The Hallmark Sessions

The Hallmark Sessions
Binding: Audio CD
Manufacturer: Art of Life Records
Album Description:
"The Hallmark Sessions", recorded at Hallmark Studios in Toronto, Canada on November 28, 1961, were recorded when Lenny Breau was only twenty years old. This is Lenny's first professionally recorded Jazz session and, until now, has never been released. The original analog reel-to-reel master tapes have been in the possession of Lenny's former manager, George B. Sukornyk, for over forty years. In addition to several Jazz standards such as: It Could Happen To You and I'll Remember April, Lenny also performs several solo Flamenco and Country & Western pieces, as well as four previously unheard original compositions. Lenny recorded seven tracks with acoustic bassist Rick Danko and drummer Levon Helm, both former members of the group The Band, as well as six solo guitar pieces at Hallmark Studios. In addition to the trio and solo tracks, there are also six bonus tracks that contain the Stereo versions of the trio pieces. All tracks have been professionally mastered using 24-bit digital technology.
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Average Rating:
Format: Extra tracks
Artist: Lenny Breau
Number Of Discs: 1
Release Date: 2003-09-03
Song Titles:
1: It Could Happen To You (Burke & Van Heusen)
2: Oscar's Blues (Lenny Breau)
3: I'll Remember April (Raye, De Paul & Johnston)
4: Undecided (Shavers & Robin)
5: My Old Flame (Coslow & Johnston)
6: 'D' Minor Blues (Lenny Breau)
7: 'R' Tune (Lenny Breau)
8: Lenny's Western Blues (Lenny Breau)
9: Cannonball Rag (Merle Travis)
10: Solea (Traditional)
11: Taranta (Traditional)
12: Arabian Fantasy (Sabicas)
13: Brazilian Love Song (Batucada) (Luiz Bonfa)
14: Oscar's Blues (Lenny Breau) *
15: I'll Remember April (Raye, De Paul & Johnston) *
16: Undecided (Shavers & Robin) *
17: My Old Flame (Coslow & Johnston) *
18: 'D' Minor Blues (Lenny Breau) *
19: 'R' Tune (Lenny Breau) * (* Bonus Track. Stereo Version.)
Customer Reviews


Diamond in the "Rough"
Anyone who had been playing guitar for 40+ years would love to be able to play like Lenny does on this album. Coming from a 20 year old, it is simply unbelievable, unless of course, the individual is Lenny Breau, perhaps the greatest guitar genius of his time (or any other). His greatest years were ahead of him, starting with "The Velvet Touch of Lenny Breau", but these sessions give us a rare preview of his potential. Jazz, his main love, is primarily featured, but his skill at playing Travis-style picking, which he did so well, as well as flamenco-inspired playing, made him unique as a guitarist. Only Danny Gatton mastered as many styles. Lenny is always a delight to listen to and we should be grateful for every new batch of recordings uncovered. Lenny rules !!!!


Technique to Burn and Even Some Taste From a 20-Something!
I haven't heard "Boy Wonder" yet, Lenny's little precocious guitar kid album, because I love the later, more introspective and deeply touching music from Lenny, after the years of pain from his addictions, and the bad choices they cause us who were/are addicts to make, scarred and sensitized him with their sorrows. So I was a little reluctant, but I bought this CD because I had to check Lenny out as a 20 year old cutting his first official jazz album, with Rick Danko and Levon Helm no less! Absolutely fantastic use of his great prodigal prowess on guitar. It is hard to believe he had only been listening to jazz for a relatively short time, and beginning to practice and learning to play it for even less time. He sounds so fully developed, with of many of the licks and techniques down that dozens of world class oldtime jazz guitar players made entire careers out of. I hear Barney Kessel in many of the up tempo single note cascades. I hear some Joe Pass in the trio stuff, when he's mixing the chordal passages with single note cadenza-like outbursts of sheer enthusiastic shredding. My only criticism is he is hung up on using one too many pull-offs (from pinky down to index with left hand on a single string)in one too many places. Overall, another exhilarating, exciting, rewarding addition to the best of the best of chordal jazz guitar collections possible, by a young master high up on his game, with unimaginable peaks and valleys to come.


Love the new Lenny Breau!
Love the new Lenny Breau! Congrats on continuing to spread the sounds of one of the most unheralded of guitar giants. To hear him cross every musical boundary and genre from THAT early on is just astonishing.


Many thanks for making this gem available.
Just got the new Lenny Breau CD a couple of days ago. What can I say? The guy just blows my mind! I can't believe the guy was playing as good as he was so early on. I knew the CD would be good, but it far exceeded my expectations. Many thanks for making this gem available.


Lenny was unbelievable...
Lenny is one of my all time favorite's. I thank you folks very much for bringing this CD to the world. Lenny was unbelievable.

Product Information and Prices stored: August 29, 2008, 16:32