British guitarist reacts to Leo Kottke's ODDBALL technique and playing!
Вставка
- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- Tonight I'm taking a look at Leo Kottke's slide playing, and then his performance of Oddball!
Original video - • Leo Kottke - Six Strin...
For more, check out my other sites!
www.patreon.com/wingsofpegasus
www.wingsofpegasus.com
wingsofpegasus
Twitter - @wingsofpegasus
Insta - @wingsofpegasusofficial
So happy to see the respect and admiration of Leo Kottke, he's such a wonderful musician, singer and very amusing storyteller. Very humble fellow.
Leo does so much on guitar, I was convinced he had a backup player when I first listened to "6 & 12 String Guitar." An awesome album to acquire IMHO.
👍
That's when he was at his technical peak. Great album. I also love "One Guitar No Vocals" -- a very beautiful album.
Agreed: When I was exposed to Leo as a freshman in college, in 1968, I was also convinced that I was hearing at least 2, & sometimes 3, players at once. Later, I saw him perform live and it was a mind-bending experience. He was, by the way, preceded by Leon Redbone...who I expected to be a bore, but was also tremendous! It's cute to see Leo smiling while he was absolutely ripping the guitar in his early videos...as if to say, "Damn, I'm good". But, if that was the case, one can't fault him because he was (and is) that good! Nice to see Leo still going strong 50 years later. His playing is not as fast or agressive as in 1968. But his playing and timing is still spot on, and he's funny as hell with his story-telling that he intersperses with his playing. As someone else said, he is certainly a national treasure. If you haven't done so, check out the videos from UVM, the only 4 year degree program in fingerstyle guitar. Here's a link to one of the graduates...whom you might think is a mass murderer, then will blow you away with the precision of his playing: FIL...YOU SHOULD REVIEW THIS VIDEO: ua-cam.com/video/8tFN902wH0g/v-deo.html
I was hooked after Time Step. He’s so great live. Really funny guy
He's literally a one man band. "Julie's house" its hard to believe one person is doing all that. AND singing!
I ran sound for Leo in '99. His virtuosity on the Guitar is only HALF of his LIVE appeal. He is a Fantastic story teller/comedian. A very dry wit. Just an all-round entertainer.
I ran FOH for him around the same time at a festival gig and have to completely agree.
I saw him around 2007, it seemed like he forgot he was giving a concert in between songs. It felt like he was having a conversation with a friend, all while making the most incredible sound on his guitar. Then he'd go, oh shoot I'm supposed to be playing a song now, let me do that.
@@Wilbur3 Yep, that's Leo alright. I enjoyed the banter between songs as much as the Music.
Dan Hicks (of Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks fame) was the same way. Always a funny little story. Donovan, too. Leo is graced with otherworldly talent, and it's a blessing to hear his playing. I wonder how many guitar players simply put the instrument down after seeing and hearing him play like he does!
That is so cool! 👍🌞
Have been a fan of Leo Kottke for a long time. His work on 12 string is also amazing! Thanks Fil!
Cool!
I was Leo's road manager for about 3.5 years back in the mid-70s and probably saw 350+ performances. In all this time, I've learned how to play probably more than 50 of his tunes (and also forgotten many!). "Oddball", by far, is the most technically difficult Leo tune that I've ever attempted. I can play it note-for-note somewhat cleanly, at about 75% speed (with Amazing Slowdowner). The other day, I tried to follow along at just 90% speed...it kicked my butt! I was constantly playing catch-up. When I talked to him last year, I told him I'd just learned "Oddball" and he was delighted. He hadn't run into too many people that could play it because the left-hand workout is pretty intense. In fact, he also said that he couldn't play it anymore due to the pressure on his left little finger. I eventually activated my carpal tunnel issues because I practiced close to 6-8 hours a day during the learning process. It took me about a week to get the notes down and now 1.5 years to get to 75% speed! Leo has been my guitar hero since I was 17 back in 1970.
All of us Kottke-ites are insanely jealous of your extensive exposure to his music and "Oddball" charm. I've been a fan for exactly 50 years this month when a friend played "My Feet Are Smiling" at a 1973 Halloween party. No one had heard of him except this friend, but I was the first to ask him, "So who's the other guitarist?" This appears to be a common experience amongst first-time listeners over these 50 years. Have you heard it as well?
@@jefferyroy2566 Mostly, I read it in reviews when the reviewer hadn't seen him before and was blown away by the performance. Also, it wasn't my intention to make you insanely jealous! To this day, I can't believe how lucky I was with that whole experience. It's also very strange to see him now that we are both so much older. We're certainly not the young "kids" who toured together so many years ago!
@@wchphoto My jealously was purposely exaggerated, but is not limited to hearing Leo play live for me in a non-performance setting. I want to see how his mind works as he interacts with people, his music, his dinner, anything to provide some insight into his abilities as a raconteur. Without ever having the pleasure of seeing him live, the legend of his stories has me deeply curious about the kind of artist who titles a busy guitar piece "Vaseline Machine Gun," which sounds straight out of a William Burroughs novel. Seems like the kind of guy who would be fun to hang with in whatever setting works.
@@wchphoto "Insanely" was an international exaggeration to amplify my wish to know the man behind all those great stories and weird quips. Most professional musicians I've known had their share of stories, but none were backed up by the prodigious talent displayed by such a self-effacing person like Leo.
@@jefferyroy2566 Yeah, sorry. That part of my comment was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, a poor attempt at humor! But, you're right about Leo. Nobody can tell a story like he can. Just when you'd think he was meandering and had lost his train of thought, he'd reel you in with the punchline and your jaw would drop! I never got tired of that!
I'm not religious or anything, but Leo Kottke is truly one of the gifted ones touched by a higher power. When one of my friends played the 6 & 12 String Guitar album for me about 50 years ago, I couldn't believe what I was hearing!
Jabberwocky was my home away from home
Never seen you smile so much, Fil, as in the first two minutes of this video. Says it all...
Man, Leo Kottke, Ry Cooder, Pat Simmons, and the other acoustic guys you have shown, I mean they're almost magicians with the acoustic guitar!
The crossroads came to them eh?!
;-)
and then Dylan went electric and pissed everybody off
Have you reviewed Ry Cooder? He has to be worth your attention Fil!
Yeah!
George Lynch deserves a second or even a third review.@@wingsofpegasus
Wow I've never heard of this guy until today. What a talent. I was watching his performance with my jaw on the floor. Thanks Fil
I saw Leo 5 years ago at a small community outdoor pavilion in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. They usually book family events like 50’s cover bands and the local symphony. That one year they got Leo. The community subsidizes the performances. So the tickets were $5. I couldn’t believe it, Leo Kotke live for 5 bucks. And he still plays Oddball in his set.
Wow awesome!
Doug Robertson j
I had the great pleasure of seeing Leo in concert, he is a force of nature and a nice bloke also!
Cool!
1:16 "June Bug." The intro is such a perfect sound description of a beetle hurrying around, tumbling down over a precipice, and carrying on.
I saw Leo in Chattanooga, TN at the Sandbar restaurant/bar in 1995. During one of the songs a waitress came around and was in a normal volume voice saying, "Can I get you another beer, honey?" to a customer right in front of him... Leo stopped show and waited for their conversation to end before saying "Shhhh...." in to the microphone to a round of laughter. The guy is so funny.
It makes me really happy to see a new gen of musicians like you recognize the greatness of the contributions of the great Mr Kottke. Thanks!
Wow Fil, I just gotta say that this video is amazing! I absolutely love watching your channel! Keep up the good work!
Leo's playing is amazing, and it is pretty much impossible to make your guitar sound as good as that.
P.S. I am first! :]
Thanks!
I was fortunate enough to see Leo in person 15-20 years ago. Leo came on stage, examined the audience, played a bunch tunes, then said hello. What a hoot. Fantastic talent to say the least. Thank you Fil!
Leo in the '60's, '70's was inimitable and had astonishing power that started the whole virtuoso-guitarist thing. Check out live album, 'My Feet are Smiling.'
Yeah, had to lose the finger picks, tone it down. Was lucky enough to see him blow the roof off Monterey Convention Center about '77 and then back-to-back shows in a small club in SLO about '92. Same night, two different sets, two different sets of free-association stories.
He even played Bill Graham's Winterland(!)
I first saw Leo Kotke back in the 70s on an old program called "Don Kirshners Rock Concert" anybody out there remember that one? I remember at the time watching it, and knowing that this was completely outside the wheelhouse of my rock and roll teenage mind. At the same time I knew that this was as good as it gets. In my late 20s I picked up a free promotional copy of Leo Kotke . My mind finally caught up to this amazing musician. This is not kids music. Fantastic video and analysis Fil.
Cool!
He just played in our area a few days ago! One of my client's and her husband went to see him, we were just talking about him today!!👍👌 Great choice!!
Cool!
Thankk you for your intelligent and respectful commentary on Leo Kottke's work. Excellent.
Leo was a protege and student of the late fingerstyle master John Fahey -- who is a magical guitarist but a tragic figure. He started the Takoma label and gave many artists their first opportunities -- including Kottke. Leo Kottke impressed Fahey and they worked together several times.
Fahey later became homeless and pawned his guitars. But he made a few comebacks. Never became super famous but renowned guitarists sought him out. Kottke plays in the Fahey tradition has always been great and respectable of Blind Joe Death aka John Fahey.
Never heard of him? Fahey in 2003 was ranked 35th in the Rolling Stone "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." Not too bad.
John Fahey - "Poor Boys Long Way From Home" video (coming up on 889,000 views) is a good sample to start. Live in Germany, and "Desperate Man Blues" married up to a great silent Edison b&w movie reel. These are the songs that inspired Leo Kottke who has brought the Fahey style into the 21st Century.
Some posters have said Fahey played tracked but he didn't have that kind of technology when he was around. Nor did he ever have that kind of money to buy any of that equipment later in his career. I have seen John play live many times -- no one else was on stage, and little to any other electronic equipment was on stage to manipulate or enhance. Fahey's playing was everything you heard. A man alone on stage. Just like Leo Kottke today. No flash, just a guitar player one with his instrument and soul. Fahey also had an incredibly soft touch on the strings and was magical. His interviews are also educational for any guitarist.
I also think there are albums where Fahey plays with Kottke. Good job as usual WOP. Keep it up. Good presentation. Thorough.
Thanks for the info!
Everything I’ve read has indicated that he developed his style after listening to blues musicians and met John Fahrenheit later when he was trying to find a label.
Thank you so much John LaStrada...something new for me to check out!🎼🖤
@@gxtmfa Yes, leo wasn't I would say, influenced by John's playing so much as he was influenced by the american guitar culture that John fostered and wished to cultivate. John always said leo was way out of his league technically haha. I love both guys such legends.
There have been so many great slide guitar players I would put him up there with the all-time best. I can tell by the smile on your face you are loving it. His music makes me smile as well.
Once again Fil, you are on top of players with consummate technique and peerless right and left hand coordination! Check out Leo's cover of Duane Allman's 'Little Martha", which was inspired by Jimi Hendrix in a dream! A sublime combination of 'alternate' melody which makes the informed listener harken to Duane's original.
Thanks!
Leo Kottke was my first live gig, I think in 1973 at Glasgow City Halls. Absolutely astonishing playing. Thanks for a great analysis.
Another excellent choice, Fil❗ 😉. TYSM❗ I loved this one ❗
Thanks!
“Guitar Tourette’s”… what a perfect description. I remember hanging out @ the Armadillo WH, c 1976, no clue who Leo was. Just a silly college girl, but I was about to get schooled. Leo started playing and I was mesmerized by his lightening fingers and the sound! Only had the pleasure that once, but a great performance. Thank you, Fil for this.
Another great video. Cool sliding the timing is awesome really appreciate your breakdowns
Agreed.
👍
Ive been a huge fan since high school in the early 70s. Used to see him at McCabes in Hollywood ...just awesome. Thanks for this Fil
I’ve seen Leo perform dozens of times over the years. He was one of the original gang at Tacoma Records founded by John Fahey. Along with Minnesota’s Peter Lang, Rick Ruskin and the Segovia of Surf, Toulouse Engelhardt they were all masters of both six and twelve string guitar. His best advice for people who want to play the 12 string guitar. “Don’t “.
I saw him once in Charlotte, NC in '98 I think it was. Great performance.
Cool!
Sorry Jeff J but I'm not taking his advice. My advice to anybody wanting to take up the 12 string acoustic is find the most expensive and the most gorgeous hand made 12 string you can and buy it. Just picking one chord will give you hours of pleasure and people will be impressed. That's what I did anyway.
King Robert ... yep. And have the action lowered as low as it can possibly be, without any fret rattle. If the bridge bone is shaved too much the strings will buzz, but fear not. An aluminium shim or two cut from a can the length and width of the bone slot will bring the action back above the buzz. Enjoy!...
Fil, I love to watch that look on your face when you liston to a master like Leo kottke. He is for sure one of finist guitarist of all time. WOW, love it! 🤗🎸🎶🎵🇺🇸
I had the opportunity to see Leo live a few years ago. I expected a fingerpicking monster, and yes, he was all that, but what threw me for a loop was how incredibly nuanced everything sounded. That "tasty" aspect of his playing doesn't always come across when recorded. You suggested it in your analysis (bends/vibrato etc on the melody, while keeping the rhythm going with the other fingers). His live shows are incredibly funny. He intersperses his playing with these hilarious monologues.
Cool!
I first saw Leo Kottke in 1970 or 1971. He was playing at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN. We were poor high school kids who didn't have the money for admission so we climbed in through the bathroom window in the fieldhouse where Leo was performing. We didn't even know who was performing that night but we were absolutely blown away. I immediately scraped together the few bucks i needed to buy his current album. I still have it in my collection and it gets regular playtime. He is a national treasure.
Leo Kottke signed my guitar when I went to one of his concerts as a kid.
You got me yet again,another great player I've never heard of,keep it up Phil.....
Thanks teach... He's a great guitarist..
I love ole' time blues...
On my all finger playing technique . i too stress both hands because of my technique... Like a 100 meter race I'm putting. Down a very physical ability.
His ability is amazing.. Thanks teach...
Those jazz chord shapes mixed in with his lead jam and his base line... He's a true master...
Chord vibrato ... Constantly moving.. Singing chords... Beautiful..
during the late 1970s to late 80s I saw Leo many times across the country. I traveled across the US on many contract issues and if any city I was in I saw that Leo was playing, I found tickets. Always amazed at his techniques that were so original, yet reminded me of numerous southern blues players from the 20s 30s and 40s. Very cool. Thanks for posting. Now I have to pull out a rig and get jamming on this.
No problem!
He's definitely got serious skill and I wonder if he and Tommy Emmanuel ever played together.
He played with Chet Atkins and many other legends.
@@andrew_owens7680 , theres video on YT of Leo playing with Doc Watson as well.
Saw him at Carleton College, Northfield MN, in the late '60s. Never forgot that fantastic concert!
I also had the great pleasure of seeing Leo twice, although I saw him earlier in his career just before and after his first album was released. Yes, his oddball picking technique was incredibly effective, and watching him perform one was amazed at his abilities, nonetheless his wonderful personality. Yet that technique cost him latter when he developed serious tendon problems in his right forearm and he had to change his picking style. He remains a great guitarist and his perseverance and dedication saw him through a major change in technique. A great guy and an inspiration to all musicians.
Cool!
I saw Mr. Kottke in concert when he toured with the late great Michael Hedges. The duets that they played to end the show blew my mind! Especially "Eight Miles High".
Awesome!
Wow, haven't listened to him for awhile. Thanks for reviewing this amazing player. He's kind of in another universe. This really is the definition of amazing.
👍
Just want to say how much I appreciate your analysis. I love knowing how things work, and understanding what I am listening to. I have never had much of an ear for listening to guitar until I heard Leo Kottke around 1975. Though I was drawn to his sound, my tastes in music evolved other ways and have only recently heard him again. I never have had any kind of appreciation for electric guitar (and not so much for rock music either), but I have been listening to your videos for over a month now, listening to the music I grew up with as a youth, and have gained such an appreciation for the guitar in general, what skill sets are involved and how sound/music is produced on the instrument. I knew the names of Chet Atkins, Roy Clark, Glen Campbell, but now I understand what real artists they were. I had recently heard Hendrix’s Star Spangled Banner, and actually liked it, so when I heard your analysis, it made my appreciation even better. Thanks so much for your videos and sharing your knowledge! As a side opinion, you remind me of Leonard Bernstein in the sense of the immense appreciation for whatever music came his way. Knowledge seems to open doors to inclusivity even for what is not one’s preference, with genuine appreciation.
Thanks for the kind words!
Love Leo Kottke and great choices to analyze! I would really enjoy you taking a look at the amazing Mark O’ Conner- best known as one of the world’s best traditional violinists but an equally skilled fingerstyle acoustic guitar player who can still melt faces with any stringed instrument!!!
I saw Mark play violin with Steve Morse and the Dregs on their final album tour to promote Industry Standard, back around 1980 or 81. Seen a couple dozen SMB and Dregs reunion shows since them. Still the hottest, most intense electric live band ever, IMHO.
Leo has flawless technique but also a great sense of melody that keeps it fun and consistently interesting.
👍
On "My Feet are Smiling", a live album in between songs Kottke says, "I'm going to demonstrate one of my favorite techniques. I'm taking a lovely, simple melody and drive it into the ground"
One of the greatest acoustic guitarist around still, got a few of his early vinyl albums that I treasure !
Well done! I've been a fan of Kottke's since the 70's. Saw him live once in a private home whose owners sponsored small intimate concerts. I love his six string playing, but never a fan of the 12 string. Favorites?...."Vaseline Machine Gun" and "Pamiela Brown".
first for technique, second for his dry wit.
👍
Used to be a radio station "KEZX" in Seattle bout 35yrs ago that played all kinds of alternative music and musicians! Got an ear for Leo K way back then! Never seen him play though ti now! Love it!
Just one of the Greats......incredible Playing......thanks Phil
Forgot about Leo K. Thanx for the reminder. Guy did some amazing records. Great voice too.
No problem!
Yeah man. Leo's almost impossible to recreate. When he turns over to his 12 string...well this was an appetizer for the main course in his shows. Thanks Fil.
No problem!
Thanks for this, love this player, and your ability to recognize and describe talent/technique
Thanks James!
Amazing player. Would love to see you do Jose Feliciano.
Thanks!
You truly bring me peace bro.. 💯🎸👊🏻 ty
👍
Real nice analysis of the master guitar player that Leo Kottke is.
There are a number of great players who are rather unique, but Kottke is *completely* unique. There is a kind of Swiss clockwork aspect to how both hands are working, but as you say the sudden bends of notes and chords, and odd wide vibrato or string noises gives different flavors of emotion.
👍
I first saw Kottke in 1970 and he inspired my slide and open tuning playing. Kottke, John Fahey and Jorma Kaukonen are my faves...
Cool!
Jorma is another great!
Leo is great. He's working that slide for sure! (Just a note, I've got a brass slide exactly like that, plus an old straight one, I've had for years). The man is a MONSTER!!! Love to hear a great slide player, he's Great! Said a lot in just a few minutes! I remember yrs ago a few of us were jamming. One spectator asked who was the best guitarist. Of course Jimi, Eric, etc, came up. One guy, who had long red hair & a beard, who was killing it with his finger style, said "Leo Kottke!" (I'd never heard of him.) But I decided to check Leo out. I was amazed! I was 16, so that was around 1973 or so.
Another great analysis! Thanks for sharing! 👍
No problem!
Introduced to Leo a couple of years back. He is an amazing player and has a good sense of humour. Thanks for covering him, maybe do another of his songs.
Ever had a look at a slide guitar player "Dave Hole"? Plays blues but has a sound of his own.
Not yet!
Dave Hole is a monster player! "Short Fuse Blues" and Tickets to Chicago" are my favorites of the half-dozen records of his that I own.
it was a long time ago but i think i saw him at the victoria theater in er, victoria london and was surprised he could play all this stuff live, me and an ex vietnam vet had gone on a road trip around devon and corwall in a vw micro bus with 6 ans 12 string guitar as the main theme on the 8-track. 1970-something i guess.
What a talented guy, loved seeing him live! My first time was the Ozark Music Festival July 19-21, 1974 in Sedalia, MO. Even when the temps were 100-108 everyday w/ not much shade, Leo played for 150-250K barefooted kids in jeans shorts w/ access to all the drugs they could handle or had money to buy. He played for quite awhile & never even complained about his guitar strings being hot from being in the sun. GREAT insight on the insane technique he had & I'm still glad his stroke in '18 didn't totally rob him of his talent. Thumbs up Fil~!
Don't know where you came up with the idea that Leo has ever had a stroke, as he hasn't.
Oh, my WORD- WOW 😮THAT'S incredibly fascinating Blues on the acoustic guitar, he's rocking the slide work 2, 👏 Bravo, Leo gotta get some CDs!
Leo is responsible for the burning, breaking, and destruction of thousands of guitars owned by players who attempted to play at his level of skill.
🤣
Thank you. Very happy you got around to him. His 12 string stuff is life alliterating, too.
No problem!
You could probably do a whole video on his use of alternative tuning. He re-tunes often during concerts while storytelling (funny stuff). I've seen him live so many times I've lost count, starting in the 70's. His take on Little Martha (there's studio and live performances on UA-cam is truly amazing. I've basically worn out my old vinyls. Especially Greenhouse.
The dynamics are fantastic .wow very talented Leo
👍
This just set me on a jag of Listening to Leo Kottke's videos, thanks for directing me his way.
No problem!
You should start playing your own songs, and let us critique you. We want you to progress bro. 👍🏻👍🏻
He already has his own songs. Its just that they're from years ago, but I think Fil still has his rock hard abs and huge biceps and forearms.
Ace :3 he’d get a lot better if we did bro
YEah.
Thanks! Yeah I'll be doing an acoustic version of a track this month, I'd love to get back to writing and recording my stuff but time prevents me at the moment unfortunately. My plan is to raise enough financial support to be able to do music full time, that way rather than teaching all day I can be making music! ☺
Yes,the fans reviewing your songs would be awesome.
I don't play guitar, but you Got what we aficionados love about Leo. At times, especially in his early days, you'd swear there was another guitar in there. You professionals will call it technique, we punters and Leo lovers, call it Magic!
Leo is a Master player, idiosyncratic, love those rhythms and as you stated so accurate.
I happen to LOVE Leo's singing voice. Maybe more than his playing. He is a virtuoso no doubt. And a hell of a nice man.
In the Early 70s I was a huge Kottke fan. He opened at Fredonia State collegefor the Eagles. I stood right in front saw Kottke and left before the Eagles played.
First off, his playing is phenomenal. A friend tried to turn me on to him in the mid 80's and back then I just didn't take to it. I was still in my rock and roll 'phase'. I sure appreciate this kind of playing these days. What really got my attention was your mentioning of his tendonitis...
A couple of years ago I decided I was going to really work on my fingerpicking. Early on I only knew how to do the really basic stuff, no alternate picking. After playing for about 25 years I learned the more 'basic' Travis picking by learning 'Julia' and 'Dear Prudence' from the Beatles' White Album and I got good at that. But I still couldn't do the stuff with the weird timing and could only use my thumb and index finger. I was determined to learn the stuff with the weirder timing and use my middle and ring fingers. I figured 'Never Going Back Again' by Fleetwood Mac was a great song to learn to get started with that. It's not easy re-training the brain to do that after 40+ years of playng, but I was making slow progress. Then my tendonitis that I've had for about 30 years started flaring up, and I realized all that fingerpicking was the culprit. If you've never had that issue it's probably impossible to understand how that can affect your elbow, but it does. Drastically. I ended up giving on that idea and being happy with just doing the more 'basic' stuff'. It's incredibly frustrating when the tenodnitis flares up. The only way I've found to get rid of it is to avoid doing anything that irritates it for a fairly long time. I was really bummed out, I was excited and sure I was going to be adding a whole new element to my playing. Not sure if I could change my technique to allow myself to learn that style, I might have to look into that.
The first piece is a Ry Cooder composition! Big influence on Kottke's slide playing.
I have a book that has a small section about him and gives examples of his unique chords and they do sound great. Even though my skill is nowhere near his level I try to throw them in once in a while. I also noticed how he throws in various styles of music and it still flows together.
Yeah!
What book is that?
@@tommonaghan111 "Guitar A Complete Guide for the Player" I think I bought it at Books a Million for $25. The best guitar book I have ever bought. It has samples of various players, and also introduces a wide range of genres from Pop, Rock, Metal, to Latin and even something I was unfamiliar with called High life. I believe it originated in Africa. Any way I would recommend it to anyone looking for exploring different styles.
Saw Leo back in the early 70s. He is such an amazing player. Plays a lot of 12 string but he has at least one album where he played every song is played on a Gibson J-45. The album is simply called Guitar Music I probably have 9-10 of his albums and they are all good. His style is called American Primitive and another some what similar player of this style is John Fahey.
Cool!
After decades of listening I still get the shivers after the final medley on "My feet are smiling"
How about "Hocus Focus" by Focus. Incredible guitar work.
Already here! ☺
Really enjoyed that! One of the best live performances I ever saw was Leo Kottke on tour with the late, great Michael Hedges. They played one set together and it was awesome. I haven't seen you do an analysis of Michael Hedges, and I'd sure like to. He's often underrated and overlooked, but his talent lives on. Here's one: ua-cam.com/video/YaIN13aDbCc/v-deo.html
Thanks!
Absolutely! I sure do miss MH. You are so fortunate to have seen them both together!
I feel very blessed to have seen it. When Leo had MH join him on-stage, he described their playing together as "Felix the Cat meets Fritz the Cat". I laughed so hard, but it was a perfect description.
Snarky Tart, yes some Michael Hedges would be great !
That's hilarious!
right on, WOG! ...another good one, Fil! Leeeeeoooo!
😂
Telluride bluegrass festival 1998. 9am Sunday morning. Pouring rain. I was asleep in the backseat of my friends Ford SUV when he woke me up. “Cmon man lets go Leo Kottke is playing at 10” I said, “who?” “Just get up, eat a banana and LETs GO!!” We smoked a bowl, left the ladies at the campsite and ran up to the main stage and were treated to an amazing show. That’s the story of my first time seeing Leo Kottke live.
Wow, it's one big surprise. Totally unpredictable... like a guitarist from another planet!
👍
LEGEND
Saw Leo at TCAN in Natick, Mass. this summer. Absolutely astounding musician
Cool!
I saw Leo and Chet Atkins play in San Diego back in the late 80's when I lived out there , by the Bay somewhere, can't remember the name of the venue now, anyway, real personable guy in person, from Minnesota I think, lots of little stories w the music. Always liked his style since I learned of him back in probably 1980, liked his playing
Cool!
I'd be willing to bet that you saw him at Humphrey's by the Bay. If you were as lucky as I was, I saw Leo open for Micheal Hedges (RIP). It was a great evening as I recall. I've seen Leo 5 or 6 times and I just remember how easy he makes it all look. Just a beast.
Django and Les paul had to learn a different style. Leo's playing is so great. Those notes your ears say what was that. Putting on repeat one little section seems different every time. Thanks for your posts.
One of my first guitar heroes! Inspired me to learn how to finger pick. Saw him once long ago, once again last year. Isn't he amazing!?!
Cool!
I saw a guitarist play bottleneck but never from a metal 'slider'. The artist I saw in Houston in the early 1970s used a literal bottleneck filed down from the broken top of a clear glass bottle.
You really have a great variety of genres in your videos. Cool to see so many different styles!
Thanks!
Really enjoyed that. I'm well familiar with Leo and his style, having been listening to him for .... errr, just realised .... 40+ years but your insights were great - eloquent, clear and reverent. Film gives you the angles and lines-of-sight on the fretting and picking but it's hard to beat seeing him live with the seriously dry sense of humour between songs. Are you familiar with Jerry Douglas? I'd love to hear you take us through his technique.
Thanks!
Seen him in concert twice...always a gas. His first tune was Available Space by Ry Cooder.
The second half was Leo's own "JuneBug".
I had the pleasure of seeing LEO twice he wasn’t just a great musician and guitarist, he was a good man with wonderful life stories that he perfectly integrated into his shows with comedy.
Cool!
I saw him twice at Canal Street in Dayton. Very funny. I think he's why I went mostly fingerstyle 20 yrs ago. Joe Maphis, Merle, and Chet, of course, were inspirational, but Leo added a special coolness to fingerstyle playing.
Markm
thank you Randy, yes, it was Humphrey's on the bay, thanks for jump starting my memory on that on
👍👍I collected all of Leo's records when I was a teenager. Still have them.
Cool!
This is really good at showing the thumb work that is involved in various notes from open chords, to Barr chords, etc. As a newer player I always wonder if I’m holding my thumb right or if there’s a easier way to get the notes to sound right plus you can see his arm drop down in order to get the right angles. Very good for my learning. Thanks!
Thanks!
Too Good...great...I had Not So Sound Company throuout the 1980s in Telluride, Colorado. .and did FOH for Leo...!!! My God he's sooo great...Al DiMeola and Leo are THE best!!!
Thanks for this video. I remember Pat Metheny raving years ago about Leo Kottke's talent .
No problem!
thanks for the review. I attempted to learn oddball years ago...and I still have some fragments i can play...lol but a really tough piece for anyone. (I learned perhaps 40% of it but it was fun!)
In the early 70's, after a concert of almost 2 1/2 hours, we invited Leo to our house for an after hours party. It lasted into the wee hours of the next day. He played straight for over 7 hours that night. The point of my story is that he told me that most people miss the bottleneck technique by not applying the index finger of the left hand as a mute to achieve the clear sound without the rattle, also that the power and control start with the left middle back muscles. Ironic that his right hand attack led to his later problems. For what it's worth, I still think Joe Pass and Leo Kottke are the greatest guitarists of my lifetime. Thanks for your work.....
Cool! No problem!
I remember one of my friend's reaction when I said watch this guy play.
So he was watching and listening looked at me now and then finally just
hanged his head down and slowly shook it. He looked at me with obvious
disbelief on his face and was describing with reverence what Leo was doing.
😂👍
I seen him twice. I guesss I should seen say twice live. He tells stories too because he tells good stories fact!! Any questions?
I have been fascinated with Kottke’s “ Vaseline Machine Gun” great guitarist!
👍