Synopses & Reviews
Chet Atkins called Lenny Breau (1941-1984) the greatest guitarist who ever walked the face of the earth. Breau's astonishing virtuosity influenced countless performers, but unfortunately it came at the expense of his personal relationships. Forbes-Roberts analyzes Breau and his recordings to reveal an enormously gifted man and the inner workings of his music. A] thorough and fascinating biography, which includes a discography and analysis of Breau's recordings.-Toronto Globe and Mail Forbes-Roberts does a credible job of depicting the variables that fostered Breau's total devotion to his instrument and subsequent descent into heroin addiction. Where Forbes-Roberts does his best work though, is in his technical explanations of Breau's unique guitar system and his comprehensive critical analyses of the artist's recording sessions.-All About JazzForbes-Roberts walks the line between adulation and research, music nerd and general interest reporter, with aplomb, and most importantly delivers a very readable account of a personality most readers should find endearing (if heartbreaking), even if they'd never previously heard of Breau.-Boston PhoenixThe author has delivered a comprehensive, well-written book that evokes both sympathy and admiration for Breau], with painstaking documentation of his technical approach.-The Toronto StarAbout the Author: RON FORBES-ROBERTS is an award-winning journalist and a contributing editor to Acoustic Guitar Magazine. He is a career musician with a degree in classical guitar and lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. GENE LEES's many important books on jazz include Cats of Any Color: Jazz Black and White.
Review
and#8220;A thorough and fascinating biography, which includes a discography and analysis of Breau's recordings.and#8221; --Toronto Globe and Mail
Review
and#8220;Forbes-Roberts does a credible job of depicting the variables that fostered Breauand#8217;s total devotion to his instrument and subsequent descent into heroin addiction. Where Forbes-Roberts does his best work though, is in his technical explanations of Breauand#8217;s unique guitar system and his comprehensive critical analyses of the artistand#8217;s recording sessions.and#8221; --All About Jazz
Review
and#8220;Forbes-Roberts walks the line between adulation and research, music nerd and general interest reporter, with aplomb, and most importantly delivers a very readable account of a personality most readers should find endearing (if heartbreaking), even if theyand#8217;d never previously heard of Breau.and#8221; --Boston Phoenix
Review
and#8220;The author has delivered a comprehensive, well-written book that evokes both sympathy and admiration for [Breau], with painstaking documentation of his technical approach.and#8221; --The Toronto Star
Review
and#8220;Lenny Breau was, and will always be, a great treasure. We need him today more than ever.and#8221; --Mundell Lowe
Review
andldquo;In his brilliantly written and exhaustively researched biography, Forbes-Roberts gets to the essence of the creative process itself and the meaning of what it is to be an underappreciated genius.andrdquo; --Bill Milkowski, author of Jaco
Synopsis
Chet Atkins called Lenny Breau (1941and#150;1984) and#147;the greatest guitarist who ever walked the face of the earth.and#8221; Breau began playing the instrument at age seven, and went on to master many styles, especially jazz. Between 1968 and 1983 he made a series of recordings that are among the most influential guitar albums of the century.
Breauand#8217;s astonishing virtuosity influenced countless performers, but unfortunately it came at the expense of his personal relationships. Despite Breauand#8217;s fascinating life story and his musical importance, no full-length biography has been published until now. Forbes-Roberts has interviewed more than 175 people and closely analyzed Breauand#8217;s recordings to reveal an enormously gifted man and the inner workings of his music.
About the Author
Ron Forbes-Roberts is an award-winning journalist and a contributing editor to Acoustic Guitar Magazine. He is a career musician with a degree in classical guitar and lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.