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.[1]
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 (in Hal Breau's case) 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's mother discussing how Breau developed his interest in the guitar.[2]
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."[2]
