Boy Wonder (album)


Boy Wonder is a studio album by jazz guitarist Lenny Breau that was recorded in 1956 and released in 1998. The session was engineered and produced by Al Hawkes of Event Records.

History

Breau was 15 years old when these tracks were recorded in 1956. At the time, he was performing with his parents Hal "Lone Pine" Breau and Betty Cody, professional country and western musicians who performed and recorded from the mid-1930s until the mid-1970s. Breau began playing guitar at the age of eight and by the age of fourteen he was the lead guitarist for his parents' band, billed as "Lone Pine Junior". The final track is an interview of Breau discussing how Breau developed his interest in the guitar.

Reception

Writing for Allmusic, critic Dave Nathan wrote in his review: "The title of the album is very accurate; Breau was a "wonder," but still a "boy"; technically very sound, but stylistically undeveloped, vestiges of the country music syndrome are very apparent in his playing... While nowhere as developed as he was to become, this maiden album is a peek at the future... The sound, by the way, is excellent. The Boy Wonder album will be very attractive not only to lovers of the jazz guitar in general and Lenny Breau fans in particular, but to those interested in listening to a great jazz musician as he hones his skills."

Track listing

  1. "I'll See You in My Dreams" – 1:16
  2. "Cannonball Rag" – 1:54
  3. "John Henry" – :52
  4. "Medley 1:" – 2:54
  5. # "Alice Blue Gown"
  6. #"It's a Sin to Tell a Lie"
  7. #"I've Been Working on the Railroad"
  8. "Birth of the Blues" – 1:13
  9. "Correna, Correna" – 1:15
  10. "Medley 2:" – 6:41
  11. #"By the Light of the Silvery Moon"
  12. #" Indiana"
  13. #"Barnyard Frolic"
  14. #"Mr. Sandman"
  15. #"Third Man Theme"
  16. "Sonny's Special" – 2:10
  17. "Side by Side" – 2:31
  18. "Rainbow" – 1:45
  19. "The Blues Doubled" – 2:30
  20. "Speedy Blues" – 1:12
  21. "Blue Echo" – 1:05
  22. "Indian Love Call" – 2:30
  23. "Indian Love Call" – 1:28
  24. "Muskrat Ramble" – 2:10
  25. "Knock, Knock" – 2:08
  26. "Caravan" – 1:27
  27. "Chinatown, My Chinatown" – 1:09
  28. "Dance of the Golden Rod" – :43
  29. "The Waltz You Saved for Me" – 4:09
  30. "Out of Nowhere" – 3:31
  31. "They Say It's Wonderful" – 2:11
  32. "Blue Heartaches" – 2:24
  33. "Blues in Extension" – 7:43
  34. "Speedy Jazz" – 3:15
  35. "September Song" – 2:23
  36. "Betty Cody-Breau / Al Hawkes Interview" – 5:12

    Personnel

Production notes: