David Gilmour called him to figure out this Pink Floyd solo

[StephenS-]

He's the Dude that the Dude calls when the other Dude can't cut the mustard.

[gerber]

My favorite part was when I got to hear what he played

[tjnugent]

Lee is a legend and we don't hear much about him. Thanks for the content. Excellent!

[stringtheoryguitars]

And fanbois lose their minds! There’s a simple musical explanation: in Rock music, you build a solo to a climax and “end on a high note” (pun intended).
But in this case, Gilmour had already done that and the solo was too perfect to change. BUT there were still 4 bars left. So musically speaking you have to resolve it with tasty phrasing and a melodic motif.

A session player is often faced with these situations, so it was smart to ask Lee for some musical input there.
Especially since Floyd already had the studio blocked out- giving a session player like Lee Ritenour an entire HOUR to experiment was basically guaranteed to yield a great result.

He gave the band several musical ideas to pick from, and they constructed the last 4 phrases based on Lee’s jam.
So relax people, no one is saying Gilmour sux, or Pink Floyd aren’t a great band etc..
When making a landmark album, you have to use every tool at your disposal.
All parties deserve credit for finding a creative solution.

[ob]

Lee performed one of the coolest guitar solos ever, the one in the middle of Strawberry Letter 23 by the Brothers Johnson.

[Sheik__Yerbouti]

Actually makes the "wrong, do it again" more relevant.

[watcherspirit]

Thank you for respecting us enough to present actual, real, live humans.

[alexanderstoner]

This is a gem of guitar history, I so relate with “how to get out of it”. That peddle in D- does feel like it goes on forever. I’ve seen Dave talk about vocally scatting to be free from the tendencies of him and his knowledge of the instrument in pursuit of better music.

[angeloc]

David overheard Lee scolding his children and the song was finished: If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding! How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat!?

[redheadedone]

Love Lee. A down to earth man. Worked a show with him 20 ish years ago...

[mdfens]

Emperor Palpatine playing the long game.

[thecarguy]

David has said in interviews that he has absolutely no quarrels about ringing someone up for ideas or to play a part when he needs a bit of help. I love that he has no big ego.

[coolcat]

I discovered Lee through his work with the Jazz band Fourplay. So I never really thought of him as doing Rock music. But he did indeed have a period, early on, where Pop/Rock was his style. He even did his own version of Olivia Newton John’s hit “Tied Up” which sounded pretty good.

[matbuchanan]

I saw Lee Ritenour and the GRP All Stars at a Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl back in the 80s. Stanley Jordan opened up for them. Also, the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Super dope show ...

[shashankrao]

I just love the stories about how any song was made a sneak peak behind the curtains :)

[ManuelFernandez-hx]

🤦🏻‍♂️— it’s just like John Lennon when he wrote the song in a day life he was stuck and Paul had another song and they put him together ❤❤

[Ray]

Lee does the amazing solo on Bob Segars Night Moves.

[clarencearnold]

Like that they respected him so much. True craftsmen will share advice and ideas

[marvinmurakami]

Saw Lee at the Roxy in the early 80's. Great show with Ernie Watts on sax, Alex Acuna on drums.

[cribrebo]

Lee Ritenour a true phenomenon musician