Search - Artist/Band: Lenny Breau

• Name: Lenny Breau
• Birthday: 08/05/1941
• Birth Place: Auburn, ME
• Died: 08/12/1984
• Decades Active: 1960,1970,1980
• Genre: Jazz
• Styles: Post-Bop, Guitar Jazz, Jazz Instrument, Bop
• Moods: Reflective, Cerebral, Earnest, Intimate, Organic, Passionate, Searching, Literate, Confident, Freewheeling, Light, Relaxed, Smooth, Sophisticated, Warm

Title	Release
Mosaic W	10/03/2006
Swingin' on a Seven String WA	06/21/2005
Hallmark Sessions WA	11/18/2003
The Complete Living Room Tapes WA	04/22/2003
Pickin' Cotton WA	2001
Boy Wonder WA	1998
Cabin Fever WA	02/11/1997
Chance Meeting WA	1997
Five O'clock Bells/Mo Breau WA	1987
Last Sessions WA	1984
Lenny Breau Trio WA	1979
Five O'clock Bells WA	10/1977
Guitar Sounds of Lenny Breau WA	04/02/1968

An outstanding jazz improviser who performed on both acoustic and electric guitars, Lenny Breau's right hand drew on classical, flamenco, and country (Travis/Atkins) finger-picking techniques. He was among the first guitarists to digest the impressionistic, post-bop chord voicings of pianist Bill Evans. Breau developed the ability to simultaneously comp chords and improvise single-string melodies, creating the illusion of two guitarists playing together. His facility with artificial harmonics remains the envy of many guitarists. Late in his career, Breau began using a seven-string guitar that extended the instrument's range in the upper register. Breau's early RCA recordings are eclectic and technically dazzling. His later work is less flashy, but communicates on a deeper level.

Born to Canadian country music singers, Lenny Breau started out playing country in a sophisticated manner. Chet Atkins himself helped Breau get an RCA recording contract in 1968. However, Breau's jazz-oriented style and remarkable technique quickly caused him to be uncategorizable. Problems with drugs made his career erratic and he is now considered an underground guitar legend. A new label (Guitararchives) was formed in 1995 specifically to release private tapes of his performances. ~ Richard Lieberson & Scott Yanow, All Music Guide