JW-Jones
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| JW-Jones | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | July 15, 1980 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Genre(s) | Blues |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, Vocals |
| Years active | 1998 - Present |
JW-Jones (born 1980) is a Canadian blues guitarist, singer and leader of the JW-Jones Blues Band[1]. Jones is signed to the NorthernBlues Music label in Canada. Jones, who lives in Ottawa, Ontario, has performed at blues festivals and clubs in Canada, US, Europe, Australia, and Brazil, and he records and tours with drummer Jeff Asselin, and bassist Martin Régimbald.
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[edit] Career
[edit] Late 1990s
Jones won the 1998 R&R Concerts "Battle of the Bands" (included dozens of young bands). The price package included studio time that was used to record a six (6) song demo that was later reviewed by Blues Revue Magazine.
The next year, Jones won the 1999 Ottawa Blues Guitar Riff-Off competition. The prize package included studio time that was used to record his debut album Defibrillatin' (SBR001-2000 / NBM0001-2001).
[edit] 2000s
Jones' second album was Bogart's Bounce, which included performances by singer/blues "harp" player Kim Wilson (from The Fabulous Thunderbirds) and pianist Gene Taylor (musician) (from The Blasters).
His third album with his band, My Kind Of Evil (2004), was produced by multi-Grammy nominee Kim Wilson (singer for The Fabulous Thunderbirds), and includes vocals from Canadian singer/guitarist Colin James on two tracks. Songs from the album have been played internationally syndicated House of Blues Radio Hour. Music reviewer Brad Wheeler from Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper praised the "graceful ability he (Jones) shows on guitar" in the album[1] . Wheeler stated that "...the Ottawa player makes retro moves, layering swinging blues with keyboards and very noticeable horns that never dominate the fine-lined fills and lead work." The All Music Guide review of My Kind of Evil, by Chris Nickson, states that "He's very good on covers, such as “I Don't Know," but his own songs — the vast majority of this disc — have plenty of life."
In 2006, Jones released his fourth album, Kissing in 29 Days, which included performances by David "Fathead" Newman on tenor sax. Newman was the main saxophone player with Ray Charles for 12 years. In Blues Revue Magazine (Apr/May 2006-Issue #99), Bret Kofford's article "The JW-Jones Blues Band - A Rising Star Chases the Sound of Thunder(birds)" stated that "The JW-Jones Blues Band is highly regarded in blues circles."
On May 13, 2008, the fifth album, Bluelisted hit stores. The recording features special guests Little Charlie Baty, Junior Watson, Richard Innes, and Larry Taylor. The liner notes are written by Hollywood celebrity Dan Aykroyd.
In the 2000s, Jones has been invited to perform onstage with a number of blues bands and artists, including The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Junior Watson, Little Charlie & the Nightcats, Rusty Zinn, Rick Holmstrom, Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers, Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets, The Mannish Boys, and Hubert Sumlin.
[edit] Critical response
The Canadian national newspaper Globe and Mail referred to Jones as "one of this country's top blues guitar stars". The US Blues Revue Magazine stated that "Jones' style is a fluid amalgam of T-Bone Walker's big, bright chords, Johnny "Guitar" Watson's slashing leads, and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown's jazzy sting". Billboard Magazine has called Jones part of "a new wave of young talent moving onto Canada’s blues stage."
Blues "harp" player Charlie Musselwhite (a Multi Blues Music/WC Handy Award winner) stated that "JW Jones is one of the best guitar players I’ve heard in a long time. He and his band do great tunes with cool arrangements and I love listening to them. They play with taste and fire at the same time."
Guitarist Little Charlie Baty (leader of the band Little Charlie & the Nightcats, which records on Alligator Records) has stated that "JW is one of the young guns in the blues guitar world who consistently delivers the goods on record and on stage - and of course I'm gonna dig anybody who writes a tune called 'Batyology'!" (an instrumental that Jones wrote in homage to Baty).
Canadian-born Hollywood actor Dan Aykroyd, who is also known for his Blues Brothers persona "Elwood Blues" has called the group an "amazing blues band".
[edit] Awards
- 2005: Maple Blues Awards - Electric Act of the Year (national award)
[edit] Nominations
- Maple Blues Awards: Eight (8) nominations since 2000 including Album of the Year (2), Guitarist of the Year, New Artist of the Year (3), Producer of the Year, and Electric Act of the Year
- Canadian Independent Music Awards: Favourite blues artist/group (2005)
[edit] External links
- Official JW-Jones website [2]
- Review of Bluelisted
[edit] References
- ^ Thursday, May 13, 2004 - Page R3
