JW-Jones
Encyclopedia
JW-Jones is a Canadian blues
guitarist, singer and band leader. Jones is signed to the NorthernBlues Music
label
in Toronto, Canada, CrossCut Records in Europe, and Ruf Records in USA. In the last decade, he has released six albums and played in 17 countries, 4 continents, over 260 cities and over 1,000 appearances. Jones, who lives in Ottawa
, Ontario
, has performed at blues festivals and clubs in Canada, US, Europe, Australia, and Brazil. He records and tours with drummer Jeff Asselin, and Hammond organ player Jesse Whiteley. "J-Dub" endorses Gibson
Guitars.
, 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
. 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
(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, and Roxanne Potvin
on one. 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. 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 Allmusic 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 "JW-Jones is highly regarded in blues circles."
On May 13, 2008, the fifth album, Bluelisted hit stores. The recording features special guests Little Charlie Baty (leader of the band Little Charlie & the Nightcats, which records on Alligator Records
), Junior Watson
, Richard Innes
, and Larry Taylor
. The liner notes are written by Hollywood celebrity Dan Aykroyd
.
Less than a year after the release of Bluelisted, on May 6, 2009, Hubert Sumlin
(77), a blues guitarist who worked with Howlin' Wolf
for over 20 years and was named in the 100 Greatest Guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone magazine recorded with Canadian blues artist, JW-Jones (28) at Sun Studios in Memphis, TN. The rhythm section was blues veterans Richard Innes
and Larry Taylor
(who appear on 2008's 'Bluelisted').
In April 2011, Jones landed an endorsement deal with Gibson Guitars.
, Jeff Beck
, and Carlos Santana
. 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
called Jones part of "a new wave of young talent moving onto Canada’s blues stage."
Charlie Musselwhite
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 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".
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
guitarist, singer and band leader. Jones is signed to the NorthernBlues Music
NorthernBlues Music
NorthernBlues Music is a Canadian independent record label, which specializes in blues music. The label was established in 2001, and a number of its artists and albums have since been nominated for and won Blues Music Awards...
label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
in Toronto, Canada, CrossCut Records in Europe, and Ruf Records in USA. In the last decade, he has released six albums and played in 17 countries, 4 continents, over 260 cities and over 1,000 appearances. Jones, who lives in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, has performed at blues festivals and clubs in Canada, US, Europe, Australia, and Brazil. He records and tours with drummer Jeff Asselin, and Hammond organ player Jesse Whiteley. "J-Dub" endorses Gibson
Gibson
Gibson may refer to:* Gibson Amphitheatre* Gibson Appliance* Gibson Girl* Gibson Guitar Corporation* Gibson * Gibson Generating Station-Places:In the United States:* Gibson, Arkansas* Gibson, Georgia* Gibson, Iowa* Gibson, Louisiana...
Guitars.
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 song demo that was later reviewed by Blues Revue. 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).2000s
In the 2000s, Jones has been invited to perform onstage with a number of blues bands and artists, including The Fabulous ThunderbirdsThe Fabulous Thunderbirds
The Fabulous Thunderbirds are an American, Grammy-nominated Blues rock band, formed in 1974.-Career:After performing for several years in the Austin, Texas blues scene, the band won a recording contract with Takoma/Chrysalis Records, and later on signed with Epic Records.Their first two albums,...
, Junior Watson
Junior Watson
Junior Watson is an American jump blues guitarist and singer.-Career:Watson is regarded as an influential West Coast blues player. He was a founding member of the blues band The Mighty Flyers and, starting in the early 1980s, he performed with the band for a decade. He also performed with Canned...
, Little Charlie & the Nightcats
Little Charlie & the Nightcats
Little Charlie & the Nightcats is an American four-piece electric blues / jazz combo, consisting currently of guitarist Kid Andersen, harmonicist/lead vocalist Rick Estrin, bassist Lorenzo Farrell and drummer J...
, Rusty Zinn
Rusty Zinn
Rusty Zinn is an American electric blues and reggae guitarist and singer-songwriter. Zinn released six albums between 1996 and 2009, on Black Top, Alligator, Bad Daddy, and 9 Above Records...
, Rick Holmstrom
Rick Holmstrom
Rick Holmstrom is an American electric blues and rhythm and blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. Holmstrom has released five albums since 1996, and previously worked with William Clarke and Rod Piazza. In addition, Holmstrom has played and recorded with Jimmy Rogers, Billy Boy Arnold, Jody...
, Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers, Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets, The Mannish Boys
The Mannish Boys
The Mannish Boys are an American blues band based in Los Angeles, California. They play classic blues in West Coast, Texas and Chicago styles....
, and Hubert Sumlin
Hubert Sumlin
Hubert Sumlin is an American Chicago blues and electric blues guitarist and singer, best known for his celebrated work, from 1955, as guitarist in Howlin' Wolf's band. His singular playing is characterized by "wrenched, shattering bursts of notes, sudden cliff-hanger silences and daring rhythmic...
. Jones' second album was Bogart's Bounce, which included performances by singer/blues "harp" player Kim Wilson
Kim Wilson
Kim Wilson is an American blues singer and harmonica player. He is best known as the lead vocalist and frontman for The Fabulous Thunderbirds on two hit songs of the 1980s; "Tuff Enuff", and "Wrap It Up."-Career:...
(from The Fabulous Thunderbirds
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
The Fabulous Thunderbirds are an American, Grammy-nominated Blues rock band, formed in 1974.-Career:After performing for several years in the Austin, Texas blues scene, the band won a recording contract with Takoma/Chrysalis Records, and later on signed with Epic Records.Their first two albums,...
) and pianist Gene Taylor
Gene Taylor (musician)
Gene Taylor is an American blues rock and boogie-woogie pianist.-Biography:Taylor began his musical training as a drummer at age eight but two years later he had picked up both the guitar and his initial piano skills from boogie-woogie pianist-neighbours...
(from The Blasters
The Blasters
The Blasters are a rock and roll music group formed in 1979 in Downey, California, by brothers Phil Alvin and Dave Alvin , with bass guitarist John Bazz and drummer Bill Bateman. Phil Alvin explained the origin of the band's name: "I thought Joe Turner’s backup band on Atlantic records – I had...
).
His third album with his band, My Kind Of Evil (2004), was produced by multi-Grammy nominee Kim Wilson
Kim Wilson
Kim Wilson is an American blues singer and harmonica player. He is best known as the lead vocalist and frontman for The Fabulous Thunderbirds on two hit songs of the 1980s; "Tuff Enuff", and "Wrap It Up."-Career:...
(singer for The Fabulous Thunderbirds), and includes vocals from Canadian singer/guitarist Colin James
Colin James
Colin James is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, who plays in the blues, rock, and neo-swing genres. He grew up as a Quaker.-Early years:...
on two tracks, and Roxanne Potvin
Roxanne Potvin
Roxanne Potvin is a Canadian bilingual Gatineau, Quebec-based singer, blues guitarist, songwriter and vocalist. Born in Regina, where her father was a TV reporter for CBC, Potvin moved to the Ottawa area when she was two...
on one. Songs from the album have been played internationally syndicated House of Blues
House of Blues
House of Blues is a chain of 13 live music concert halls and restaurants in major markets throughout the United States. House of Blues first location was in Cambridge's Harvard Square. It was opened in 1992 by Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, star of The Blues Brothers...
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. 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 Allmusic 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
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
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 "JW-Jones is highly regarded in blues circles."
On May 13, 2008, the fifth album, Bluelisted hit stores. The recording features special guests Little Charlie Baty (leader of the band Little Charlie & the Nightcats, which records on Alligator Records
Alligator Records
Alligator Records is a Chicago-based independent blues record label founded by Bruce Iglauer in 1971.Iglauer started the label with his own savings to record and produce his favorite band Hound Dog Taylor & The HouseRockers, whom his employer, Bob Koester of Delmark Records, declined to record...
), Junior Watson
Junior Watson
Junior Watson is an American jump blues guitarist and singer.-Career:Watson is regarded as an influential West Coast blues player. He was a founding member of the blues band The Mighty Flyers and, starting in the early 1980s, he performed with the band for a decade. He also performed with Canned...
, Richard Innes
Richard Innes
Richard Innes was a Scottish cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler who played for Norfolk...
, and Larry Taylor
Larry Taylor
Larry Taylor is an American bass guitarist, best known for his work as a member of Canned Heat from 1967. Before joining Canned Heat he had been a session bassist for The Monkees and Jerry Lee Lewis...
. The liner notes are written by Hollywood celebrity Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd
Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
.
Less than a year after the release of Bluelisted, on May 6, 2009, Hubert Sumlin
Hubert Sumlin
Hubert Sumlin is an American Chicago blues and electric blues guitarist and singer, best known for his celebrated work, from 1955, as guitarist in Howlin' Wolf's band. His singular playing is characterized by "wrenched, shattering bursts of notes, sudden cliff-hanger silences and daring rhythmic...
(77), a blues guitarist who worked with Howlin' Wolf
Howlin' Wolf
Chester Arthur Burnett , known as Howlin' Wolf, was an influential American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player....
for over 20 years and was named in the 100 Greatest Guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone magazine recorded with Canadian blues artist, JW-Jones (28) at Sun Studios in Memphis, TN. The rhythm section was blues veterans Richard Innes
Richard Innes
Richard Innes was a Scottish cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler who played for Norfolk...
and Larry Taylor
Larry Taylor
Larry Taylor is an American bass guitarist, best known for his work as a member of Canned Heat from 1967. Before joining Canned Heat he had been a session bassist for The Monkees and Jerry Lee Lewis...
(who appear on 2008's 'Bluelisted').
In April 2011, Jones landed an endorsement deal with Gibson Guitars.
Critical response
In May 2009, Jones' song "Parasomnia" appeared on a Guitar World featured CD, Guitar Masters Vol. 2, among B.B. King, Jimmy PageJimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
, Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, and Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
. 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
T-Bone Walker
Aaron Thibeaux "T-Bone" Walker was a critically acclaimed American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who was one of the most influential pioneers and innovators of the jump blues and electric blues sound. He is the first musician recorded playing blues with the...
's big, bright chords, Johnny "Guitar" Watson's slashing leads, and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown's jazzy sting". Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
called Jones part of "a new wave of young talent moving onto Canada’s blues stage."
Charlie Musselwhite
Charlie Musselwhite
Charlie Musselwhite is an American electric blues harmonica player and bandleader, one of the non-black bluesmen who came to prominence in the early 1960s, along with Mike Bloomfield and Paul Butterfield. Though he has often been identified as a "white bluesman", he claims Native American heritage...
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 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
Dan Aykroyd
Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
, who is also known for his Blues Brothers persona "Elwood Blues" has called the group an "amazing blues band".
Awards
- Maple Blues Awards - Electric Act of the Year (national award) (2005)
- Blues 411 Awards - Best Male Vocalist (2010)
Nominations
- Maple Blues Awards:
Eleven (11) nominations since 2000:
- Album of the Year (3)
- Guitarist of the Year (2)
- Electric Act of the Year (2)
- Producer of the Year (Kim WilsonKim WilsonKim Wilson is an American blues singer and harmonica player. He is best known as the lead vocalist and frontman for The Fabulous Thunderbirds on two hit songs of the 1980s; "Tuff Enuff", and "Wrap It Up."-Career:...
)
- New Artist of the Year (3) - Canadian Independent Music Awards:
- Favourite blues artist/group (2005) - XPress:
- Best CD of 2008 - House of Blues Radio Hour:
- Blues Mobile Award - Best CD of 2008 - International Songwriting Competition:
- "Looking the World Straight in the Eye" Finalist (2009) - Blues 411 Awards:
- Best Male Vocalist (2010)
- Best Guitarist (2010)
- International Artist (2010)
Solo releases
| Year | Title | Genre | Label | Special Guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Defibrillatin | Blues | NorthernBlues Music NorthernBlues Music NorthernBlues Music is a Canadian independent record label, which specializes in blues music. The label was established in 2001, and a number of its artists and albums have since been nominated for and won Blues Music Awards... |
(no guests) |
| 2002 | Bogart's Bounce | Blues | NorthernBlues Music | Kim Wilson Kim Wilson Kim Wilson is an American blues singer and harmonica player. He is best known as the lead vocalist and frontman for The Fabulous Thunderbirds on two hit songs of the 1980s; "Tuff Enuff", and "Wrap It Up."-Career:... (harp, vocals), Gene Taylor Gene Taylor Gary Eugene "Gene" Taylor is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1989 until 2011. He was defeated for re-election in 2010 by State Rep. Steven Palazzo, who gained 52% of the vote compared to Taylor's 47%. He left office in January 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party... (piano), Roxanne Potvin Roxanne Potvin Roxanne Potvin is a Canadian bilingual Gatineau, Quebec-based singer, blues guitarist, songwriter and vocalist. Born in Regina, where her father was a TV reporter for CBC, Potvin moved to the Ottawa area when she was two... (vocals) |
| 2004 | My Kind of Evil | Blues | NorthernBlues Music | Colin James Colin James Colin James is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, who plays in the blues, rock, and neo-swing genres. He grew up as a Quaker.-Early years:... (vocals), Kim Wilson Kim Wilson Kim Wilson is an American blues singer and harmonica player. He is best known as the lead vocalist and frontman for The Fabulous Thunderbirds on two hit songs of the 1980s; "Tuff Enuff", and "Wrap It Up."-Career:... (harp, vocals, producer) |
| 2006 | Kissing in 29 Days | Blues | NorthernBlues Music | David "Fathead" Newman (saxophone) |
| 2008 | Bluelisted | Blues | NorthernBlues Music | Little Charlie Baty (guitar, harp), Junior Watson Junior Watson Junior Watson is an American jump blues guitarist and singer.-Career:Watson is regarded as an influential West Coast blues player. He was a founding member of the blues band The Mighty Flyers and, starting in the early 1980s, he performed with the band for a decade. He also performed with Canned... (guitar), Richard Innes Richard Innes Richard Innes was a Scottish cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler who played for Norfolk... (drums), Larry Taylor Larry Taylor Larry Taylor is an American bass guitarist, best known for his work as a member of Canned Heat from 1967. Before joining Canned Heat he had been a session bassist for The Monkees and Jerry Lee Lewis... (bass) Liner notes by Dan Aykroyd Dan Aykroyd Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early... |
| 2010 | Midnight Memphis Sun | Blues | NorthernBlues Music | Hubert Sumlin Hubert Sumlin Hubert Sumlin is an American Chicago blues and electric blues guitarist and singer, best known for his celebrated work, from 1955, as guitarist in Howlin' Wolf's band. His singular playing is characterized by "wrenched, shattering bursts of notes, sudden cliff-hanger silences and daring rhythmic... (guitar), Charlie Musselwhite Charlie Musselwhite Charlie Musselwhite is an American electric blues harmonica player and bandleader, one of the non-black bluesmen who came to prominence in the early 1960s, along with Mike Bloomfield and Paul Butterfield. Though he has often been identified as a "white bluesman", he claims Native American heritage... (harmonica), Richard Innes Richard Innes Richard Innes was a Scottish cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler who played for Norfolk... (drums), Larry Taylor Larry Taylor Larry Taylor is an American bass guitarist, best known for his work as a member of Canned Heat from 1967. Before joining Canned Heat he had been a session bassist for The Monkees and Jerry Lee Lewis... (bass) |