At the Purple Onion [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Ken Dryden - All Music Guide
All fans of Lenny Breau will want to check out this previously unreleased CD...

D. Oscar Groomes - O's Place Jazz Newsletter
The spoken words and vocalese of Don Francks are pronounced over Lenny Breau's cool blues guitar.

Album Description
Following in the footsteps of Lenny Breau's-"The Hallmark Sessions" CD (Art of Life AL1007-2), "At The Purple Onion" captures Lenny performing in a live trio date recorded at the Purple Onion club in Toronto, Canada in August of 1962. This 68-minute previously unreleased live recording features Canadian singer/actor Don Francks on vocals and acoustic bassist Eon Henstridge. 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. Includes liner notes by Don Francks, Joey Hollingsworth, George B. Sukornyk and Ron Forbes-Roberts author of the forthcoming biography: One Long Tune: The Life and Music of Lenny Breau. All tracks have been professionally mastered using 24-bit digital technology.

At the Purple Onion [Live]

At the Purple Onion, Music, Don Franks & Eon Henstridge Lenny Breau, Int'l & World Music, Jazz, Live Jazz trio recording featuring guitarist Lenny Breau recorded at the Purple Onion club in Toronto, Canada in August 1962., Mainstream Jazz, Pop, Post-Bop, Vocal Jazz

Average customer rating:

If you do buy it, be patient.....

Fans of Lenny Breau will want to check out this CD

Another fine release from Art of Life Records!!

Great history, but not classic Lenny Breau.

Another Great LB Release from Art of Life Records

At the Purple Onion
Lenny Breau , Don Franks , and Eon Henstridge
Manufacturer: Art of Life Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music
Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music
Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Live Albums | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Swingin' on a Seven String

Minors Aloud

The Hallmark Sessions

Guitar Sounds of Lenny Breau

The Complete Living Room Tapes

ASIN: B00067Z2V4
Release Date: 2004-11-16

Tracks:

Introduction
A New Electric Chair
The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
The Newspaper Song
Gum Addiction
Tea For Two
A Gentile Sings The Blues
Work Song
Oscar's Blues
Joey's Solo

Album Description

Following in the footsteps of Lenny Breau's-"The Hallmark Sessions" CD (Art of Life AL1007-2), "At The Purple Onion" captures Lenny performing in a live trio date recorded at the Purple Onion club in Toronto, Canada in August of 1962. This 68-minute previously unreleased live recording features Canadian singer/actor Don Francks on vocals and acoustic bassist Eon Henstridge. 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. Includes liner notes by Don Francks, Joey Hollingsworth, George B. Sukornyk and Ron Forbes-Roberts author of the forthcoming biography: One Long Tune: The Life and Music of Lenny Breau. All tracks have been professionally mastered using 24-bit digital technology.

Customer Reviews:

If you do buy it, be patient............2007-03-06

Some concerts should just be forgotten when they're over, and not preserved via live recordings. Yes, there is a teensy little bit of Lenny Breau guitar work here, but you sure won't hear it in the first 25 minutes of this lame, short-weight CD, which is mostly taken up with off-key singing and ham-fisted Canadian "humor" while Lenny waits -- and waits -- to play some music. This is definitely the least interesting Lenny Breau CD that I've ever heard, and one you could live without unless you're an absolute fanatical collector. If you take the plunge and acquire this CD, do be patient. And most likely, you'll never listen to it a second time.

Fans of Lenny Breau will want to check out this CD.......2004-11-26

The trio's approach to standards is a bit unusual. "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top" has a bluesy flavor, along with Francks' improvised dialogue and a brief scatted detour into "On the Trail" (from Grofé's Grand Canyon Suite). Francks takes the same approach to "Tea for Two," slipping in and out of "Black Coffee" and adding a bit of scatting. Of more interest is the extended interplay between Breau and Henstridge. The last three tracks feature tap dancer and singer Joey Hollingsworth with Lenny Breau as his sole accompanist. Their interaction in Nat Adderley's soulful "Work Song" is amazing, with Breau providing a bit of percussion on his instrument as well. "Oscar's Blues" is a dazzling display of his tap dancing backed by Breau. All fans of Lenny Breau will want to check out this previously unreleased CD...

Another fine release from Art of Life Records!!.......2004-11-23

The Purple Onion is another great release from Art of Life. The chemistry between Breau and Francks is dynamic to say the least. Lenny follows Francks on his lyrical journey matching Francks' timing impeccably. One of my favorites is Tea for Two. It's also a real treat to hear Lenny laughing and doing what he does best.

Great history, but not classic Lenny Breau........2004-11-23

It's tough to be objective about a Lenny Breau release. As a die-hard fan, one is happy to have anything that features his distinctive playing, but this release has more historical than musical value. If you are interested in where Lenny came from, buy this novelty disc. But if you want the real deal, stick with his RCA (late sixties) and post-RCA work (especially his work on the Adelphi label). Having said that, Art-of-Life records does a great job packaging this stuff up, with ample liner notes and all the bells and whistles. One can only hope for another disc (or two or three!) wherein the music matches the packaging. Check out Art-of-Life's excellent 2-disc set of Lenny Breau's "Living Room Tapes" for more representative Breau.

Another Great LB Release from Art of Life Records.......2004-11-18

Another real treat from ALR this one featuring Lenny early on his career. Not as polished as their 1963 Kapp recording maybe but full of the same raw, creative energy and Lenny's brilliant guitar work. Francks' approach to jazz vocal improvisation is brilliant and unique and his ad hoc skits are hilarious and still vital after over 40 years. Lenny is with him every step of the way. And speaking of steps, who knew that Lenny once backed a tap dancer as he does on this fascinating recording. Yet another dimension of the greatest guitarist who ever lived. Thanks, ALR!!

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