Blues

Laurence Jones - Temptation (2014)

2019-05-07T15:36:48Z

Laurence Jones - Temptation (2014)


1 	Foolin' Me 	
2 	Move On 	
3 	Tomorrow Is Another Day 	
4 	Temptation 	
5 	Can't Keep Living Like This 	
6 	Whisper In The Wind 	
7 	Fall From The Sky 	
8 	My Eyes Keep Me In Trouble 	
9 	Southern Breeze 	
10 	Wind Me Up 	
11 	Bad Bad Dream 	
12 	Soul Swamp River

Acoustic Guitar – Mike Zito
Bass Guitar – Charlie Wooton
Drums – Yonrico Scott
Harmonica – Johnny Sansone (tracks: 3, 12)
Organ [B3] – Lewis Stephens (tracks: 10)
Percussion – Yonrico Scott
Piano – Mike Zito
Vocals – Laurence Jones

Following the success of his debut album, Thunder in the Sky, Laurence Jones has emerged with a new collection of fresh material. Released in February, Temptation avoids the clichés usually associated with a second album and instead showcases Jones as a strong artist with an arsenal of electrifying songs. On his first release for Ruf Records, Jones finds himself creating songs he feels are relatable for his audience. “I wanted people to see the meaning and the stories I’m getting across in these songs. You see a lot on tour and that’s great for songwriting, as I can share my experiences,” explains Jones. It’s clear Jones is searching for an interaction, or at least a reaction.

Temptation has quite an eclectic mix of emotions buried in its tracklisting, and at times the album feels more like a collage than an ordinary album. Of course, this isn’t a bad thing. “Foolin’ Me” appropriately starts off this record with a blaze, singing, “Walkin’ out the door/ walkin’ out on you/ don’t tell me how to live my life/ don’t tell me what to do.” It seems as if Jones is creating a manifesto of independence. In similar fashion, “Can’t Keep Living Like This” showcases Jones’ desire to escape from the pit-holes of normality.

The acoustic ballad “Whisper in the Wind” showcases the softer side of Temptation with personal lyrics reflecting on what appears to be lost love. This isn’t the only moment in the record dealing with the lust for women. On the albums sole cover song, “My Eyes Keep Me in Trouble,” Jones sings, “I want women on my left, women on my right/ Women all day, women all night.”

On album closer “Soul Swamp River,” Jones and his band take an epic blues journey while paying tribute to blues legend Muddy Waters, or maybe he’s just referring literally to muddy waters in the Soul Swamp River. Nevertheless, it feels like an intentional metaphor that helps place Temptation in the ever expanding blues timeline.

Jones proves throughout the course of Temptation that he’s a mature bandleader with a stellar ability to blast out some heavy blues riffs. This record is enjoyable from start to finish and it provides some interesting context for the start of this British bluesman’s career. Temptation has arrived, and its never felt so justified to give in. ---Ryan Artmann, bluesrockreview.com

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Laurence Jones ‎– What's It Gonna Be (2015)

2018-12-09T15:38:21Z

Laurence Jones ‎– What's It Gonna Be (2015)


1 	What's It Gonna Be 	4:17
2 	Don't Need No Reason 	4:22
3 	Evil 	5:41
4 	Touch Your Moonlight 	3:39
5 	Don't Look Back 	4:49
6 	All I Need 	5:28
7 	Being Alone 	3:58
8 	Good Morning Blues 	5:29
9 	Can't Get Enough 	4:17
10 	Set It Free 	5:41
11 	Stop Moving The House 	4:31

Backing Vocals – SJ Mortimer
Bass – Roger Inniss
Drums – Miri Miettinen
Guitar, Vocals – Laurence Jones
Keyboards – Julian 'Mr Jools' Grudgings, Lewis Stephens
Vocals – Dana Fuchs (tracks: 9)
Vocals, Guitar – Sandi Thom (tracks: 5)

23 year-old Laurence Jones is at the head of the line of current young UK blues-rockers, having represented his country in the European Blues Challenge, played at the LeadBelly tribute concert that also saw the return of Walter Trout to the stage after his serious illness and was part of the Blues Caravan tour in 2014 alongside Albert Castiglia. His second album in 2014 was produced by Mike Zito with members of Royal Southern Brotherhood backing the young guitarist; this time around Laurence produced the album himself with regular bassist Roger Inniss. The core band is a trio, Finnish drummer Miri Mietinnen joining Roger and Laurence with occasional keyboards added by Jools Grudgings and Lewis Stephens; Sandi Thom and Dana Fuchs share vocals with Laurence on one song each. Laurence wrote nine of the songs here and there are two covers. It is also worth noting that part of the proceeds from this album will be donated to the Crohn’s and Colitis Research programme; Laurence suffers from this debilitating disease which requires regular blood transfusions and a careful approach to diet and it is brave of him to put that fact upfront in the album sleeve notes.

Laurence has a clear and pleasant singing voice and can certainly play as he proves on most tracks here, setting a solid rhythm and double-tracking his solos. The good thing about Laurence is that he writes tunes with catchy hooks; in that respect he resembles another English bluesman of a slightly earlier generation, Aynsley Lister and “All I Need” is a good example of that comparison. Another melodic rocker is “Set It Free” in which Laurence pleads for more tolerance in the world. “Being Alone” has echoes of classic rock like Bad Company, a coincidence as one of the two covers is “Can’t Get Enough”. Laurence sensibly does not try to emulate Paul Rodgers’ distinctive vocal and his slightly more relaxed version works just fine alongside co-vocalist Dana Fuchs’ raspy tones. The other cover is LeadBelly’s “Good Morning Blues” which moves from a recording of LeadBelly’s voice to a heavy version with some high energy wah-wah. Laurence states that he chose a LeadBelly song because “so many of my British blues heroes were inspired by him” but it seems pretty unlikely that the great man would recognise this version!

Sandi Thom’s guest spot is on the almost folky ballad “Don’t Look Back” which is the quietest tune here, the two voices working well in harmony over some gentle guitar work. If high energy blues-rock is what you are looking for look no further than the first four tunes on the album. The title track sets things off with an insistent riff as Laurence sings of the daunting prospect of a new tour with unknown collaborators; “Don’t Need No Reason” finds Laurence getting angry with some of those around him who would want to tell him what to do, letting off steam with a tough solo; “Evil” has a really chunky riff and lots of wah-wah before the frantic pace of “Touch Your Moonlight” adds melodic as well as rhythmic qualities. Closing track “Stop Moving The House” shows a good sense of humour in the story of a guy who is so drunk he can’t find his way home, the song benefiting from pounding piano and some heavily distorted guitar.

There is plenty to enjoy here for blues-rock fans but also evidence of a broader talent. It will be interesting to hear in which direction Laurence’s next project will head. ---John Mitchell, bluesblastmagazine.com

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Laurence Jones ‎– The Truth (2017)

2017-12-21T15:47:40Z

Laurence Jones ‎– The Truth (2017)


1 	What Would You Do 	
2 	Don't You Let Me Go 	
3 	Hold Me Close 	
4 	Keep Me Up At Night 	
5 	Give Me Your Time 	
6 	The Truth 	
7 	Take Me 	
8 	Gone Away 	
9 	Can't Go On Without You 	
10 	Never Good Enough 	

Backing Vocals, Keyboards – Bennett Holland
Bass Guitar – Greg Smith 
Drum, Percussion – Phil Wilson 
Vocals, Guitar – Laurence Jones

UK based blues rock guitarist Laurence Jones returns with The Truth. This is already the 5th album of Jones’ young career who continues to release new albums at a high rate. The Truth was recorded in Miami with producer Gregory Elias and mixed by Juan Mario Aracil. Phil Wilson (drums), Greg Smith (bass), and Bennett Holland (keys) join Jones in the band.

The album kicks off with “What Would You Do,” which has a great groove and soaring vocals in the chorus. Jones is known as a guitar slinger, but his vocals are quite impressive. The pace picks up on “Don’t Let Me Go,”‘ which has a very catchy chorus, nice vocal harmonies, and a well placed and timed guitar solo. Jones’ maturity really shows because, yes, he can play guitar quite well, but no where on the album does he overplay. The guitar serves the song, not the other way around and his vocals are a real highlight.

The production on The Truth is a bit more slick than most blues rock albums. The keys take center stage driving “Hold Me Close,” which again features some nice vocal harmonies in the chorus. “Keep Me Up All Night” is a very slick track and infectiously catchy. “Give Me Your Time” follows and features yet another catchy chorus. Notice a trend? The backing vocals are a nice touch complimenting Jones’ lead vocal. “Gone Away” is another standout track featuring some wah-wah guitar with an enticing chorus.

The Truth might just be the catchiest blues rock album of the year. The biggest problem with The Truth is every time a track ends you want to play it again, but then the next song begins and you can’t stop listening to that one. The album might not be quite as bluesy as some would want, but again, Jones’ playing serves the song and the guitar solos are well placed. The Truth is about the songs and they don’t get much better. This is a no filler album featuring great hooks and is the high point of Jones’ young career. --- Pete Francis, bluesrockreview.com

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Laurence Jones - Take Me High (2016)

2016-07-01T15:53:32Z

Laurence Jones - Take Me High (2016)


01. Got No Place To Go (3:57)
02. Something's Changed (4:11)
03. Live It Up (3:50)
04. Addicted To Your Love (5:19)
05. I Will (4:02)
06. Thinking About Tomorrow (5:28)
07. Take Me High (4:25)
08. Down & Blue (4:19)
09. The Price I Pay (4:21)
10. Higher Ground (3:51)

Backing Vocals – Reuben Richards (tracks: 3)
Bass – Roger Inniss (tracks: 1-10)
Drums, Percussion – Phil Wilson (13)
Harmonica – Paul Jones
Keyboards, Organ [Hammond] – Bob Fridzema
Producer, Backing Vocals – Mike Vernon
Vocals – Reuben Richards (tracks: 10)
Vocals, Guitar – Laurence Jones (tracks: 1-10)

Britain’s hottest gunslinger. Blues-rock’s most legendary producer. If the hook-up between Laurence Jones and Mike Vernon sounds mouthwatering on paper, just wait until you hear Take Me High. Released in August 2016 on Ruf Records, this fourth album represents a spiritual passing of the baton, with the producer who recorded everyone from Eric Clapton to Peter Green in the ’60s now working with the cream of the new blues generation. “It was a great feeling,” says Laurence, “to know Mike wanted to make this record.” The pair had discussed a collaboration as far back as 2013, but their conflicting schedules had always scuppered the plan. Mike remains much in demand as a producer, and likewise, since last year’s acclaimed What’s It Gonna Be – #18 in The Blues Mag’s 50 Essential Albums Of 2015 – Laurence has barely stopped, playing everywhere from the Royal Albert Hall to Carnegie Hall. But after Mike witnessed an incendiary set at the Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival, he had to clear a space in his diary. “He watched us in the crowd,” recalls the bandleader, “and he said to me, ‘I think the time is right’.”

During preproduction, Laurence and Mike decided on the concept of an album that would flow – “kinda like a book, so you’d listen to it from start to finish and it would make sense” – but also capture the ferocious attitude of a packed club show. “I told him that I really wanted to go for that live feel,” remembers Laurence. “I just wanted to create that same energy.”

By January 2016, they were ready to hit Headline Music Studios in Cambridge, with Laurence leading the core band of Roger Inniss (bass), Bob Fridzema (keys/organ) and new drummer Phil Wilson as they tracked live. “We did it the old-school way,” nods the bandleader. “I really feed off an audience, so I remember that Mike said, ‘Just make it as live as you can. Imagine you’re stood in front of a thousand people and give it some;’”

At the end of each night, Laurence and Mike returned to a remote cottage outside Cambridge, where the producer regaled the guitarist with tales of his illustrious clients. “There was no Internet,” smiles Laurence, “so we actually had to talk to each other. Y’know, he’d tell me stories about when he worked with David Bowie, Eric Clapton, John Mayall and Peter Green.”

Needless to say, it’s not easy to impress a producer who has helmed classic albums from 1966’s Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton to Bowie’s self-titled 1967 debut – but Laurence rose to the challenge with the strongest songs of his career. You can hear his momentum in the title track’s brittle blues strut, or “Addicted To Your Love”, with its neck-tingling opening squeal of feedback

The more reflective “I Will”, meanwhile, announces Laurence’s growing maturity as a vocalist. “Mike was really thorough about the vocals,” agrees the bandleader, “because that’s his territory. He’s an amazing singer. He even did backing vocals on this album – we sang them live together.” Elsewhere, the snakecharmer riffs of “Got No Place To Go” reaffirm Laurence’s reputation as a master guitarist, while “Live It Up” features guest backing vocals from Rueben Richards, and “The Price I Pay” sees his stinging fretwork lock in with a stunning harmonica cameo from Paul Jones. “I did a charity night for Paul that he holds every year at the Cranleigh Arts Centre,” explains the bandleader. “I asked Paul to get up onstage with me, and at the end, I said, ‘Well, I’m going in the studio with Mike next week’. And he goes, ‘Oh cool, I’d love to come’. And I was like, ‘That sounds like a good deal!’"

Within a head-spinning ten days, the basic tracking was complete – but Laurence wasn’t prepared for just how good the songs would sound after Mike had finished mixing them at his home in Spain. “He sent me the stuff over, and it was like, ‘Wow’. He’d just fattened everything up. It was just a completely different sound because of him. I’m so happy with this album.”

Released in August on Ruf Records, Take Me High is another step up for an artist who embodies the best of the modern blues boom. Featuring ten new songs that demand to be heard live, the release will also be supported in 2016 by a heavy international touring schedule that underlines Laurence’s growing popularity across the planet. “We’ve got a UK tour in November,” he reveals. “And we’re gonna be working in Poland, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Germany, the Caribbean, Norway, Denmark – and even America. So anyone who says the blues is dead; it’s really not!” ---amazon.com

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