# CD review: Arlen Roth – Tele Masters 2019: Video, CD cover

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2019/07/23/cd-review-arlen-roth-tele-masters-2019-video-cd-cover/
- Published: 2019-07-23T12:29:38+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**The Fender Telecaster guitar is the first widely available and viable solid body
guitar. First sold by Leo Fender in 1950 as the Esquire, then the Broadcaster and
finally in 1951 as the Telecaster. The Tele, as it is known, with its clean crystal
clear tone and versatility is iconic and used in every type of music.**

One of the rejected interviews, from a musician who did not have an idea, soul and
intellect, did not understand the content of the questions, we simply did not have
an interesting interview this time and did not want to break the tradition, sorry.

Arlen Roth’s newest guitar summit record _Tele Masters_ is a homage to some of the
past and present Tele six shooters and as such is an important and historic entry
into the oeuvre of guitar-centric recordings.

Arlen Roth is a guitar player’s guitar player. The creator of the widely popular
and influential _Hot Licks_ series of instructional videos and a prolific guitar
journalist, Roth has spent his career not only adventuring through the world of 
guitar music but also teaching others by spreading the gospel. _Tele Masters_ continues
a line of all-star collaborative concept records from _Toolin’ Around_ (1994), _Toolin’
Around Woodstock_ (2007), and _Slide Guitar Summit_ (2015). The goal here for Roth
and Buddy Guy producer/drummer Tom Hambridge (showing his wide versatility) is to
feature all the different ways the Telecaster has been used in Country, Rockabilly,
early Rock and Roll, Jazz, Western Swing and Blues. Quite an undertaking.

Tele Masters is laden with stars who go toe-to-toe with Arlen Roth. Big name Country
royalty Brad Paisley and Vince Gil show that they are both legit string benders 
in spite of their often non-guitar-centric commercial success. Legends Steve Cropper
and Albert Lee input their unique personalities and style while Roth complements
and supports. Guitar cult heroes Bill Kirchen, Jerry Donahue, Johnny Hiland and 
Will Ray have lengthy musical dialogues with Roth that often trim down technique
to pure emotional strength.

Professional Nashville session men Brent Mason and Steve Wariner are given spotlights
to do their thing. Blues star Joe Bonamassa and the enigmatic Merle Haggard guitarist
Redd Volkaert each take Roth and company deep into the heart of the Blues. Roth’s
longtime band mates and collaborators Jack Pearson and pedal steel guitarist Cindy
Cashdollar round out the party with the solid rhythm section of Hambridge, bassist
Tommy MacDonald and acoustic guitarists Bryan Sutton and Billy Panda as the glue
holding this bursting ship together.

The shear force of guitar flash on _Tele Masters_ is overwhelming. If the music 
wasn’t so tastefully produced, well sequenced and well executed it would not work.
The hyperbolic zoom of instrumentals “Remington Ride,” “Bunky,” “Roadworthy” and“
Tuff Tele” are soothed by the hop and vibe of vocal cuts like “White Lightning,”“
I Can Fix It,” “Tennessee Waltz” (sung by Roth’s daughter Lexie Roth) and “Promise
Land” (sung by Roth band mate Sweet Mikey C.). Excellent instrumental takes on “
Mrs. Robinson” (funky and hopping), “Satisfied Mind” (tender and emotive) and “Ghost
Riders In the Sky” (powerful and haunting) refresh the palate.

The three overtly Blues songs also infuse passion and power to cut through the guitar
hysterics: Bonamassa’s feature “Joe’s Blues” in which he is channeling Albert Collins
icicles; Johnny Hiland’s feature “Funky Mama” the Big John Patton Soul Jazz vehicle
that was a standard for the late great Danny Gatton, one of the greatest guitar 
players of all time; and stand out closing track, “A Minor Thing” in which Roth 
and Volkaert tastefully swing the Blues through Tin Pan Alley.

_Tele Masters_ is not for the faint of heart. This is a guitar record with a capital“
G.” It is Bluesy but it is also flashy and showy. These musicians are not holding
back anything, they throw every lick possible at the music and fill all the spaces.

The effect is exhilarating and technical for the guitar geek (was that Arlen or 
Brad on the 3rd solo on “Bunky?”; who’s doing the melody the 2nd time through “Mrs.
Robinson?”; which sides of the stereo pan are Arlen and Brent on “Roadworthy?”) 
The album is also accessible and variable. It is a statement of what the guitar 
can do and how expressive it can be.

![Image result for Arlen Roth – Tele Masters](https://i0.wp.com/images-na.ssl-
images-amazon.com/images/I/819Ib6lUBPL._SX466_.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

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