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This SoCal guitar thraser's sophomore release falls into the Jimi Hendrix/Steve Ray Vaughan power trio continuum. Whether playing a shuffle, a slow blues, or bombastic blues rock, Jones' visceral style is infused with rock energy by drummer/co-producer Michael Turner, bassist Kenny "Boudro" Gray, guest sax and harp player Jimmy Zavala and guest keyboard Marshall Thompson. Two potential songs-of-the-year reveal Jones as a formidable writer: the churning, existential grinder "When I Die" features Zavala's blustery harp and a life-affirming lyrical theme; and the title track, a bluesy, Hendrix like paean to the genre's heroes. The T-Bird twang of "You're Wrong" defies listeners to sit still and "Super Deluxe" boasts an infectious sax hook by Zavala (a veteran of Eric Burdon, Rod Stewart and Etta James). Muddy Waters "I Just Want To Make Love To You" becomes a cutting contest between Dennis and his former employer, guitarist/vocalist Zac Harmon. Jones is a smooth, matter-of-fact vocalist who doesn't lapse into histrionics. His album clocks in at only 41 minutes, but fans of Vaughan and Hendrix - as well as followers of Michael Hill, Tinsley Ellis, Walter Trout, and Bernard Allison - will find much to enjoy on "Passion For The Blues".
Thomas J. Cullen III - May 23, 2006
- Blues Revue
It's easy to become cynical about the blues in a time when anyone who has ever strapped on a Srat is playing a shuffle and genuflecting at the altar of SRV. Unfortunately, most miss the point, but not Dennis Jones. Jones cooks here on cuts like "Super Deluxe" a jazzy shuffle that lets him step outside the norm. He has a fine feel for mixing jazz and blues and it shows on this cut. I also like the fact that he's not afraid to let'er rip on occasion too. "When I Die" is a heavy tune with great lyrics and lets Jones show his nasty side on the Strat. Here's one blues-influenced player who's not afraid to let some rock-and-roll slip into the music. "Graffiti" features some wonderful word-play and desending cord progressions with a fine solo. "You're Wrong" is a hard and fast shuffle. Same with "Automatic Love" with its pinched out and screaming notes that bring to mind a young Robert Cray. "Passion For The Blues" is a country blues ala Muddy that has lyrics about the music itself. Speaking of Muddy, there's a cover of "I Just Want To Make Love To You" that avoids all the inherent cliches. It my be hard to believe, but it works great. Check out the fine solo that's equal parts rock and blues. It's nice to see a guy who's been playing awhile put together a set of songs like this that give him a chance to show off his skills.
John Heidt - April 12, 2006
- Vintage Guitar Magazine
With his powerful contemporary blues band by his side, Dennis Jones reminds us why the blues gives so much to what we feel from day to day. On his title track, he sings about the impact of folks like Johnny Winter and Stevie Ray Vaughan on what drives us in our everyday activities. He's hit the nail squarely on the head, as he backs up his lyrics with fiery electric guitar conversation and a highly rhythmic band outing. Pianist/organist Marshall Thompson, drummer Michael Turner and bass guitarist Kenny (Boudro) Gray lend a hard-driving quality to the session, while Jimmy "Z" adds saucy harmonica and tenor saxophone thrills. Zac Harmon joins Jones for Willie Dixon's "I Just Want To Make Love To You" on which the band provides a strong nod to the blues tradition. A slow blues, such as "Something Good", gives Jones the opportunity to sing it from the heart. Throughout the session, he convinces with the kind of passion that comes from many years of payin' his dues. Originally from Baltimore, Jones lived in Europe for a time before coming out to the Southland. Somebody else's loss has turned into our gain. He's best when catching fire, as on "Automatic Love" and "Super Deluxe", where the whole band gets into the action. Jones and his crew create sparkling fireworks that come anchored by his skyrocketing guitar.
Jim Santella - February 13, 2006
- Southland Blues Magazine
Based in the Los Angeles area, Dennis Jones takes center stage with some soulful singing and impressive guitar work. The vocal style fits perfectly with the title of the CD and the guitar playing moves from crisp and tasty, to red hot, to subtle. Willie Dixon's "I Just Want To Make Love To You" is given a very modern, dance-club presentation; the tag-line at the end is priceless. Drayton Swain's "Slam Jam" recorded live at the Blue Cafe, is the lone instrumental track that gives Jones, drummer Michael Turner and bassist Tony Ruiz a chance to showcase their chops and their super tight ensemble sound. "No Mo" is a mid-tempo love lament. Jimmy "Z" really shines with his sax on "Super Deluxe." The title cut opens and closes with some resonator guitar riffs, but in between it has a contemporary, electric sound and opens lyrically with "Robert Johnson lit the fuse. Muddy Waters spread the news. It's heard around the world today. This music from the soul, from jazz to rock'n'roll, you know the blues are here to stay." It's a 5:37 tribute to the past and present of the music Jones clearly loves. "You're Wrong" has an infectious, up-tempo rhythm. The lyrics tell of a man resigned to being in love with a woman he knows will bring him grief, but he can't do anything about it. Marshall Thompson's keyboards add some melodic spice to this one.
Jim Primock - March 13, 2006
- "Holler" Colorado Blues Society
For a debut release, Dennis Jones sounds as though he's been getting it done for years. A fortyish guitarist/vocalist and a veteran of Southern California clubs, he has this blues thing down pat. From a line up of mostly self penned tunes, he fashions an eminently listenable platter steeped in popular urban, country, jazz and rock sounds. He's the rare newcomer to recording who displays mastery over his musical expression without resorting to bombart, flash, fury or histrionics. Jones possesses a confident, smoky midrange voice and shows a deft touch on both acoustic and electric guitar. The title tune spreads a soft, buttery acoustic guitar around a swaying, syncopated rhythm. There's just a taste of acoustic bottleneck or slide on "Yesterday Blues" and "Chevrolet" (the old Ed and Lonnie Young tune) wouldn't suffer by comparison with the version Taj Mahal released in the '70s. "Big Black Cat" and "I Have You" have an urban electric quality not unlike that of Joe Louis Walker. The former is framed by a tidy harmonica accompaniment, the latter harks of George Benson chord changes and sensibilities. "You Don't Know a Thing About Love" is a soft rocker graced by a soulful vocal backing chorus, with Jones furnishing acoustic and electric guitar tracks. "The N Word" isn't what one might suppose; rather it's a country-tinged lament about a girl who evidently can say "No". "Fresh Out of Love" is something of a smooth operator's equivalent of a full disclosure policy statement. The man also has a bit of a muse in him. "Deep Blues", for instance, has a nice acoustic picking and strumming passage at each stanza's outset and a pensive lyric: "Don't know how I got here/Down which road I came/Been in a deep blues so long/Each direction looks the same". "Pray Your Life Away" advocates hedonism. Jones: "Don't you pray your life away/Live each day like it's gonna be your last". Jones surrounds himself with veteran musicians who work the same Los Angeles territory. "Falling Up" makes a compelling argument that his recording career has already hit it's mid-race stride.
M.E. Travaglini
- Blues Revue
It may be a little surprising that Jone's new CD, "Passion For The Blues", doesn't sound like the guy still looking for his tone. Rather, the record is full of hard blues and rock that show his influences. Jones' new CD is the culmination of the trio work he has done for the last 15 years. It's an eclectic mix of blues, rock, jazz, and even country. "I've always listened to a gumbo of music," he noted. "Right now, I really like the funk style of blues that's kind of popping up. It's such an incredible force. It just throws you around." Its influence, he says, will end up on his next recording. Meanwhile, Jones is hoping to use "Passion For The Blues" to expand his reach beyond L.A. "I want to get out and play around the world," he said. "They treat me real well here, but L.A. is not a blues town." So the plan is to take the show to Texas and Mississippi - places Jones considers "the next level." Anyplace along the route he considers the next level best be ready!
John Heidt - October 2006
- Vintage Guitar Magazine
Discography
Dennis Jones Band CD Releases:
2006 "Passion For The Blues"
2004 "Falling Up"
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Blues guitarist Dennis Jones grew up in Baltimore County, Maryland in an area which he describes as the “boonies”. As a young man, Dennis was exposed to many styles of music from Motown and Gospel to Rock & Roll and R&B. Dennis first desired to play drums, but his parents thought that they would be too loud. So when he was 13 he asked for a guitar, two years later he had a Marshall Stack in the living room at which point his parents thought maybe the drums weren’t so loud after all. Dennis has always enjoyed tweaking his guitars and amps in search of that magic tone. By the time Dennis was 15, he was playing in his first band with musicians 3 to 4 years older and with more experience, which made his playing mature even faster. His musical exposure was quite varied. He’d listen to artists from Al Green, James Brown to Santana and The Rolling Stones. As a teen his older brother introduced him to Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and the Who. His major influences were what he affectionately refers to as the three “J’s” (Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Jimmy Page) and the three “K’s” – (B.B. King, Freddie King and Albert King). To this day, Dennis continues to be inspired by these legends. Dennis played guitar in several cover and original bands throughout his youth. For several years while stationed in Europe, he played with notable Blues and R&B bands. This was a great time in life where he got to meet people, experience new cultures and hone his skills. Dennis came back to the states in the early 80s and continued playing in mostly cover bands. In 1985, Dennis moved to Los Angeles where he played in a rock and funk band that was wooed by a few major labels. In the late Eighties, the music scene changed and so did his direction.
Dennis decided to concentrate solely on the blues and began writing it and playing it and has continued ever since. Dennis started the Dennis Jones Band in the mid 90s while continuing with other musical opportunities on the side. During his journey he has played with the BusBoys and with Zac Harmon and the Mid South Blues Revue in which he was featured on Zac’s CD "Live At Babe & Ricky's" as well as co-writing a song on "The Blues According to Zacariah". Dennis had the distinct pleasure of performing with Zac Harmon when he won the 2004 International Blues Challenge Championship. Over the years, Dennis has sat in with such artists as Guitar Shorty, Kenny Neal, Deborah Coleman, Chris Duarte and many more.
In 2004, Dennis released his debut CD “Falling Up” (Blue Rock Records) produced by Brian O’Neal of the BusBoys. “Falling Up” consists of blues, blues rock and incorporates the essence of country, R & B and jazz. Ten out of the twelve tunes are penned by Dennis. All in all, “Falling Up” is a mixture of all the music that Dennis loves and admires. This CD was well received by music critics, radio and fans alike. Memphis’ WEVL FM 90 called “Falling Up”, “one of the best albums we’ve heard in years”.
Dennis released his second CD, “Passion For The Blues" (Blue Rock Records) in 2006. Eight out of the ten tunes are penned by Dennis Jones. This CD has received great reviews and has been embraced by radio and fans as well. “Passion For The Blues” according to Vintage Guitar October 2006 is “full of hard rock and blues that show his influences”. Blues Revue’s June/July 2006 says, “Vaughan and Hendrix fans will find much to enjoy on “Passion For The Blues” as well as “two potential songs-of-the-year reveal Jones as a formidable writer”.
Life for Dennis Jones, as well as the Dennis Jones Band is shining bright. “Deep Blues” from his first CD “Falling Up” is featured in Lions Gate 2006 movie release “Sea of Fear”, Dennis recently returned from a successful European Tour and there are more over seas tours in the mix. In addition, the Dennis Jones Band continues to perform year round at clubs and festivals spreading their love of blues.
Dennis wants each new CD he releases to represent the continuing maturity of his musical style. This will clearly be captured on his upcoming live CD which will allow others to hear the electrifying blues that emit from Dennis Jones’ soul during each performance. Once you’ve heard his smoky vocals and searing guitar, you’ll be hooked.
Check out Dennis Jones at
www.dennisjonescentral.com and www.myspace.com/dennisjonesband.
Band Members
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