Juno Nominee, Blues Guitarist JW Jones

An exciting opportunity for KW fans of the blues to hear an upcoming Canadian star. After hearing his music a couple of years ago, I chose to interview him because I love his non-cliche lines. When JW solos, he constantly surprises with jazz lines and rhythms that are fresh, in the groove and spontaneous. JW has developed a colourful personilty in his guitar playing, which is making him stand out from the crowd. I am sure you will enjoy his show on Friday night!

1. What guitars and amps do you own?

For live performances, I use my trusty 2007 Gibson Gold Top Les Paul Standard, with a chambered body and 60s style neck, running through one or two Fender Pro Junior amps. Effects wise, I only use reverb and tremolo. The rest comes from the hands!

2. What is your set up this weekend?

(Above)

3. How do you believe you achieve your tone?(strings, pick, hands, effects, etc)

It’s mostly in the hands for sure, and most blues artists will tell you that. However, it depends on the player and the tone they are looking for. I like it to sound as natural as possible, like all of my heroes, and let the tubes give me the break-up and natural distortion when it’s pushed. I alternate between a pick and fingers, sometimes mid-riff, or certain notes with my fingers while playing others with the pick. It’s not something I can analyze and just happens on it’s own!

4. Tell us about your original music?

Our new album, Belmont Boulevard, was produced in Nashville by Grammy winning producer Tom Hambridge. There are a few songs that I wrote on my own and several co-written with Tom. He’s written for Buddy Guy, George Thorogood, Rascal Flatts, Lynyrd Skynyrd. The original songs are fairly personal on the new record, from break-ups to my upbringing, and Tom really helped me dig deep and get some extremely personal material on there, lyrically. Musically, the vibe has to match, and that’s where I feel like we really nailed it on this record. Cocaine Boy and Don’t Be Ashamed seem to be the originals that are most requested, while the guitar fans have been liking Magic West Side Boogie.

5. Tell us about your approach to composing?

On one side, I am always collecting chord changes and riff ideas in my head, or recorded to my phone. On the other, I have subjects and lines that I keep in my notes. Every so often, I will sit down late at night, when no one is around, and connect the one side with the other until it feels right. Some songs come together in no time, and others take weeks of manipulating.

6. What are your favourite songs to play?

I love playing low-down Chicago blues shuffles and grooves, they feel so good – or anything with a B.B. King inspired feel. Playing originals and having people singing along is the ultimate compliment, and that’s a whole other trip!

7. Do you have a favourite scale or lick that you play? Or what was the blues/jazz scale that really changed your playing?

I learned how to play blues the same way my heroes did. It’s not about scales, it’s about collecting riffs and ideas and having an arsenal to draw from. Listening to a lot of blues is the most crucial part because you have to know which style of riff fits with which groove, and where they come from. You don’t play B.B. King riffs over a Jimmy Reed shuffle, and you don’t play Muddy Waters slide on a B.B. King slow blues, it just doesn’t feel right.

8. What guitarist, song or album inspires you?

B.B. is the man, and it was so sad to lose him this year. It hit me much harder than I ever expected. I’ve been so fortunate to have been listening to him and studying him since I was 15yrs old, and to have met him and hang out a few times. He wrote the book on single note blues guitar, period. He changed more than just guitar playing, he changed music. Now the most famous living bluesman is Buddy Guy, who has also been a huge influence and supporter after singing with us in Chicago and then inviting me to join him on two shows in Ottawa back in the spring. I’m a lucky guy!

9. What do you do to practice technique? (one or two things)

Almost all of my practice is on stage, when it comes to guitar. I work on my vocals daily, but the guitar playing happens on stage.

10. What can the audience expect to hear next Friday Sept 11. 2015?

A high-energy show with lots of twists and turns to keep things interesting. We’ll be playing several songs from our Juno nominated album on Blind Pig / Stony Plain records, Belmont Boulevard. Looking forward to this one!