Lee Ritenour Revisits his Biggest Sessions
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- čas přidán 18. 05. 2024
- Lee Ritenour is one of the most accomplished and technically proficient guitarists in the world, whose solo career, as a Jazz guitarist, has largely overshadowed his extensive session career. Ritenour played guitar on countless hit records (The Wall, Aja, Saturday Night Fever, and more). Today, we’re sitting down with Lee to reflect on some of his biggest sessions, talk guitar gear, and hear what it was like recording guitar for the world’s biggest artists of the 1970s and 80s.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
00:00 INTRODUCTION
03:17 Lee’s Work with The Brothers Johnson
08:44 Lee’s Strings of Choice
10:13 Revisiting “Strawberry Letter 23”
11:51 The Gear Lee Used for The Brothers Johnson Session
16:03 Lee’s Guitar Work on “Deacon Blues” by Steely Dan
19:07 Sweetwater Gear Exchange
20:09 Revisiting “Deacon Blues”
22:30 Lee’s work with the Beegees
26:39 Lee’s NEW record: Brasil
27:21 Revisiting “Saturday Night Fever
29:31 Lee’s First Hit Song
30:44 Lee Recording the “Give Me The Night” Solo
41:58 The Vertex Effects Ultraphonix Overdrive
43:09 Revisiting “Give Me The Night”
46:01 Lee’s work with Pink Floyd
52:17 Revisiting “Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2
56:34 Revisiting “Comfortably Numb”
58:52 Strange Story from a Barbara Streisand Session
01:03:31 Lee’s Work with Barry White
01:08:03 Lee’s work with the Pointer Sisters
01:10:55 Revisiting “I’m So Excited”
01:13:00 The Gear Lee used During his Session Career
01:26:43 How Lee Ritenour Saved Steve Lukather’s Career
01:32:26 How Lee’s New Album “Brasil” Came to Be
01:36:13 Thanks for Watching!
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CREDITS
Host/Producer: Mason Marangella
Guest: Lee Ritenour
Videographer: Ricky Chavez
Video Editing: Mason Mejia
Co-Production/Design: Mason Mejia
Audio Editing: Hunter Harrison
#leeritenour #pinkfloyd #steelydan #theguitaristbehind - Hudba
TABLE OF CONTENTS
00:00 Intro
03:17 Lee’s Work with The Brothers Johnson
08:44 Lee’s Strings of Choice
10:13 Revisiting “Strawberry Letter 23”
11:51 The Gear Lee Used for The Brothers Johnson Session
16:03 Lee’s Guitar Work on “Deacon Blues” by Steely Dan
19:07 Sweetwater Gear Exchange
20:09 Revisiting “Deacon Blues”
22:30 Lee’s work with the Beegees
26:39 Lee’s NEW record: Brasil
27:21 Revisiting “Saturday Night Fever
29:31 Lee’s First Hit Song
30:44 Lee Recording the “Give Me The Night” Solo
41:58 The Vertex Effects Ultraphonix Overdrive
43:09 Revisiting “Give Me The Night”
46:01 Lee’s work with Pink Floyd
52:17 Revisiting “Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2
56:34 Revisiting “Comfortably Numb”
58:52 Strange Story from a Barbara Streisand Session
01:03:31 Lee’s Work with Barry White
01:08:03 Lee’s work with the Pointer Sisters
01:10:55 Revisiting “I’m So Excited”
01:13:00 The Gear Lee used During his Session Career
01:26:43 How Lee Ritenour Saved Steve Lukather’s Career
01:32:26 How Lee’s New Album “Brasil” Came to Be
01:36:13 Thanks for Watching!
Mason, you should've asked him if he's coming back to join FourPlay once more.
You were geeking out Mason. 😁 I can't say I blame you, I would've been doing the same. Truly my guitar hero, but even I didn't have a clue just how present he was in my life of music. He was e-ver-y-where.
Great interview!
Incredible interview! When I saw it was over an hour long I figured I would watch for 20-30 min. You did a great job with your prep work. I think Lee was having fun as well. I can’t tell you how enjoyable that Hour and a half was! Thank you! 😊
@@nuthinbutlove thanks for watching!
These interviews are absolutely legendary. The amount of preparation and attention to detail from Mason and the team is second to none. Brilliant work!
Wow, thanks so much Ben! It's a labor of love for sure! I'm so glad you appreciate it!
Just discovered with these interviews
So good 👍🏽👍🏽
Lee Ritenour is not only a great guitarist; he's a very fine human being.
exactly
❤️ Thanks for watching!
This man is one of the most respected but least known guitarist of this age IMO ❤ He is clearly a musician’s musician ~
❤ thanks for watching!
I don't know about least known.
Lee was one of the best known jazz-fusion guitar players in the 70's and 80's, and has maintained popularity to this day. He has headlined many jazz festivals all over the world, and is very popular in Asia like Japan, Korea and Indonesia.
If you are comparing him with rock/pop stars like Eddie Van Halen or Clapton, of course he is less known, but that's a wrong comparison.
@@user-dz3ie5me2t exactly
He is well known by guitarist, especially people following jazz…
Outside of those circles, he hasn’t been given enough credit IMO.
The great Captain Fingers! Lee can't stop noodling, even when he's not paying attention. And even then, he's playing better than us all. A true master! 🔥🙏🏻🔥🙏🏻🔥
The best compliment I can think of for Lee Ritenour is that he is the type of human we should aspire to, not because he is a music legend or a successful individual but because his humanity and humility, God bless your soul Lee and thanks for the joy you have brought to the world .
Well said!
Pure gold this interview!!!!!
❤️ Thanks for watching!
Mason, I like the way you conduct your interviews in a professional and profound way. In your interviews, the guest gets to speak (which is not the case everywhere).
What's so nice about the Internet is that I learn so much personal information in the videos from musicians whose LPs I listened to 40 and 50 years ago. Lee is definitely one of them. Big thanks to everyone who makes these videos possible. It's a cultural and historical legacy.
Glad you enjoy it!
Excellent interview.
Just a note.
The Bee Gees were born in the Isle of Man (UK)
They lived in Chorlton. Manchester UK. Before moving to Australia.
Great channel guys 😎
Thanks for that!
Lee “ Mighty Mouse ” Ritenour. Here I am to save the day! Pulling it off one after another. Love you, man
God, I love this channel. Very rare that these kinds of interviews are done so well. Excellent guest choices too. Can't wait for more!
Glad you like them!
Lee is a total class act. Great interview. Thanks 👏🏾👏🏾
❤ thanks for watching!
Lee and I were with Duke Miller at the same time in the early sixties. Duke was an excellent teacher but it was different in those days and Duke demanded that students be able to read music. I stuck with it and he put me in a trio and got us our first gig at the Hollywood Teenage Fair in 1965. I'm not sure if Lee was in the trio 'cause my memory is kind of fuzzy. By the time Valley Arts started I was already studying with Ted Greene at Ernie Ball guitars in Tarzana. I have to hand it to my mother for finding the two best guitar teachers in the L.A. area for me: Duke Miller and Ted Greene. Guitar and music has been a life long journey and I'm still on that bus.
❤ thanks for watching and sharing this story!
What a wonderful and interesting interview. It's one of the best I've ever seen... thank you for the inspiration.
Wow, thank you!
As a fellow guitarist I’ve always had great respect for Lee’s great talent. Nice guy too.
Couldn't agree more!
Great interview, I could do without the commercial though, but I guess it's part of the deal.
I like that video because even if I know that Lee did it all as studio session player, I know him more because his amazing solo career, so it's great to revisit his life as session player.
PS : as drummer I had the huge honour to work/tour with Lee, a real dream that to became reality.
Roger, that's the cost of doing business and producing these things. Because we're using the original music, we don't have any other way to recoup the thousands of dollars in expenses to fly to LA, hire a crew, and edit the video without the help of sponsors. I try to keep it appropriate to either gear that the player being interviewed uses, or that we manufacture ourselves. It could be worse, if money were the only objective in a sponsorship selection, you'd be hearing ads for erectile disfunction and online therapy.
I didn’t mind the commercial parts at all since they are woven in in a natural way and as an extension of what came up during the interview. More of an updated elaboration than hard selling. The YT adds normally p..ss me off but this is done tastefully. Excellent interviewing style that comes from deep knowledge and great passion. Well done!
@@VertexEffectsInc Yeah don't get me wrong, I totally understand the economic system of the whole stuff, great video nonetheless.
Rit was not only a rising Trailblazing guitarist, He was also head of the Strings Dept at USC Late 70's early 80's
❤️ Thanks for watching!
This interview is pure gold man, Lee the master of the good groove in session. Thanks for sharing Bro!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Lee should be plugged in playing along live. Great interview Mason!👍
Not up to me unfortunately but glad you enjoyed the video nonetheless!
The outro sounds like Lee the plinkety plunk sound on Deacon Blues! Never knew Lee played on the Night fever track! So versatile!
❤️ Thanks for watching!
Lee is SUCH a class act--even without a guitar in his hands.
❤️ Thanks for watching!
So glad I caught him live with Dave Grusin in London UK a few years ago. And it was sold out! Goes to show the respect he greatly deserves.
Lee what a amazing player ,listened to all his work through the years
❤ thanks for watching!
Lee is such a great guy.
One of the best!
I like Strawberry letter 23 a lot and could never imagine that Lee Ritenour played that part. Another great story!
You have got to check out Lee on Norman Connors Stella
Will do! ❤️ Thanks for watching!
Another great interview with these studio legends. What a nice cool guy Lee is. Well done!
❤️ Thanks for watching!
Finest you are Mr Lee Ritenour… in Spirit and that Embracing Music within .. Thank you Sir ☺️🙏🏽❤️
❤️ Thanks for watching!
Seeing Lee live back n day one the millions of highlights of my life
❤ thanks for watching!
I grew up on his 1979 Rio Album.
He is a very talented and prolific musician. Thank you for sharing,
Thank for interview all my favourite players, you and Rick Beato should do a program together!!!
I'm sure I'm too below his stature for us to be together on something!
Great Interview , really enjoyed it . Just to point out though the Bee Gee's are actually British [ they were born on the Isle of Man ] which is between Ireland and England , they then lived in Manchester , not emigrating to Australia until I think they were in their teens .
❤️ Thanks for watching! Thanks for adding those details!
I never knew how much a part of my life, from the 70s until now, Lee has been.. Quite the revelation, I didn't know any of these things you are covering in these videos.. Thanks for the hard work and great presentation! This is some of the finest material on CZcams...
Great guitar player and innovating too since the 70's, when I listened to for the first time in records of course.
❤️ Thanks for watching!
MUCH more interesting than I thought it would be. Not because Ritenour isn’t interesting enough as a player or solo artist, but a great storyteller, and of course the interviewer prep and vibe.
Really great. Unexpectedly great. Thank you.
❤️ Thanks for watching!
Amazing! Loved hearing Lee's stories. I too had the privilege of studying with Duke Miller (way after Lee). He was an incredibly kind man. An amazing guitar teacher. Thanks!
❤ thanks for watching!
Great interview! Lee is amazing, what a career and what a talent. Thanks for doing this, keep 'em coming please.
More to come!
Saw Pat Martino and Lee play together in Tokyo just before Pat passed away. I never knew about Lee’s past as a session player, thankyou for the new insight and the interview.
❤️ Thanks for watching!
Awesome awesome interview!!! You gotta love how Lee really liked being interviewed about his session years and his old rigs... just love it!!
Glad you enjoyed it
Fantastic interview!
❤ thanks for watching!
What a great interview. Thought I would pick and choose parts to watch but ended up watching the whole thing. Enjoyed every minute of it. Hearing all the stories about working with the other artists makes one realize how challenging it can be but also cherish the experiences. We saw Lee with Dave Grusin at Yoshi's in Oakland (CA) maybe about 7 years ago. First time to see the two greats playing together. Big thanks for all the interviews you share with us.
Love hearing stories from session players. Theres always so much focus on the star players, but these guys (and girls) are super league level.
Great interview 🙏🏼💜✨
❤️ Thanks for watching!
I just love the way he starts playing he's guitar whilst talking through the interview even though it's not not plugged in, a true musician ❤
❤️
I really want to appreciate the editing here! It's so great when you (editor) put in photos of the things, they are talking about! It brings it so much more to life, if you have am image of the things from the conversation! Thanks!
Thank you so much!!
Mason, thank you so much for these interviews! I was able to meet Lee in the 80s when I was just 19, but he took the time to speak with me after a concert and answer my questions before hopping in the van and taking off. I’ve never forgotten that. Wonderful person. Thank you again, Mason, for all your work in putting these together!
My pleasure!
Kudos Mason!! I got to see Rit with DG back in the 80s and it stands as one of my top 50 shows to date in the jazz catagory. Nice job, you did your homework!!
Lee and Dave Gruisin will be at the New Morning in Paris on Saturday July 13th. I'll be there 😀
❤️ Thanks for watching! Have fun at the show!
Great stuff! Rit is pure class. Looking forward to checking out the new album.
Rock on!
Just a amazing interview and discussion on all this amazing work Lee did
I knew he did amazing session work..
Bee Gees work I didn't know.
His work with Four play is masterpiece and all his Solo albums
❤ thanks for watching!
Thank you and Lee so much for this great interview! Cheers from Rio! 🎵🥁
Glad you enjoyed it!
Lee did more exercise in this interview than me for whole this day!
Amazing talk with amazing man and musician!
❤️ Thanks for watching!
Amazing interview- thank you both!!! Lee is amazing- Earth Run changed my life.
❤ thanks for watching!
Thanks for doing this great interview. It was amazing. I never realized Lee was such a big session player in his time. I only knew him from his solo albums. Great stuff! And yes, 3 days of the Condor was one of those films I used to watch all the time as a kid. Now I need to revisit it to hear Lee's great playing on it.
Ladies and gentlemen…listen again to Lee’s work on Give Me the Night…back to back with Another Brick.
Again, I rest my case.
And again, when he can’t contain his involuntary response in saying “right,” with a smile ear to ear NOT just the solo, but the entire track itself.
Clear as day.
Why Mason am I so obsessed with this? Because it’s one of the most recognized and defining musical passages in the history of music.
It matters.
Used the Eventide Harmonizer in studio…turned my guitar into a freight train.
❤️ Thanks for watching!
This interview is legendary and fantastic! Thank you for interviewing him! ❤🙂
❤️ Thanks for watching!
Big respect for Lee. So humble and positive and just good words for his colleagues.
❤️ Thanks for watching!
Have been listening to Ritenour since the early 80s but never thought of him as one of the real studio cats back in the days until now when I have listen to interviews with Jay, Lukather etc.. He really must be one of the most recorded guitarists ever. Amazing stories and what a great guy he is 😍.
Check out Michael Thompson… he s got to be one of top 5 recorded guitarists
❤️ Thanks for watching!
Wow!! Lee Ritenour was a major influence on my playing. Excellent episode!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I've been a Rit fan since the 80s, seen him live, and listened and listened, still do. No 1 guitarist forever!! Thank you so much!
❤️ Thanks for watching!
Amazing interview thanks for posting
❤️ Thanks for watching!
Thank you for this. Amazing!
Best episode ever. I will probably rewatch this 100+ times. Named my son Robben in honor of my favorite guitarist.
🙏🙏🙏
Wow,i really enjoyed this interview,great job man !
Hey brother,,,,am 65 yr old bass player & I gotta say your guitar interviews are FANTASTIC,,, thank you & keep it up,,,,PS =please throw in some Bass Guys 🎸🤠 from Arkansas.
❤ thanks for watching! Freddie Washington next week!
Fabulous interview!..thanks so much! :-)
❤ thanks for watching!
His face lit up when Luke was mentioned
❤️ Thanks for watching!
I remember hearing a Steelly Dan interview they had alot of guitarist on Peg i have the cd i enjoyed looking at the credits my uncle played there music on vinyl in the late 70s i was hooked good stuff 🎸👍
Rock on!
Dude, I love your professionalism and interviewing skills. I’m one of those guys who likes to geek out about the story of who played what parts on popular songs. It’s absolutely fascinating to hear these unbelievable musicians talk about the details. Thx for bringing it to people like me. I look forward to the next video.
Great interview. I knew Lee was a Jazz artist because I saw him with Fourplay back in the early 90’s. But I didn’t realize he had done sessions or Pop/Rock music until much later on. I actually discovered that when I saw his name as the co-writer of Olivia Newton-John’s sultry hit “Tied Up”. He even did his own version of it in 1982 and it’s also great.
Anyway he’s an amazing guitarist with an incredible resume and he also seems like a really nice guy as well.
The best guitar interviews on YT. Didn’t know Lee before but what a modest musician and inspirational player.
❤️ Thanks for watching! Be sure to check out our other interviews with Session Guitar greats like Lee!
The stuff I've wanted to hear for years!! What a talent. Only a small hand full of guys got to experience what these cats did!! LEGENDARY Cat here!!!!!
Thanks for watching!
Truly a treat. Wonderful stories from a real gentleman who’s among the best of the best. Excellent interview. I dig your pedals too!
Keep up these interviews man!
You all are really doing the lord's work. These legendary stories may otherwise be lost to history and so many legends of the last 100 years of music have already moved on. So lucky to be able to listen to the "tales from the tour bus".
Thanks for watching!
Awesome interview! Thanks Mason... keep 'em coming.
Thanks for watching!
So glad to have discovered LR. His contribution to pop and jazz is legendary. ❤
❤️ Thanks for watching!
my idol,,till this day
Great stuff. Love the Sadowsky. Nice instrument. Thanks Mason. I shared your Dann Huff one with my niece who is just coming up playing in high school.
Awesome! Thank you!
Another GREAT interview Mason !!! I wonder what"s next. Everything on your channel s great.Thank you !
Glad you enjoyed it!
This came out just 13 minutes ago. It's an honor.
❤️ Thanks for watching!
I worked for Lee at Epic at the time we released “The Captain’s Fingers”. The Vocal on that Lp.was done by Bill Champlain. I was very honored to be able to meet Lee in prob 73-74 briefly at CBS in LA. The fellow I was there to meet with was Don Ellis who was an A&R Executive and CBS Artist. He grabbed me as he greeted Lee whispering there’s a Kid that probably makes xxxxxx a Year he is an absolute monster and an unbelievable Artist. This must have been as his Lp was being released. I was a real Champlin fan ( his group the Sons were great). Later his Vocal Tracks (like Is It You)were done by Eric Tag. What a dream job while it lasted.
Thanks for watching!
One of the greatest session guitarist of all time.
Man I can’t wait for this. Killing it Mason!
❤ thanks for watching!
fantastic interview!
Much appreciated!
So fascinating to hear stories about the guitar parts we've been listening to our whole lives !
Thanks for watching!
Gosh, Lee was just running his fingers on the guitar. It’s like part of his body 😂
I remember meeting him long long time ago when he requested to see me as I did a portrait of him. Humble guy and we had a few beers together 😊
Che Ka Che Ka Che Ka….thats his vibe, amazing guitarist 👏
❤️ Thanks for watching!
Rit is definitely playing the muted guitar part that ends Deacon Blues but had no idea some of the fills too. Always assumed that was Carlton
❤ thanks for watching! Yea, that was a surprise for me too!
Probably one of the most versatile guitarists ever.
❤️ Thanks for watching!
Great interview Mason…keep them coming
❤️
My favorite guitarist 🎸🤩🤙🏼❤️🙏🏼
❤️ Thanks for watching!
Can’t wait!
❤ hope you enjoyed!
Cool. Love Strawberry Letter 23....great tune from the Fall of '77. And the solo is the perfect length. Definitely not too long.
Thanks for listening
Really enjoyed this thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
Wow so much talent and history
❤️ Thanks for watching!
Awesome interview
❤️ Thanks for watching!
Wow great interview I love Lee Ritenour one of my favorites jazz artists that I listen to all the time. Wow I never new all this about him although I new he was a session musician many artists started that way great interview.
❤️ Thanks for watching!
Man thanks for this. This was fantastic, and the whole interview I was thinking bout that Luke story in my mind, and the fact that you ended with that was the cherry on top!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Mason, I waited… and I was not disappointed. 🙂 You have a real gift for these types of interviews. Thank you so much! I’m 62 so these guys are a huge part of my soundtrack. In ‘81 there were 6 of us young guitarists taking private lessons with Jon Herington in college and all we talked about was Rit, Larry, Luke, Dann, Dean, Jay… you get the idea. Keep up the great work!
Very cool. I enjoy Jon's content on Truefire. I haven't gotten to see him play with Stelly Dan yet but hopefully I can at some point.
Glad you enjoyed it!
11:27 sounded really distant compared to the original version, but it was really cool to see that it was Lee Ritenour!
Lee Ritenour has been a huge influence in my 65 years life.
I seen him live many times.
Great to hear him talk about his experiences.
Thanks Mason!
❤ thanks for watching!