Chet Breau 'On The Trail Of Lenny Breau'

Earlier this year I went to a one man play about Lenny Breau (5 O'Clock Bells, by Pierre Brault.) Somehow I had forgotten about the tragic end to his life -- found dead in his L.A. rooftop swimming pool. Murder was suspected, but never proven. But what was most riveting about the play was the music -- what a unique and brilliant guitar player Breau was.

Today in On The Trail Of Lenny Breau, a documentary narrated by Lenny's son, guitarist Chet Breau, that's the focus -- the guy Chet Atkins once called "the greatest guitar player in the world today."

Some felt Breau was a guitar player first jazz musician second, but however you view his place in music's blurry genres and history, there's no doubting his virtuosity and the beauty of his playing.

This is a rather erratic bit of video, quality-wise, but even so, his playing shines through. It begins with Lenny Breau playing The Nearness Of You.

An interesting contrast is this video of Lenny during younger years, if that didn't entirely fulfill your Breau needs. Of course there is also today's Inside The Music doc. And at some point after the broadcast you'll be able to listen to it online, at ITM Listen Again.