This month John Wheatcroft looks at an early master of the Telecaster, who effortlessly mixed jazz, country and blues, and was one of Albert Lee’s great influences.
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Jimmy Bryant is acknowledged as one of the first great Telecaster heroes, if not the very first. In the 1950s he released a stream of frankly terrifying instrumentals with his equally gifted collaborator, pedal steel guitarist Speedy West. Their records raised the bar in terms of technical virtuosity, while also showcasing their incredible vitality, humour and energy.
Jimmy first came to prominence with West after the pair met in LA’s Skid Row, and went on to produce all-instrumental albums that fused breakneck country with jazz, blues and bluegrass styles. After this, Bryant maintained a career as a studio session musician and producer, before pursuing a more jazz-orientated route, recording with the legendary Herb Ellis. Bryant and West reunited in 1975 for one last album before Jimmy retired from music in 1979. Sadly he passed away the following year at the premature age of 55.
Bryant delivered his devastating musical soup with remarkable technical facility and flair. Jazz guitar icon Barney Kessel even commented, “He is the fastest and cleanest and has more technique than any other”, although Jimmy’s exemplary musicality ensured that his music was never reduced to mere displays of technical excess.
Bryant established a close connection with Leo Fender, although their relationship would become a little rocky over the years, prompting flirtations with instruments from Guild, Rickenbacker and Magnetone.
However, Jimmy is now rightly considered one of the true pioneers of the Telecaster, and in 2004 to celebrate this fact, Fender’s Custom Shop released a signature Telecaster model to honour his incredible work. The guitar was based upon his famous maple-necked white one, complete with hand-tooled leather scratchplate.
