''The Velvet Touch of Lenny Breau – Live!'' is a live album by Canadian jazz guitarist
Lenny Breau that was released in 1969.
[Lenny Breau Remembered](_blank)
by Jim Ferguson
James Edwin Ferguson (born December 23, 1948) is an American guitarist, composer, journalist, and educator.
He has performed in the U.S. and abroad, is featured on solo guitar CDs showcasing his original compositions for classical guitar, and ...
History
After Breau's major-label debut, ''
Guitar Sounds from Lenny Breau'', was issued the previous year on RCA, producer
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001), also known as "Mister Guitar" and "the Country Gentleman", was an American musician who, along with Owen Bradley and Bob Ferguson (musician), Bob Ferguson, helped create the Nash ...
arranged for this live recording in Los Angeles, accompanied by fellow
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...
ers
Ron Halldorson and Reg Kelln.
Carol Kaye
Carol Kaye (née Smith; born March 24, 1935) is an American musician. She is one of the most prolific recorded bass guitarists in rock and pop music, playing on an estimated 10,000 recordings in a career spanning over 65 years.
Kaye began play ...
was in the audience and stated in an interview: The tapes from the three-night engagement were taken back to Nashville where Atkins,
Danny Davis and Ronnie Light prepared them for release.
[Forbes-Robert, Ron. (2006). ''One Long Tune: the life and music of Lenny Breau''. Denton, TX. University of North Texas Press. .]
Despite the enthusiasm for the live show, the album sold poorly and was barely mentioned in the music press at the time. Breau was later quoted as saying, "When I initially recorded, I didn't feel ready—I wanted to practice for another 10 years first." He also felt RCA did not sufficiently promote the release.
It was 10 years before Breau released another solo album.
Reception
Music critic Paul Kohler of
Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
wrote "His ability to play chords, melody, and a bass line simultaneously has to be heard to be believed."
Track listing
Writing credits as shown on record label.
#"Tuning Time" (Lenny Breau) – 1:49
#"
No Greater Love" (
Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky,
John Digges,
Domenico Savino) – 6:37
#"The Claw" (
Jerry Reed
Jerry Reed Hubbard (March 20, 1937 – September 1, 2008), known professionally as Jerry Reed, was an American country singer, guitarist, composer, songwriter and actor who appeared in more than a dozen films. His signature songs included " Gui ...
) – 4:23
#"Indian Reflections for Ravi" (Breau) – 3:12
#
"That's All" (
Merle Travis
Merle Robert Travis (November 29, 1917 – October 20, 1983) was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Born in Rosewood, Kentucky, his songs' lyrics were often about the lives and the economic exploitation of Ameri ...
) – 5:42
#"Blues Theme" (Breau) – 1:01
#"
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" (
Joe Zawinul) – 5:30
#"Spanjazz" (Breau) – 5:19
#"
Bluesette" (
Jean Thielemans) – 6:00
#"
A Taste of Honey" (
Ric Marlow,
Bobby Scott) – 4:43
#"Blues Theme No. 2" (Breau) – 2:40
Personnel
* Lenny Breau – 6-string and 12-string guitar
* Ronnie Halldorson – bass
* Reg Kelln – drums
Production notes
*Grover Helsley – engineer
*Danny Davis – engineer
*Ronnie Light – engineer
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Velvet Touch of Lenny Breau - Live!
Lenny Breau albums
1969 live albums
RCA Records live albums
Albums recorded at Shelly's Manne-Hole