Albert Lee up close

Rodrigo · June 13th, 2008, 05:45 PM

The other day I had the immense privilege to see Albert Lee at a gig in the Swan Hotel in Leek, Staffordshire. I've seen him once before @this venue- it's so small it's like having a concert in your living room!

Anyway Albert was so close I could see every move he was making with his hands on that MusicMan neck. One thing struck me right away: I was expecting him to do mind-boggling displays of technique, altered scales and piles of jazz chords. But there was none of this. A lot of the chords he used,esp, were just the bog standard ones we all use. The difference is the way he uses them. I realised what I was watching was the product of years of experience, not hours of studying books on scales! By the way, this was the one of the first gigs Albert played after recovering from a broken arm-it didn't seem to slow him down any! V.nice bloke too if you ever get to meet him

e-merlin · June 13th, 2008, 05:47 PM

What an experience! Thanks for the report.

T-bone Tone · June 13th, 2008, 06:13 PM

You hit the nail on the head, there. A really great guitarist/musician can play wonderfully for an audience with 3 or 4 basic chords and riffs. I teach, and many of my younger pupils are obsessed with speed and complication for the hell of it. Understandable, I suppose, we've all been that age, us oldsters, but I try and explain to them that Hendrix, as an example, could play a relatively simple lick with devastating technique and feel, honed by years of practice and working his way up on the circuit.

It is one of the great things about the guitar; it can be played a la Satriani/Vai super-shred, or incredible jazz comping, or a three chord blues straight up, and - played just right - it sounds sublime.

I saw Albert Lee many, many years ago when I went to see the fabled Eric Clapton for the first time in around '79/'80 at Newcastle City Hall. He played 'Country Boy' and blew the drug and booze fuddled Clapton off the stage....easily. It was a sad day for Clapton who has recovered from those days, thankfully (now, I would ask for my money back: he was that bad) but opened my eyes to Albert Lee.

mellecaster · June 13th, 2008, 10:55 PM

Albert is the King of Fluid pull-offs and Hammer-ons....and not the least bit afraid of position changes.......

Michaell · June 13th, 2008, 11:30 PM

he sure tore it up on that latest Crossroads video

great talent

ml

Steve G · June 14th, 2008, 09:11 AM

Rodrigo, welcome to the forum from Leek!
Missed Albert last time but see him at the swan couple of years back. Youre right, great place to see a great player. Gerry Hogans pretty cool too.

Rodrigo · June 14th, 2008, 09:20 AM

I've just realised, I may have given the impression that I was criticizing Albert's playing as simplistic - far from it!

. I guess the analogy I was trying to make is that Albert-and other great musicians-are like slight of hand magicians: they give the illusion of doing something amazing, and it is to our ears, but often using simple devices.

Steve G · June 14th, 2008, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodrigo

I've just realised, I may have given the impression that I was criticizing Albert's playing as simplistic - far from it!

. I guess the analogy I was trying to make is that Albert-and other great musicians-are like slight of hand magicians: they give the illusion of doing something amazing, and it is to our ears, but often using simple devices.

i know just what you mean,

my friend said of Albert (and he's played with him) "his hands hardly move and out come all these notes.."

Rodrigo · June 14th, 2008, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve G

Rodrigo, welcome to the forum from Leek!
Missed Albert last time but see him at the swan couple of years back. Youre right, great place to see a great player. Gerry Hogans pretty cool too.

Thanks Steve-was that the same gig I saw were they had the problem with the sound mix? Thankfully this was much improved this time around. Yes,Gerry's pretty tidy on lead guitar aswell!

Flat357 · June 14th, 2008, 09:47 AM

Good to hear he's recovered

bluetele54 · June 14th, 2008, 05:07 PM

...I was once in Freebo's band (Freebo being Bonnie Raitt's bass player very early in her career),and we played a series of gigs in the greater Los Angeles area,where we all live...Freebo hired Albert to be the guest guitar player for the gigs (Albert also played on a few tracks on his solo Cd,so his musical relationship/friendship with Freebo was well established)...our first rehearsal was a gas,and when we got to Albert's feature,"Country Boy",he was handing out solo's,and given that I play guitar,he looked to me,and I respectfully,and laughingly said,"no,fxxking way!!!",as the song is perfectly suited for his way of playing,and I was most pleased with simply playing solid rhythm...his right-hand technique is soooo fluid,and I believe he uses a pick along with his 3rd,4th,and 5th(pinkie)fingers...Albert's a very sweet man,and the last gig we played was several days after my father died,and when he learned of this,he made a point of offering his most heartfelt condolences...Freebo later used John Hall as guest guitarist,and you could tell (from his conversations and demeanor) he was beginning to gear up for a serious run for Congress,which he did,and won...Congressman Hall is one heckuva guitarist as well...

Martinussen · June 14th, 2008, 05:57 PM

Albert Lee is one of my favorite pickers. I saw him and Hogan's Heroes in concert a couple of years back, and I too tried to spot some tips and tricks, but his fingers moved too fast.

BTW, there should be a new Albert & HH CD (Like This) released this summer, and he should be working on a new solo CD for Sugar Hill.

Also check the new biography 'Country Boy' by Derek Watts. That could be some interesting summer reading.

Rodrigo · June 14th, 2008, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martinussen

Albert Lee is one of my favorite pickers. I saw him and Hogan's Heroes in concert a couple of years back, and I too tried to spot some tips and tricks, but his fingers moved too fast.

BTW, there should be a new Albert & HH CD (Like This) released this summer, and he should be working on a new solo CD for Sugar Hill.

Also check the new biography 'Country Boy' by Derek Watts. That could be some interesting summer reading.

I got the new cd @the Swan gig-special pre-release bonus

. v.good it is too. They did have the biography on sale but it was £30.00

Unseen · June 16th, 2008, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve G

i know just what you mean,

my friend said of Albert (and he's played with him) "his hands hardly move and out come all these notes.."

Economy of motion is one of the hallmarks of great playing and an often unspoken secret of the faster players as well.

boris bubbanov · June 16th, 2008, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodrigo

By the way, this was the one of the first gigs Albert played after recovering from a broken arm-it didn't seem to slow him down any!

Very pleased to hear that fall didn't set him back, very pleased indeed.

And certainly no explanations necessary; we knew just what you meant. And it just makes me feel all the sorrier for myself as a guitarist, actually, in that the basics are all that are required.

J. Hayes · June 16th, 2008, 01:02 PM

at a large theater. The show was all guitarists and sponsored by some tobacco company or something like that. The headliner was Chet Atkins along with Leo Kottke, Lee Ritenour, and a couple of lesser known players whose names I can't remember now. Albert was also on the bill and proceeded to steal the entire show. They each did their own little set and then they'd do little ensemble pieces playing with each other in various configurations. I remember that they were all on stage together at one point and Lee Ritenour was doing a heavy blues rock piece and he really had it going and he turned to Albert to take a solo and Albert immediately brought down the house. He quietly and unassumingly took over the stage with his mastery of the instrument. To my surprise Ritenour started applauding Albert also, I don't think he realized how well Albert could actually play. When Albert took his solo it wasn't at all what someone would expect of a "country" picker. His playing fit the tune as well as anything Lee R. had played and maybe even better. I was dissapointed by Leo Kottke. It seemed that everything he played solo was missing something. It was like it was meant to be a rhythm part for some other guitarist to solo over.

I was amazed at Chet Atkins "laid back" demeanor and playing. When playing with other guitarists I knew he could blow 'em away but he was so dang tasty with what he did. Albert Lee was mostly the same and was blazing when it was needed. He's truly a guitarist that plays for the song..........JH in Va.

Rodrigo · June 16th, 2008, 02:58 PM

I'd just like to thank everyone at this point for posting their Albert stories here-they make fascinating reading!

Del Pickup · June 16th, 2008, 07:40 PM

I saw Albert twice in the early 80's when he was playing with EC and he was a fantastic foil for EC's blues style. They complimented each other very well.

I've seen footage of him over the years and he never fails to make me feel glad that I've focussed on the blues style of minimalistic playing rather than the faster country picking style cos I'd never get anywhere close to his technique!

But, if he actually doesn't move his fingers much and still make the notes come tumbling out then I guess there's still hope for my minimalistic tendencies yet!

June 13th, 2008, 05:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rodrigo NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stoke on Trent, U.K Posts: 8	Albert Lee up close The other day I had the immense privilege to see Albert Lee at a gig in the Swan Hotel in Leek, Staffordshire. I've seen him once before @this venue- it's so small it's like having a concert in your living room! Anyway Albert was so close I could see every move he was making with his hands on that MusicMan neck. One thing struck me right away: I was expecting him to do mind-boggling displays of technique, altered scales and piles of jazz chords. But there was none of this. A lot of the chords he used,esp, were just the bog standard ones we all use. The difference is the way he uses them. I realised what I was watching was the product of years of experience, not hours of studying books on scales! By the way, this was the one of the first gigs Albert played after recovering from a broken arm-it didn't seem to slow him down any! V.nice bloke too if you ever get to meet him

June 13th, 2008, 10:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
mellecaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,698 17 Photos	Albert is the King of Fluid pull-offs and Hammer-ons....and not the least bit afraid of position changes....... __________________ I have never owned an Ipod or Blackberry..and doubt that I ever will......

June 13th, 2008, 11:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
Michaell Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: on the bus Posts: 667	thanks he sure tore it up on that latest Crossroads video great talent ml __________________ this space intentionally left blank

June 14th, 2008, 09:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
Steve G Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: LeeK (England) Posts: 1,727 60 Photos	Rodrigo, welcome to the forum from Leek! Missed Albert last time but see him at the swan couple of years back. Youre right, great place to see a great player. Gerry Hogans pretty cool too. __________________ "He was a drinkin' man with a guitar problem..." http://www.myspace.com/stevegiddings http://www.myspace.com/hiandlonesome

June 14th, 2008, 09:47 AM	#10 (permalink)
Flat357 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cheshire Age: 40 Posts: 2,913	Good to hear he's recovered __________________ Homepage http://www.soundclick.com/members/de...member=flat357 MySpace http://www.myspace.com/flat357

June 13th, 2008, 06:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
T-bone Tone Banned Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle, England Posts: 321	You hit the nail on the head, there. A really great guitarist/musician can play wonderfully for an audience with 3 or 4 basic chords and riffs. I teach, and many of my younger pupils are obsessed with speed and complication for the hell of it. Understandable, I suppose, we've all been that age, us oldsters, but I try and explain to them that Hendrix, as an example, could play a relatively simple lick with devastating technique and feel, honed by years of practice and working his way up on the circuit. It is one of the great things about the guitar; it can be played a la Satriani/Vai super-shred, or incredible jazz comping, or a three chord blues straight up, and - played just right - it sounds sublime. I saw Albert Lee many, many years ago when I went to see the fabled Eric Clapton for the first time in around '79/'80 at Newcastle City Hall. He played 'Country Boy' and blew the drug and booze fuddled Clapton off the stage....easily. It was a sad day for Clapton who has recovered from those days, thankfully (now, I would ask for my money back: he was that bad) but opened my eyes to Albert Lee.

June 14th, 2008, 09:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
Rodrigo NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stoke on Trent, U.K Posts: 8	I've just realised, I may have given the impression that I was criticizing Albert's playing as simplistic - far from it! . I guess the analogy I was trying to make is that Albert-and other great musicians-are like slight of hand magicians: they give the illusion of doing something amazing, and it is to our ears, but often using simple devices.

June 14th, 2008, 05:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
bluetele54 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: valley village Age: 55 Posts: 1,473	..."our guest guitarist,Mr. Albert Lee"... ...I was once in Freebo's band (Freebo being Bonnie Raitt's bass player very early in her career),and we played a series of gigs in the greater Los Angeles area,where we all live...Freebo hired Albert to be the guest guitar player for the gigs (Albert also played on a few tracks on his solo Cd,so his musical relationship/friendship with Freebo was well established)...our first rehearsal was a gas,and when we got to Albert's feature,"Country Boy",he was handing out solo's,and given that I play guitar,he looked to me,and I respectfully,and laughingly said,"no,fxxking way!!!",as the song is perfectly suited for his way of playing,and I was most pleased with simply playing solid rhythm...his right-hand technique is soooo fluid,and I believe he uses a pick along with his 3rd,4th,and 5th(pinkie)fingers...Albert's a very sweet man,and the last gig we played was several days after my father died,and when he learned of this,he made a point of offering his most heartfelt condolences...Freebo later used John Hall as guest guitarist,and you could tell (from his conversations and demeanor) he was beginning to gear up for a serious run for Congress,which he did,and won...Congressman Hall is one heckuva guitarist as well...

June 14th, 2008, 05:57 PM	#12 (permalink)
Martinussen Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Denmark Age: 40 Posts: 384	Albert Lee is one of my favorite pickers. I saw him and Hogan's Heroes in concert a couple of years back, and I too tried to spot some tips and tricks, but his fingers moved too fast. BTW, there should be a new Albert & HH CD (Like This) released this summer, and he should be working on a new solo CD for Sugar Hill. Also check the new biography 'Country Boy' by Derek Watts. That could be some interesting summer reading. __________________ Danish? Ain't that sumthin' ya eat?

June 16th, 2008, 01:02 PM	#16 (permalink)
J. Hayes Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. Posts: 968	I saw Albert some years back in Virginia Beach...... at a large theater. The show was all guitarists and sponsored by some tobacco company or something like that. The headliner was Chet Atkins along with Leo Kottke, Lee Ritenour, and a couple of lesser known players whose names I can't remember now. Albert was also on the bill and proceeded to steal the entire show. They each did their own little set and then they'd do little ensemble pieces playing with each other in various configurations. I remember that they were all on stage together at one point and Lee Ritenour was doing a heavy blues rock piece and he really had it going and he turned to Albert to take a solo and Albert immediately brought down the house. He quietly and unassumingly took over the stage with his mastery of the instrument. To my surprise Ritenour started applauding Albert also, I don't think he realized how well Albert could actually play. When Albert took his solo it wasn't at all what someone would expect of a "country" picker. His playing fit the tune as well as anything Lee R. had played and maybe even better. I was dissapointed by Leo Kottke. It seemed that everything he played solo was missing something. It was like it was meant to be a rhythm part for some other guitarist to solo over. I was amazed at Chet Atkins "laid back" demeanor and playing. When playing with other guitarists I knew he could blow 'em away but he was so dang tasty with what he did. Albert Lee was mostly the same and was blazing when it was needed. He's truly a guitarist that plays for the song..........JH in Va. __________________ Ralph Mooney rules!!

June 16th, 2008, 02:58 PM	#17 (permalink)
Rodrigo NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stoke on Trent, U.K Posts: 8	I'd just like to thank everyone at this point for posting their Albert stories here-they make fascinating reading!

June 16th, 2008, 07:40 PM	#18 (permalink)
Del Pickup Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 590 5 Photos	I saw Albert twice in the early 80's when he was playing with EC and he was a fantastic foil for EC's blues style. They complimented each other very well. I've seen footage of him over the years and he never fails to make me feel glad that I've focussed on the blues style of minimalistic playing rather than the faster country picking style cos I'd never get anywhere close to his technique! But, if he actually doesn't move his fingers much and still make the notes come tumbling out then I guess there's still hope for my minimalistic tendencies yet!