Leo Kottke (born September 11, 1945) is an American acoustic guitarist. He is known for a fingerpicking style that draws on blues, jazz, and folk music, and for syncopated, polyphonic melodies. He has overcome a series of personal obstacles, including partial loss of hearing and a nearly career-ending bout with tendon damage in his right hand, to emerge as a widely recognized master of his instrument. He resides in the Minneapolis area with his family.
Focusing primarily on instrumental composition and playing, Kottke also sings sporadically, in an unconventional yet expressive baritone described by himself as sounding like "geese farts on a muggy day". In concert, Kottke intersperses humorous and often bizarre monologues with vocal and instrumental selections from throughout his career, played solo on six and twelve string guitars.
I love Leo Kottke.
Miss you so much, Cynaera...
this is sweet music...
I love Leo Kottke.
sweet stuff... love it...
A true tale, lads and lassies. I was at a concert many years ago at an outdoor venue - the Lorelei, on the Rhine river in Germany.
[...]
One could see the flames miles away from the Rhine. Jefferson Starship booted Grace Slick from the band, as they were a bit peeved at losing all their instruments due to her "medical issue".
So when I hear Leo, I think of this, in addition to him being a great guitarist.
Wow. Here's an insider's detailed story of the incident: https://web.archive.org/web/20170729094905/http://starship.lu/E78/78creem.html
I love this Kottke track, a bit less frenetic than much of his work. He's great whether fast or slow. Check out The Ice Field, from when he had to change his method of playing -- because he was actually hurting his hands!
I hear you.
I've seen him publicly admit his singing is less than good at several shows. He doesn't sing much but I think he feels he's earned the right by touring so much. His audience generally just laughs it off as part of the show.
Am pretty sure he refered to his voice as "geese farting in the wind" but I don't wanna hear him sing I wanna watch him play, the guy is and has been amazing for years and it is taking toll on his body, he does have a great sense of humor nope it was "geese farting on a muggy day" but I was close I had slept since then
I remember a mate describing Mr Kottke as Mr plasticine fingers back 1977. We were both in grade 12 at the time.
zitter...a new model of electron that incorporates schroedingers qualitative 'zitterbewegung' concept into a fully specified interacting particle model. the zitter electron is a lightlike charged particle with intrinsic spin that maintains it in a helical spacetime path with curvature and frequency determined by the electron mass............
what he was playing is called a zither
It’s a twelve string guitar. Zither is a different instrument akin to a dulcimer.
I love Leo Kottke.
That's interesting, I never knew that about Leo (tuning his guitar) — I agree with you that his sound is distinctive. I love him too! Glad I had the chance to see him perform live — summer concert on the Seattle waterfront back in the 90's.
Been down two time...
Never goin' back again...
Not.. Even... Close.
There is so much more going on in this song.
I like.
A true tale, lads and lassies. I was at a concert many years ago at an outdoor venue - the Lorelei, on the Rhine river in Germany. This is the famous section of the river in which legend had it that a maiden would sing to ships and they would follow her voice, doomed to hit the rocks and sink. The headliners were Jefferson Starship, with Atlanta Rhythm Section right before them. There were a number of bands at these outdoor concerts, which usually ran all day and well into the night.
First up was a couple German bands, and they did a fine job. Then Leo Kottke, and he was good as always. The crowd knew that after Leo, the hard rock would begin, so they began getting into the proper frame of mind. When Leo finished, an announcer came on stage to tell the crowd there was a "small problem". Atlanta Rhythm Section never was under contract, and Grace Slick was "ill", and Jefferson Starship cancelled. "So it's over now; see you later".
The crowd thought about that, and made the decision to first cut loose with a volley of bottles and cans. When the ammunition was exhausted, they stormed the gates of the Bastille. The speakers were piled up and set aflame, the instruments were hauled off, and the scene was bedlam for hours. The police let it go, figuring that as long as just property damage was occurring, let it work itself out. I still have pictures of people hauling out pianos and guitars.
One could see the flames miles away from the Rhine. Jefferson Starship booted Grace Slick from the band, as they were a bit peeved at losing all their instruments due to her "medical issue".
So when I hear Leo, I think of this, in addition to him being a great guitarist.