first baby.

[@tennisbumojai]

How is it possible that I never heard of this guy?

[@matako07]

an incredible moment in Music History.

[@closetome]

One of the best ever...tasteful!

[@tonymatthews6748]

Incredible,,Absolutely incredible,few guitarists can play the 7 string guitar with such consumate ease....A great loss to the music world....

[@bminorscales]

Breau had this guitar made specifically for him. I read that it had a problem: the seventh string had a tendency to break because it was essentially a standard high E string raised an interval of a fourth, by winding up the tension Without this string, it was a "normal" guitar.

[@JoshuaAMG]

bminorscales if you pick up the DVD of this full master class Lenny speaks of the difficulties he had making it with more detail. Really something else. Can't believe he died so soon after finally getting the guitar from Kirk Sand

[@orlandoCF1]

Man what an incredible player. Very different rendition of Stella.

[@edshift]

I would have luv'd to have seen him tackle Debussy's Clair de Lune. With these harmonics and chromatic scales stuff he does he would have been epic. R.I.P. Just discovered him tonight. Amazing talent. Thx.

[@bobbystahr]

he did do it at the Ting Tea Room one nite way back, and epic it was!

[@chrisnirelbarahonamatute339]

Can You tell me more about that performance? i'm very interested

[@oldernotwiser5997]

Wow! Just beautiful! Incredible talent and mastery of his instrument.

[@soulvaccination8679]

Lenny was one great guitarist

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

Having been born virtually with a guitar in his hands Lenny had a deep, deep bag to reach into 🎶 and reach he did.

[@joemurry9993]

one of the great ones!

[@philipatoz]

@martinaxman, am a bit familiar with Lenny's history, his personal struggles, his mind-boggling tragic end. I love this statement he made: "I'd like to play sounds you can see if you've got your eyes closed." Lenny was an astoundingly gifted artist and a genius - so original, I'm just glad his recordings survive.

[@andretremblay5344]

Truly amazing talent.

[@juniornash386]

ain't nobody can beat that

[@alward5678]

Lenny was a genius.

[@nancieredekop1846]

Absolutely the best!

[@goldietoon]

true true, he had some rough times, drug and wife issues, his life made his music so maybe this geneous was bound to die early.. I dont know, I hear this sadness in his music and I like it a lot :). Oh what I wish to see Lenny play one more time.. Or ask him some questions :)

[@philipatoz]

@martinaxman, I always appreciate someone who has a comment that is truly interesting. Didn't know Lenny started out playing country - no doubt it's why he had admired Chet Atkins and played with him. Thanks.

[@chrisfostermusic]

nobody better than Lenny!

[@jazzenthusiasm]

perfect

[@rarch1968]

I have my laptop in the kitchen so i can watch/listen to stuff on yt while i cook....I guess it's gonna be a late dinner tonight!

[@martinaxman2033]

Yipieee! I just got the DVD from Amazon! This is truly one of the crappiest quality videos I own, but well worth the money to learn more about Lenny. I recommend it to anyone who loves this clip. Here's another interesting fact. Lenny was unhappy with most guitars and so ordered a specific 7 string instrument to get what he needed. He got the ax he's holding that very day and as you see, mastered it and blew everyone away.

[@Wongwongwong10000]

I was wondering what pickups Lenny Breau used in his custom 7 string guitars? Humbuckers of some kind but I wonder if he had his pickups designed special. He was a guitar genius my favorite jazz guitarist. Too bad Lenny struggled in life and couldn't be alive today he was the best.

[@fireemblem555]

Really awesome

[@thelonious1234]

I know you mean that in a good way. Actually though, Lenny is rare among guitar savants, in that horn geeks and piano geeks and bass geeks and drum geeks generally adore him too.

[@bobbystahr]

very true

[@ben6wraith]

Wow thanks for the upload, I love Lenny he was a genius, this is just superb, 5 stars

[@718koki]

Super maestro !!!

[@martinaxman2033]

Actually, he's the man who invented great harmonics. Lenny is/was a legend and a brilliant musician. If you get a chance, check out any history or biography material you can find on him. He's really amazing considering he started out in country music.

[@betterdogbehaviornow581]

Actually Tal Farlowe was playing with harmonics long before Lenny...as was Chet Atkins...Lenny took them to another level though with his skill.

[@FelipeWurst]

awesome! this guy is amazing!

[@xxXMusickXx]

i found an old vynl record by lenny (thats actualy what brought me here) and id be listening to it now but the cartridge on my turntable is busted, what a buzzkill eh? anyway just like to say thanks to this random find i am now a fan. very happy to discover this

[@z2yu]

@nerddog this was filmed at the University of Southern California its from the DVD Lenny Breau - Master Class . the dvd says, Lenny died shortly after this was filmed, and its the last known flim of him. Lenny Died August 12, 1984 (aged 43) Los Angeles, CA

[@saxforth]

Exquisite.

[@jimzeleny7213]

Watched a band in 1966 with an amazing guitar player Donny Thompson. Asked him who the best guitar player in Winnipeg was and he said Lenny Breau. Guess he was right!

[@Sludgepump]

Thanks for posting these z2yu! It's great to see more Lenny on here. Cheers! :)

[@rbagel55]

Damn what a player he was.

[@cahg3871]

Most of us mere mortals have a hard enough time with 6 strings,but I guess Lenny wanted some difficulty so he had another string added. Finger picker Thom Bresh called Lenny a monster guitarist,he was dead on with that assessment.

[@valmirdossantos6115]

Grande descoberta exepcional

[@guitar9310]

Still incomprehensible

[@MARIO-uf1no]

The Humbler, Danny Gatton, said Lenny was the best. Both were out of this world.

[@claytongillaspy8847]

Both my favorite guitarists Lenny and Danny plus Scotty Anderson who’s still alive today making great music in Cincinnati Ohio!

[@goldietoon]

guys, this was one his technical height... true artist not giving all too much the way he appeared to people

[@musicajaja3A]

surely the most famous guitarist not enough known Louis

[@sthom3521]

Love this...one of Randy Bachman's great influences (Looking Out for Number One)

[@johntechwriter]

Oh I know Randy was a far better guitarist than BTO but really!

[@martinaxman2033]

@philipatoz Actually if memory serves, he used to play with his parents C&W band when he was 14. He got seriously into music and moved to more challenging styles. Kind of reminds me of John Fahey the way he just saw a way and followed it. Check WIki. There's a pretty good biography there.

[@johntechwriter]

As a teen he made the mistake of out-playing his dad in public and got slapped in the face for it. He went out on his own after that.

[@torontosorewristhex]

such a sad shsme , imagine how much of a master he would be by now if he were alive

[@johntechwriter]

You miss the point.

[@torontosorewristhex]

@@johntechwriter nope. Im talking about how he was murderd. Big fan of lenny.. i dont miss any point

[@tonyfreeman1339]

to hard to comment.Long live Lenny. The way guitar was ment to sound,clear and other worldly.

[@donottawaguitar]

he sure could play

[@arataka57]

All was said right above. What was the tuning of his 7? And who inherited it?

[@goldietoon]

:) the reason why lenny plays this chordal piano style music

[@tommaguzzi1723]

3.17 I had to double take I thought he had 6 fingers on his right hand!

[@rudyqualls75]

Great 7 string work. What was he thinking to learn to play that way?

[@ronaldothomejunior3702]

Was Lenny Breau an influence for Tosin Abasi?

[@1610austin]

born in maine but grew up in winnipeg .

[@stepitupandgo67]

so genius..I thought tommy Emmanuel was better with the harmnics than lenny,..but seeing this I was mistaken...one of the best guitarists to ever live....

[@Coveskipper]

Tommy Emmanuel and others are aspiring to the technique they are inspired by.

[@gillesvaneeden3313]

Not to mention many moments of intense musical emotion and expression, as opposed to airheaded pyrotechnics.

[@stepitupandgo67]

indeed...yes it feels like he lived every note he plays or something....it's just magic...and on that seemingly crappy Yamaha solid state amp....my friend had one of those and it sounded terrible....

[@gillesvaneeden3313]

His tone is *NOT* coming from the amp, as amply proven by his marvellous sound on spanish guitar. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZWkc32mhpmrsNk

[@VTAlexander]

WHERE the helll does he pull that high A out of at 3:58!

[@Krullmatic]

This is who Danny Gatton said was the best guitarist!

[@JazzCatzs]

What key is this version ? It’s a different key than in the Real Book

[@jasonmudgarde286]

Just play along and you'll work it out.

[@JazzCatzs]

@@jasonmudgarde286 I’ve sort of got it now, up to the point he starts the solo- renting a 7-string

[@jasonmudgarde286]

@@JazzCatzs sorry if I seemed flippant, I just try to sing the melody and start from there, not easy in the more complicated songs. The keys used in versions of Fly me to the moon or autumn leaves are obviously easier to find. PS Most agree his 7th string was a top A

[@JazzCatzs]

@@jasonmudgarde286 No worries- I’ve put this arrangement on hold for a while-yea I have a high A- it’s not even a debate - everyone knows that who studies Lenny- all the best :-)

[@namtil]

@martinaxman Right.

[@lazur1]

Consider yourself lucky: Most potential Lenny fans fans still haven't heard of him, & modern music venues aren't increasing their chances.

[@armanilehmann6537]

Interesat.

[@rosshumphries2669]

On a Baldwin guitar

[@stevimichael5553]

Insanely difficult

[@babinm]

Ted green tad farlow lennie??? Why gone so soon???

[@LoveOneAnotherHeSaid]

You could serve dinner on that fretboard.

[@martinaxman2033]

Ok, any ideas on how to STOP watching this? I've been stuck on it for days. lol. who cares right?

[@objectivitycave11]

learn how to play it... lol

[@z2yu]

he was found floating in a swimming pool .. the case is unsolved .. his wife at the time was questioned .. but no one was ever charged

[@tonyfreeman1339]

Auburn Maine's Native son.

[@hotrodius]

Or people who like GOOD music instead of the crap we are force-fed

[@JeffMasonProject]

Sry for noob question is this in F instead of typical Bflat?

[@Rakkhun369]

It's a high A string I believe.

[@JeffMasonProject]

No the key of the song is F correct?

[@anthonyfarrugia570]

Yep

[@keiitikawai2747]

すごいっす。アンビリーバボー。

[@JDRichard]

Well, now, I know you can have six strings, but doing all that work with eight strings is the equivalent of two bass players playing the same time.

[@TheP1800]

Lenny was in same class as Allan Holdsworth. Inventors that had no others choice than to play the guitar. All other normal people would have found a "real" paying profession;-)