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I started a quest to find terrific blues music and incredible musicianship when I was just a little kid. I also have a tremendous appreciation of fine musical instruments and equipment. One of my greatest joys all of my life was sharing my finds with my friends. I'm now publishing my journey. I hope that you come along!
I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Take Me High, from Laurence Jones and it's really hot! Opening with funky rocker, Got No Place To Go, Laurence Jones handles lead vocal and guitar nicely. With fluid guitar riffs and a super bass line by Roger Inniss this track really moves. Bob Fridzema plays a pretty handy keyboard and Phil Wilson's drum riffs are tight and demanding. Excellent! On Something's Changed, Jones blends a funky beat with a Reggae line coming up with a really terrific rocker. His guitar riffs are melodic and really nicely phrased. This is some hot shit! With a big bat swinging like a pendulum, Jones and Wilson set a basic pattern with really hot bass lines under the top by Inniss. With radio styling, this track has it's share of blues fueled guitar soloing but with modern, rock styling and snappy drum riffs. Over a basic Hendrix (All Along The Watchtower) theme, I Will is s solid ballad punched up by the Hammond work of Fridzema and smooth backing vocals by Reuben Richards. Thinking About Tomorrow has a smooth country rock feel with traces of the best of the Marshall Tucker Band (Can't You See). Easy paced lines, bounced against against Jones lead vocals make for a real nice track. Title track, Take Me High, is a complex rocker with interesting cross blending. Jones vocals are consistently clear and cool, and his guitar riffs are twangy yet punky with traces of Jimi's hammer ons. Cool! Down and Blue maintain's a blues rock format but the guitar work gets a bit more adventuresome and loose. Never losing control, this track helps to cement Jones' guitar prowess. With a light funk, The Price I Pay features Paul Jones on harmonica and a solid back beat by Inniss and Wilson. Jones plays snappy guitar riffs topping up the funky overtone and his vocals are nicely phrased. Wrapping the release is Stevie Wonder's super hit, Higher Ground. The original driving beat is maintained with only minute interruptions for guitar iteration. Jones breaks it open for a real nice guitar solo in the middle where Inniss maintains a basic blues bass line. With a bit of a change up the band double times it a few times in rock style and closes on a high spot. Very nicely done.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
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I just received the newest release, What's It Gonna Be, from Laurence Jones, and it has a bluesy, pop rock release. Opening with title track, What's It Gonna Be, Laurence Jones shows poise and polish on a solid radio rocker. Don't Need No Reason has contemporary rock lines but blues roots. Backed by Roger Inniss on bass and Miri Miettinen on drums, Jones plays some flat rock out riffs, then changing to a laid back shuffle rhythm and bluesy ruffs on this cool track. On Evil, the band grinds into a cool blues rock groove and Jones takes a meaty solo showing his patience as well as his explosive nature. Very cool! Touch Your Moonlight has a Eagles of Death Metal pop rock style. I really like the attack and tightness backed by building guitar intensity. Soulful ballad, Don't Look Back features Jones with Sandi Thom on vocals. This is a really simple pop track with nice duet work and straight bluesy guitar riffs for strong radio appeal. All I Need is a straight up pop rocker with warm support from Julian Grudgings on keys. Being Alone has a catchy melody and strong commercial potential with the starch of 38 Special.Led Belly's Good Morning Blues gets a nice redo with a Willie Dixon/Paul Rogers blend. I particularly like Jones' guitar work on this track combined with it's large step rhythm making it my favorite on the release. Bad Company's Can't Get Enough get's a pretty straight up cover with Dana Fuchs joining on lead vocal with Jones. Was a classic hit 40 years ago...why not now? Set It Free is really well constructed with a lead guitar riffs as memorable as Bob Seger's Main Street or Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street and again with a strong melodic nature and backing vocals by SJ Mortimer, making it a solid radio player. Wrapping the release is "country" rocker, Stop Moving The House, with driving piano work from Grundings and mature vocals and guitar slinging from Jones. Solid conclusion to Jones' newest.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band!- ”LIKE”
For added exposure - Blues World Wide Group "LIKE"
