JW Jones plays raunchy blues on Belmont Boulevard

Print

It is always a good day when I get a new CD from Ottawa bluesman JW Jones and his band. Click here to hear JW Jones


When his debut CD “ Defibrillating” took off back in 2000 when he was just shy of 20, I described him as a kid so talented you want to smack him. His new CD “Belmont Boulevard”  which is officially released  Oct. 7, gives me no reason to change that opinion, though after 14 years playing professionally, touring 19 countries and releasing seven albums, he is no longer a kid.


He’s already looking back on his life and feeling a little nostalgic, though he is barely 30.


 He is a hell of a guitar player as you can hear on “Blue Jean Jacket.” He’s reined in his talent for a more soulful, tasteful feel on songs such as on “Coming After Me.”


He sounds similar to Saskatchewan bluesman Colin James both in voice and guitar sound.
 He is also experimenting more like on the raunchy delay laded psychedelic jam “Cocaine  Boy.” which is one of a  few songs on the CD he wrote with his Grammy Award winning producer Tom Hambridge.


 But it is not just about crazy guitar playing, though there is plenty of that.
 The very catchy, singalong“ If It Feels This Good Tomorrow,” could be a bona fide hit country single which features one of his most beautiful guitar solos.


The CD begins with a raunchy blues rocker “Love Times Ten,” one of many on the CD.
  Another Hound Dog Tayloresque raunchy blues number is the rockabilly tinged instrumental “Magic West Side Boogie” which allows  Jones to show off just a few of his substantial guitar chops.


“Never Worth it” is a straight ahead mid tempo blues rocker. One of the highlights is the toe tapping vintage blues rocker “Watch Your Step, featuring a catchy country tinged riff which sounds like it is being played on a baritone guitar.


 There is a lot of excellent organ playing on the CD, especially on “What’s Inside of You,” giving the tunes a vintage blues sound.
 It's great to hear new music from JW Jones who continues to improve.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
 CD:  Belmont Boulevard
Artist: JW Jones
Genre: blues
Record label: Stony Plain Records
Share