• Registered: 2008-02-09
  • Posts: 104

Topic: Joe Bonamassa and Paul Jones

Hi Everyone

I'm writing further to my post on the review messageboard.

"A highlight of the evening was when Paul Jones joined in, a number called "You Upset Me", with his harp. They had only just rehearsed it that afternoon, but it sounded really awesome.  I think that they should make an album together.  What do you all think?"

Paul Jones, as well as presenting his Radio Two blues programme, also  plays harp with The Blues Band and, sometimes also, with a group called The Manfreds.

You can read more about Paul Jones here

http://www.thebluesband.com/

You can also read lots of my Blues Band reviews and adventures etc. here

http://www.phpbbplanet.com/thebluesband … 95a52f38a2

Enjoy!

Catfish Jane

"I guess the music is the reason and the key, for me. It takes the blues, to see!"  Gary Fletcher, of The Blues Band. The Blues Band are Paul Jones, Tom McGuinness, Dave Kelly, Gary Fletcher and Rob Townsend.

2 Reply by Ges (edited by Ges 2008-02-09 09:46:37)

  • Ges
  • Ges
  • Titanium
  • Offline
  • From: NW England
  • Registered: 2006-09-25
  • Posts: 845

Re: Joe Bonamassa and Paul Jones

Hi Catfish Jane

Welcome. You'll find some fine folks on this website who love the Blues.
Judging by the number of posts on the BB forum you may well be their Nr 1 fan !!

Your enthusiasm for the music has inspired me to check these guys out live.
I'll be trying to get tickets for Morcambe in May as it's the nearest to me.

Joe and Paul Jones playing together ?
BRING IT ON !!
Would be superb methinks smile

  • Registered: 2008-02-09
  • Posts: 104

Re: Joe Bonamassa and Paul Jones

Hi Ges

I'm not really The Blues Band's No. 1 fan, her name is Irene and she lives in North Yorkshire, but she doesn't have a computer, nor do a number of other big Blues Band fans.

I do get a bit lonely on The Blues Band forum, as not many other people post on it.  Blues Band fans tend to be very laid back and don't bother to support their guys very much.  I think that The Blues Band deserve a stronger fan base to help promote them more.  That's the only way that blues artists such as Van Morrison and Joe get to be very well known.

I mention Joe's name whenever I meet, or correspond with other blues fans.  I met a couple of young guys, at an Xmas party, who were blues fans.  I asked them if they had heard of Joe Bonamassa and they looked blank.  I then told them that he was a huge rising star in the blues world and they looked at me aghast.  They were wondering how on earth I could know something about the blues that they didn't. 

Our local promoter of blues gigs is also a bit vague about Joe, so I've been telling him all about Joe.  The reason that they don't know much about Joe is that they don't listen to The Paul Jones Radio Show!

I go to see The Blues Band as often as I can.  The next Blues Band gig I'm going to is, at Camberley, on Wednesday.  Their sets contain a mix of both acoustic and electric blues.  They don't keep set lists and just play what they feel on the day of the gig.  They keep each other guessing what's coming next, so their gigs are always interesting.  The Blues Band have thought of a whole lot of new blues songs for their 2008 tour to add to their massive repetoire.

I do hope that you manage to get to The Blues Band gig at Morcombe.

I think that next year Joe's promoters should put him on at The Royal Albert Hall with some special guests, including Paul Jones.  That would be very exciting.   The RAH is a much finer venue for blues artists, than The Empire, Shepherd's Bush.  I'm going to the RAH to see Chris Rea presenting The Return of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, in March.  I'm not too sure what it's all about, but I spotted a flyer for it back in November and thought it looked interesting, so booked a ticket.   The track that PJ played on his show this week sounds really great so I'm glad that I've booked for that gig.

Catfish Jane

"I guess the music is the reason and the key, for me. It takes the blues, to see!"  Gary Fletcher, of The Blues Band. The Blues Band are Paul Jones, Tom McGuinness, Dave Kelly, Gary Fletcher and Rob Townsend.
  • From: Deep in the forest
  • Registered: 2007-02-11
  • Posts: 5,296

Re: Joe Bonamassa and Paul Jones

Hang in there CJ...Many people misunderstand "the Blues"..Think it's only sad songs played on homemade guitars. You should formally join the Street Team..You are doing the work already. Thanks for all you've shared..I hope you get to meet some of our British Bonabuddys at a show!!!     Cathy

  • Registered: 2008-02-09
  • Posts: 104

Re: Joe Bonamassa and Paul Jones

Hi Cathy

Yeh!  I know what you mean.  Personally, I find that listening to the blues is much more satisfying than other sorts of music such as rock, country and folk.   What do you think?

I'm currently listening to Joe's "Black Night" and it's just so AWESOME!

Catfish Jane

"I guess the music is the reason and the key, for me. It takes the blues, to see!"  Gary Fletcher, of The Blues Band. The Blues Band are Paul Jones, Tom McGuinness, Dave Kelly, Gary Fletcher and Rob Townsend.
  • From: Deep in the forest
  • Registered: 2007-02-11
  • Posts: 5,296

Re: Joe Bonamassa and Paul Jones

Well CJ, That discussion is long and complicated. I have a friend who says all music is the blues..there's just a big house with lots of rooms. I know there has to be some kind of label just to keep track of it all..For me, it's all about how it makes me feel. Classical can be very cerebral and flutter my emotions. Folk is the same. But Blues and Blues/Rock go straight to my core, very organic. It's the music that makes me feel "alive"..Finding Joe has enabled me to feed that beast and I'm grateful. He has a special tone, feel, well, we call it MoJoe...As for Black Knight..good choice..It's the 1st one my roommate learned to play and his favorite on SG. Cathy

  • From: Edgewater, FL
  • Registered: 2007-12-08
  • Posts: 5,046

Re: Joe Bonamassa and Paul Jones

Y'all want me to start?

It'll be good for you, too.  (wink)

RnBveteran
bigjeffjones

Rock On & Keep the FAITH
             It is
Blues From the Bottoms

bigjeffjones's Website

  • Registered: 2008-02-09
  • Posts: 104

Re: Joe Bonamassa and Paul Jones

I went to see bluesman Michael Roach, at Havant Arts Centre, a couple of weeks ago.  Michael usually has a big band with him, but this time he was doing a solo gig and talking about the origins of blues etc.  He also reckons that blues is really all music.  It's a bit of a brain storming concept as we are so used to thinking of music in categories.  I'm very sure though that there is a fine line between folk and blues, also between blues and jazz.  When blues, jazz and funk get mixed up it makes smunk!  Have you heard Pee Wee Ellis's smunky music?  It's pretty cool.

CJ

"I guess the music is the reason and the key, for me. It takes the blues, to see!"  Gary Fletcher, of The Blues Band. The Blues Band are Paul Jones, Tom McGuinness, Dave Kelly, Gary Fletcher and Rob Townsend.
  • From: Southern New Jersey, USA
  • Registered: 2006-04-23
  • Posts: 2,966

Re: Joe Bonamassa and Paul Jones

Hi Catfish Jane,
I noticed your comment on Van Morrison...he was HUGE here in the states going back to the 70's with lots of radio hits...I like his bluesy style as well.  And Smunk, I've never heard of, but need to check out since I like all 3 of those genres!!  I've been trying to uncover more funky music, I especially love when a bass gets funky, so I'll have to check out Pee Wee.  Welcome to Bonamania! smile

Catfish Jane wrote:

I went to see bluesman Michael Roach, at Havant Arts Centre, a couple of weeks ago.  Michael usually has a big band with him, but this time he was doing a solo gig and talking about the origins of blues etc.  He also reckons that blues is really all music.  It's a bit of a brain storming concept as we are so used to thinking of music in categories.  I'm very sure though that there is a fine line between folk and blues, also between blues and jazz.  When blues, jazz and funk get mixed up it makes smunk!  Have you heard Pee Wee Ellis's smunky music?  It's pretty cool.

CJ

StringsforaCURE~Helping cancer patients one STRING at a time.
http://stringsforacure.com/

Angela's Website

  • Registered: 2008-02-09
  • Posts: 104

Re: Joe Bonamassa and Paul Jones

Hi Angela

I'm listening to Joe at the moment.  The programme that he recorded for The Paul Jones R 'n' B Show, on BBC Radio 2, is being broadcast live now.  Joe sounds absolutely awesome.  There is certainly something extra special about his playing.

Van is still extremely popular over here.  He has a new album out called "Back On Top".  I like his music very much and have a number of his CDs, but he doesn't interest me so much as a performer.  I've been to see him once, but he doesn't come back for encores and how much he plays depends on his mood.  I prefer going to see The Blues Band, as they are very entertaining, as well as being musical geniuses and they always come back for an encore (as long as there's time). 

Pee Wee Ellis invented the term "smunk"  for his smooth funky music.  Pee Wee was the saxophonist and musical director for both James Brown and Van Morrison.  Now he's living over here in England and doing his own thing.  A couple of years ago he recorded an album, in Germany, called "Different Rooms" which is fantastic.  You can read my account about it here http://www.phpbbplanet.com/themanfredsf … nfredsforu

'cause it's a long story. 

This is Pee Wee's website
http://www.peewee-ellis.com/

His biography is here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_%22Pee_Wee%22_Ellis

Joe has just been singing "Sloe Gin".  Wow!!!  Is all I can say!!!

Catfish Jane

PS Now he's playing "Woke Up Dreaming". Wow! Wow! Wow!

"I guess the music is the reason and the key, for me. It takes the blues, to see!"  Gary Fletcher, of The Blues Band. The Blues Band are Paul Jones, Tom McGuinness, Dave Kelly, Gary Fletcher and Rob Townsend.
  • From: Deep in the forest
  • Registered: 2007-02-11
  • Posts: 5,296

Re: Joe Bonamassa and Paul Jones

C.J. ...Joe and Paul were really HOT together..Loved "You Upset Me" with the harp....really steamed...I enjoyed the whole thing as well as all the interview..I'm as ramped up from this as possible..All you lucky Europeans..Your time is now!!!    Have a BonaBlast!   Cathy

  • Registered: 2008-02-09
  • Posts: 104

Re: Joe Bonamassa and Paul Jones

Hi Cathy

Yeh! Joe and Paul sounded so awesome together.  You know that I remembered "You Upset Me Baby" as an instrumental, as I was just concentrating on listening to them playing together, at the studio. 

I have to have my fix of Paul's harp live, as often as possible.  My luck will be in again tomorrow evening, at Camberley Theatre.

I think it would be great if Joe and Paul recorded an album together.  Joe might even find some interesting songs in The Blues Band song book to record!

CJ

"I guess the music is the reason and the key, for me. It takes the blues, to see!"  Gary Fletcher, of The Blues Band. The Blues Band are Paul Jones, Tom McGuinness, Dave Kelly, Gary Fletcher and Rob Townsend.
  • From: Southern New Jersey, USA
  • Registered: 2006-04-23
  • Posts: 2,966

Re: Joe Bonamassa and Paul Jones

CJ-About Van-I guess some things never change, he walked off a stage back in the 70's after 20 or 30 minutes with no explanation...About 5 years ago, my husband met a former keyboardist of Van's, also played for the band Squeeze, if you remember them, had some negative things to say about the difficulties of working with Van...  I know at one point, Van had serious drinking issues which is equal to moody behavior...Van will always be the man for making it fashionable to dance in the moonlight...

I didn't hear any of Pee Wee's music  on his site, intrigued by how smunk sounds, will try amazon...

StringsforaCURE~Helping cancer patients one STRING at a time.
http://stringsforacure.com/

Angela's Website

  • Registered: 2008-02-09
  • Posts: 104

Re: Joe Bonamassa and Paul Jones

Angela

Try here

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu … =224009111

The Manfreds played "Chicken" in their set last year.

Enjoy!

CJ

"I guess the music is the reason and the key, for me. It takes the blues, to see!"  Gary Fletcher, of The Blues Band. The Blues Band are Paul Jones, Tom McGuinness, Dave Kelly, Gary Fletcher and Rob Townsend.