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ARLEN ROTH
Toolin' Around Woodstock
(Aquinnah)

(NODEPRESSION.NET) -- Arlen Roth is known as one of the great guitar teachers; he's written instructional books and hosted many "Hot Licks" videos. His latest album comes as Exhibit A in disproving the old adage that those who can, do, and those who can't, teach. Arlen Roth is a teacher who very clearly can, and does.

This is a wonderfully relaxed series of sessions recorded mostly at Levon Helm's home studio in Woodstock, New York. With Helm on drums and a couple of vocal cuts, and guest appearances by Bill Kirchen, Sonny Landreth, Levon's daughter Amy Helm, and Arlen's daughter Lexie Roth, the performances here are comfortable takes on mainly old pop, rock and country standards.

Despite the prevalence of incredibly slick guitar licks from Roth, Kirchen and Landreth, there is never a sense that chops are overwhelming the delivery of songs. Helm steals the show with his vocals on Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen" even as Roth outshreds the original guitar master. Kirchen and Roth bring new life to the Joe South classic "Games People Play", and Lexie and Amy harmonize beautifully on "Just One Look". That said, it's the Berry blues instrumental "Deep Feeling" that leaves the strongest impression, as Roth and the incomparable Landreth trade slide licks with constant invention and escalating emotional resonance.

-- STEVE PICK
Copyright c. 2008 No Depression Inc. and/or Steve Pick.