Tommy Emmanuel Talks Lenny Breau

[@301Vincent]

Lenny, we knew him as "Sonny" at the time, lived in my hometown of Schenectady NY for a short time around 1955 or 56 while his parents had a steady gig in the area. They lived in a flat owned by my aunt and uncle. He was about 14 or so and would come to our house on a Saturday night with his fender strat and play for hours on end. For Tommy to say he was driven at an early age is right on the mark, I can attest to that. At that point as a young teenager he played all Chet tunes which as he told me, he learned by playing the record and slowing it down with his finger to learn the parts note for note and he nailed them to a tee. My father recorded him with his home tape deck but unfortunately those tapes disappeared after I married and moved out of the house. Oh how he loved to play his guitar is my fondest memory of him, along with the first time I saw a thumb pick.

[@laurenbroido9]

I lived next door to Lenny in the 1970s on 18th Ave S in Nashville. Every Sunday he played with a trio at Mississippi Whiskers on Elliston Place not far from our apartments. Richard Cotten of Cotten Music played upright bass. Every guitar player who was in town would line up to get in. I saw him some things on some of those Sundays that were absolutely mind boggling. He could play three separate melodies at the same time. He would demonstrate driving in a car at night and the radio stations drifting to different songs and styles, It was hard to believe what he could do. A sweet, gentle soul.

[@sitarnut]

Greatest interview about Lenny I've ever heard and it's Tommy Emmanuel ! He knows how deep Lenny's mind and chops were.That's why we jazz guys love Tommy. He Understands Jazz too. Tommy is fantastically real like Lenny, and his recipe of staying healthy and sane whilst being a musician is pure gold.

[@gregb.7564]

I was fortunate to know Lenny. He invited me over to his house in Nashville, several times. He was so laid back and a nice guy. Then to hear him play live, just blew me away. I've never heard anyone that incredible! He was so humble, and such a kind soul! Truly a genius!

[@kenbear9290]

That’s really awesome

[@chipurBillWhite]

Saying Lenny was “better than all of us” at age 12 speaks volumes about this man’s character.

[@jesusislukeskywalker4294]

👍🏻 a true gentleman

[@douglasscharnberg3883]

no, it says volumes about Lenny.

[@Sean-398]

Well it speaks to his honesty. Lenny is the greatest.

[@mitchrice757]

I studied with 7-string first call session player Howie Collins from 1975-1976. At the time Howie said Lenny was the only guy worth listening to. I immediately went out and bought Five O'clock Bells by Lenny. Still have the record, still amazed.

[@briandillon8041]

That’s a great song, dedicated to his insomnia of lying awake and hearing their church bells ring before Day in the morning. He was a good singer, too

[@MsMusicman56]

Bloody hell I'm 67 and never heard of Lenny. Well that's all changed, I'm gonna find out all I can on this bloke. Thanks for the vid.

[@theyapsta]

Tommy to me is one of the most amazing human beings on this earth.

[@cruiseguitar]

A fantastic interview from a consummate master of the guitar, and the best “ explanation” of Lenny for a non- musician audience I’ve heard to date. Bravo Tommy Emmanuel!

[@captainkangaroo4301]

I saw Lenny perform in Winnipeg several times many years ago. He blew my mind.

[@prisonersforprofit]

real geniuses are rarely understood or appreciated in their own time, jaco pastorius another one who struggled with commercial success. but i was an average guitar player, never really got out of intermediate studies, but enjoyed and tried every type of music, got a lenny breau book of his fundamental jazz/blues progressions, his style was transformative, the coolest stuff i'd ever tried, his bass and lead counterpoints in the same chord, it was difficult but so rewarding to learn.

[@498lbrw]

I heard Lenny play many times at Donte's in Studio City in 1984. He came to G.I.T., as well and got 5 of us into a practice room where he graciously showed us stuff and answered all of our questions, even the dumb ones. This was shortly before he died.

[@tizaniceday9249]

Superb, insightful interview by master communicator Tommy Emmanuel. I discovered Lenny through the Chet Atkins & Friends album.That version of Sweet Georgia Brown on the record impressed me as much as it did Tommy. Every time i lift that record to play it, that's my go-to track.

[@NickC769]

What a wonderful interview

[@stephenbean2662]

Had Lenny's brother Denny Breau play at my 80th birthday party. Great musician like his brother...Tommy signed Denny's guitar...

[@frankdavino7187]

To be able to describe so perfectly a very complex subject, it give you an idea of the real talent of Tommy Emmanuel 🎉

[@Joshualbm]

Beautiful. It is such a gift to hear Tommy's accounting of Lenny personally, technically and as a peer. I relly love Tommy's final assessment, Life is not a rehearsal, it real and better get on with it. I'll take that to heart.

[@douglasscharnberg3883]

"Peer" ?? Lenny was almost a generation older than Tommy. They were hardly "peers".

[@Joshualbm]

​@@douglasscharnberg3883 What a pedantic comment. They met, knew each other briefly and pursued guitar artistry as a career/profession in the same era, hence the correct term: peer. Anything else?

[@douglasscharnberg3883]

@@Joshualbm yeah, F.O. that pedantic enough for you chowder head?

[@satanshog]

@@douglasscharnberg3883 A peer someone who shares a similar status or background

[@mononoaware1960]

By far my favorite guitarist, currently anyway. I’ve never heard somebody who has such a masterful command of different genres. Jazz, flamenco, country, it’s uncanny. His interpretations of standards were absolutely beautiful, dude was like a one man orchestra. Never sounds stale or tired, always fresh ideas. All of the standards he did are the only versions of the songs for me now. First heard about him through hearing Danny Gatton talk about him.

[@johnwattdotca]

There's a big difference between getting it on as a musician, having music as a second language, and playing a memorized piece that is decorative.

[@singsang9460]

True words spoken from another master !

[@machomie]

What a great interview! Lenny spent some time in my town. I remember talking to his first guitar teacher, he said Lenny would be up all night practicing. He appeared at a local concert - opening for Chet Atkins. What a performance! He played his version of "Feelings" using a lot of harmonics.

[@robertlee8042]

Nice to know that TE was speechless. And in awe.

[@pixelpop9365]

In the late 50's early 60's when Lenny played with Ray St. Germain they would always play house parties in southern Manitoba in the Portage la Prairie area where Ray was from. They would come to the house sometimes and jam with my mom and Lenny absolutely loved playing her '58 Gibson J-50 which I now have. Years later I took lessons from his son Chet for a while in Winnipeg. I've always marveled at how great and yet known mostly only to other musicians he was.

[@charliemurphy3529]

Thanks for this great interview - such a great look into this amazing guitar player - I got to say that the phrase "Lenny Land" is great way to sum up his ability to "disappear" into a melody and fine things that no one else would ever see.

[@chandlertheorange]

Legend of guitar. Needs to be remembered

[@violetflame23]

Tommy is so humble. I've heard a lot of Lenny Breau, and though I recognize his amazing talent, I would choose to listen to Tommy anytime. His playing is so exciting and entertaining. He's a wonderful man, and he speaks with such compassion talking about Lenny.

[@davidsummerville351]

A tragic story of a true genius. I will never forget meeting and listening to him. I've also met Tommy and he is a warm, genuine human being, and one hell of a guitarist.

[@joepalooka2145]

Great interview. Tommy is 100% right about Lenny. I saw Lenny live in a small club in northern Canada back in the early '70s. There were only a few people in the place. I sat right in front of the stage only feet away from him as he played. It was like a private concert and the world's greatest guitar lesson all in one. I've listened to all his recordings, seen all the videos I could, and agree that he was a totally unique guitar genius like nobody else. Unfortunately Lenny was possessed by the demon of addiction and it was a downward spiral that ended in tragedy.

[@DavidSmith-kz8lr]

Tommy is right about everything.If you wanna make a living playing solo guitar,so you can still dazzle,but the melody has to come through.....Lenny was pure genius ......!

[@MichaelGrecoGuitar]

WOW! What an amazing story. Lenny was so special. What a magical player

[@salmonfire]

thank you so much for your reverence and your tenderness about Lenny. He was as so gifted. So many people castigate these Musicians for their addictions. Everyone loves Mile Davis, Edgar Allan Poe , Morison, Hendrix, Janis but when you mention Lenny they shake their head. Maybe his potential was the greatest of all I mentioned.

[@salmonfire]

You said the populace didnt understand Lenny, But we did, One of his most poignant compositions was 5 O'clock Bells. If you did not live in Lewiston Maine at that time you would never have known that the local Cathedral rings their bells at Dawn in Lewiston, Me.

[@coreymihailiuk5189]

It's great to hear Tommy relating those stories about one of the greatest guitar players ever. Lenny Breau's genius deserves to be remembered forever. I have lived in Toronto for most of my life and heard quite a few fascinating stories about Lenny, and I have known players who hung with him so I know these stories are true. He was a one in a million player whose contribution to the art of guitar playing should be celebrated for all time.

[@timothydaniels504]

In the 60’s there were two musical instrument stores on the west side of Yonge St across from Sam the Record Man. One Saturday morning a friend of mine and myself were in one of those stores and n walked Lenny who was there to try out an amp. One of the guys in the store locked the door so Lenny could play without being disturbed. He let us stay and we heard a true master play for half an hour. A few years later I got to know a drummer who occasionally sat in with him. Lots of highs and lows.

[@coreymihailiuk5189]

@@timothydaniels504 Do you remember the names of those music shops? Later in the 1970's I used to shop at The Mill Wheel music store which was just up the street from Sam's and on the west side of the street. What a great and rare experience getting to hear Lenny trying out an amp at a music store! Over the years I have known a few guitar players who used to know Lenny back in the day and they have shared some great stories of hanging with him. His death was such a tragedy and we lost one of the greatest guitar players of all time. Luckily some old footage of him playing has surfaced on You Tube which is wonderful.

[@philsarkol6443]

Wow....to hear Tommy Emanuel talking like that, so honest and straight to the point. To state that Lenny's way of playing is not apealing to the larger audience, is like talking about a musician's musician. Like it takes the playing and artist level of Tommy..to be able and talk about Lenny's music!!! Thank you so much for this insight..Tommy!!!

[@tonyfreeman1339]

Still admired in Auburn Maine.

[@DennisMader-n4b]

I lived for many years (1971-1995) 😢just south of Maynooth, Ontario, which at the time you might say was on the fringe of civilization. The local venue for music was The Arlington Hotel and I went up there one night during the week to hear a little trio called Wilno Express that specialized in funky music (fiddle, accordion and guitar). Their usual guitarist (Clark Guettell RIP) couldn’t make the gig that night so they had picked up some guy to take his place. I heard that that stand-in casually riffing between numbers and immediately realized he was no ordinary player. And someone told me “That’s Lenny Breau!” Apparently Lenny had friends in Killaloe (near Wilno) and agreed to stand in for the evening. Based on those casual riffs I realized I was listening to a master and made it my purpose to seek out and listen to everything he recorded. Later I was to find out Lenny Breau had died under mysterious circumstances in LA. Like so many great jazzmen he had a junk habit he couldn’t manage…. RIP Lenny Breau. Genius.

[@grahamsmart75]

Hi I have played Guitar for 65 years mainly Jazz and Blues. Lenny Breau was incredble I had a Video of him at Tal Farlowes House. Lenny was influenced more by Tal than any other Guitarist. As we know Tal and Jonny Smith were Years ahead of there time and influenced many Guitarists including me.

[@christopherhanna5754]

Beautiful interview

[@terpentoon]

Wow, some wisdom comes down on us here. Thanking you deeply Tommy Emmanuel.

[@maharmusicstudio1733]

Beautiful Tommy. Such a good honest interview.

[@klavier1us]

Those wanting to know more about Lenny should read his bio “One Long Tune”. John Knowles and TE both have this book. It’s a “cgp read”. Tommy is right: Lone Pine (Lenny’s Dad) wanted him to follow in his footsteps, Lenny wasn’t having it. The bio covers Lenny, his 1st meeting w Chet, his quest for his sound, his guitars, meeting & playing with Bill Evans etc.

[@rickjason215]

I wish I had a recording of the 3 of them.

[@andrewcampbell2903]

What a depth of understanding and how wonderful to listen to such a balanced and fairminded perspective . And then there was Lenny . So beautiful to listen to him exploring what may be a straightforward composition , but looking at the piece from every angle , while remaining true to it's basic inspiration , and at the same time putting together a complete and faultless performance . Lenny understood and respected the depth that often resides in apparently simple music .

[@fanooch1]

Tommy Emmanuel is one genuine person.

[@raepaul8158]

Great interview. He lived in Edmonton Alberta for a time and every where he went people took advantage of his vulnerability, leeches and hangers on were constantly giving him all manner of drugs , very tragic life !

[@K131399]

Tommy expressing inferiority to any life form in the history of the cosmos, regarding anything to do with music is simply insane. The fact that he does it so honestly explains to anyone out there wondering how he got so good, how and why he got so good. A true master.

[@MarkBlackburnWPG]

Among his virtues: a brilliant analytical mind and the ability to express 'Truths' in charming and disarming ways. Case in point: the best Q&A appreciation of the good and bad of Canada's Lenny Breau - who grew up here in Winnipeg from age 15. By which time Lenny was able to replicate perfectly by ear, everything Chet Atkins had recorded. I've waited a lifetime to hear someone appreciate Lenny in this way - as only Tommy could. Deepest thanks for sharing, gaffersband. Celebrated elsewhere this day (11/5/2023) search " Great Melody, Great Lyric, Great Rendition, Songwriting Workshop, Harmony Central "

[@stevenburton7922]

Love Tommy and his honest words. Wow, just discovered, Lenny.

[@marcus_starr]

Thank you for posting this. Lenny was a good ol east coast Canadian legend.

[@joe-nautilus-nauticus]

Wow! What a fantastic interview! So well spoken.

[@RonHeusdens]

Beautiful! What a wise man Tommy is and his analysis of 'not be able to connect' is so spot on

[@mademepickaname]

This is awesome. The reverence he has for Lenny reminds me of Oscar Peterson talking about Art Tatum.

[@maxwellbowden9961]

Great interview, awesome recollection of a tortured genius

[@clevebaker8399]

Tommy is the best!! No doubt!! Much love and deep respect to you sir!!

[@jamesdrynan]

I saw Lenny at George's Spaghetti House in Toronto with Moe Koffman, Terry Clarke on drums and Don Thompson on bass. It was an astonishing and jaw-dropping night.

[@talstory]

very insightful interview..good questions and revealing answers

[@abedunovits]

La Bamba is still the most exciting song i can play live that people know and love and dance to more than anything else, beyond language ....for me its been Johhny B Goode and La Bamba ....

[@TM-jo4wz]

Tommy is right. Everything he said nailed it. I’ve been listening to Lenny for years. About 5 years ago I showed a basic country and rock guy a video of Lenny. The guy just dismissed it in about 5- 10 seconds. That’s the way it works. Just like Tommy said.

[@bah667]

Tommy, thank you!

[@datapro007]

Fantastic interview, thank you

[@jazzmandolin5004]

I'm still heart broken that Lenny isn't here with us

[@douglasscharnberg3883]

Lenny was 12 in about 1953. Tommy, I don't think you were born yet. In fact, you were just a chap of 29 when he died. I was lucky enough to hear him playing in a practice cubicle crammed with players at GIT the week before he died. I heard him on Friday; he was gone on Monday. Such a tragedy. I got to ask one question of him and that was it. He was going to start teaching there the next semester. One thing I noticed was that Joe Diorio treated Lenny like he was pure gold and fragile as glass. That says volumes; Joe Diorio was a mind blowing guitarist, but he showed complete deference to Lenny.

[@TM-jo4wz]

You have the dates wrong.

[@douglasscharnberg3883]

@TM-jo4wz Who cares? My point is valid. I was only 28 when he died and I did get the opportunity to get to ask him a question about the chord type he was using in his artificial harmonics. And what of your first hand experience? None? Figures.

[@rpinarreta]

Lenny seemed like a musician's, musician. Tommy's view on life is well rounded "......this is not a rehearsal this is the real thing so you better get on with it". Tommy is the guy you want to have on your side and parody.

[@gkfrandsen7739]

Never heard artificial harmonics played like Lenny Breau. I don't think he will ever be matched.

[@JackTheSkunk]

I am a huge fan of Chet and Jerry. Tommy is a great player as well, and to his credit has never, to my knowledge, made any pro-drug comments or jokes during his performances. Read One Long Tune and learn the decades long struggles Lenny went through during his young life. Had he stayed away from drugs, alcohol and cigarettes he'd still be alive today making beautiful music. I don't know for sure but I think Lenny utilized his right hand pinky finger to play melody notes more than anyone else who just use their thumb and 3 fingers. Lenny was incredible, no doubt about that.

[@georgegamentzy1816]

When I was a kid I could play a lot better than now, even though I knew way less, back then I was driven.

[@rustyshimstock8653]

Listen to. the CD entitled, Lenny Breau, Boy Wonder.

[@MelodyMaker]

Reminds me of the Stu Ungar story. That is...the poker player savant who self destructed.

[@oliveroneill1388]

And finger harmonics

[@RealBobLoblaw]

As for connecting with the audience Lenny was well over the layman's head. Tommy always looks like hes having the time of his life when he plays!

[@L5player]

Lenny's genius compared to Tommy's is a bit like the two physicists, Edward Witten and Richard Feynman. Witten is so intellectual and unapproachable that other mathematicians and theoretical physicists are just intimidated by him because he's just such a genius. He's operating on his own level. Feynman was brilliant, too, but he made physics almost understandable. He had humor, personality, and was a regular guy, even while being a noted theoretical physicist. Lenny was just his own brand of genius that others could hardly approach. Tommy is approachable and a regular guy, but still a genius musician.

[@K131399]

I get goosebumps like golf balls when I think of someone pulling up to a stoplight, casually looking over and seeing Lenny and Tommy driving a car and participating in real-life activities, like actual human beings, which I'm not saying they're not, but let's be real here lol

[@ThaKKatt]

Playing Lenny's Mood off his Cabin Fever is my go-to party trick lol:) I don't mention that there's a transcription of it on KZbin to the girls, but I'll mention it to you chaps

[@patbrennan6572]

Imagine walking into a room and not knowing that Lenny Breau, Chet Atkins and Tommy Emmanuel are mecssin around with their guitars.

[@captainkangaroo4301]

Lenny and Tommy’s buddy Richard Smith both play Kirk Sands guitars. I know Richard loves his.

[@nebula1919191]

Lenny and John Knowles wrote the book on his playing. It is only 30 pages with transcriptions. 99% practice.

[@caprise-music6722]

The sweet Georgia brown version he talks about, is that the album version? Does anybody know?

[@scotconnolly1188]

I think he means this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXXTaWNvj85soqc

[@TM-jo4wz]

Well it takes someone like The great Tommy E. To recognize that. Can you believe it? It’s like Audio File people. They spend thousands on equipment. Then you can’t talk when listening to the recording. Because that defeats the purpose. My point is if you don’t actually listen to what Lenny plays then you don’t get it. It’s like going to a classical concert expecting to hear basic blues or rock. Which I love.

[@briandillon8041]

Wish you would spend a little time talking about his specially made seven string guitar. I don’t think it went lower than normal guitar, but I think the high string was higher then e. ?

[@tomgribbin9531]

It was an"A". Lenny couldn't find guitar string that could withstand the tension , so he found some fishing line with the needed strength. Genius.

[@peteraustin370]

True to say....Joe Public don't understand virtuoso....Status Quo went a long long way on three easy chords...!!!!..

[@alaindenis509]

Hardest part of Lenny's playing was the artificial harmonics that he did with all his fingers, including the picking finger. Plus his fingers are slightly deformed, which came in handy for stretches

[@lw216316]

Listen to Pete Huttlinger play Superstition - 3 parts at once and maybe that is some of what Tommy is trying to explain about Lenny.

[@dennisjohndreher7258]

Lenny deserves props, but let's not forget the innovation of Jerry Reed. Unfortunately Jerry is known more for his movies than the guitar.

[@leswhitetrash697]

The use of LSD and subsequently the abuse of it was definitely a factor in "Lenny Land", to use the term that TE says. Basically, there was Lenny, then there was everyone else.

[@robford3211]

@ leswhitetrash Well people don’t take hard drugs for fun he had trauma and no safety net no family to rely on only his guitar

[@maisnon1329]

It's not a rehearsal

[@jimmayors2315]

How does Joan Jett get on the list of 250 greatest GUITAR players, and these guys don't?

[@garymickus6412]

Is Lenny’s grave still unmarked?

[@beniceorbegone]

Lenny Breau and Jerry Reed eclipsed Chet Atkins as the gold standard in guitar playing in Nashville, and in the world. And I’m betting Mr. Atkins would be the first to tell you that, he was a fan and friend to these guys. Peace.

[@tripledotter9520]

Andy Summers of The Police paid Lenny Breau to teach him Harmonics

[@mainsblanches8793]

Here we can plainly hear he is comping jazz organ chords : kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5S1Z6StoaqGg7s

[@wowjef]

Thanks for this. When was this interview recorded?

[@miatovich8539]

He mentions to be 61 so probably 2016

[@wowjef]

@@miatovich8539 thanks M

[@K131399]

Tommy's correct sadly. Listening to Lenny, as a guitar player, is extremely frustrating. The man could put on a technical display that can just make you laugh out loud, but you sit there waiting. I'm a player. I get the genius. If I strain to find the magic I can hear glimpses, but music for me is not about that, it's really that simple. Guys like Tommy, Matteo etc. make it fun.

[@LoveOneAnotherHeSaid]

Why addiction for such people? Is it boredom with all this "easy" stuff, or love denied, or being shutdown? I do not understand it. Is there a genius artist out there who is drug-free?

[@FYMASMD]

I hate dope. It’s ruined so many great people. Dope,booze and the touring lifestyle are just ruinous.