JW Jones Blues Band – Kissing In 29 Days (Crosscut Records).

JW returns with his latest set for Crosscut and things have not gone too bad since 2004s My Kind Of Evil. He opens with the high paced eponymous title track. This is more in the Rock n Roll era than blues but JW flits between the two quite often and to great effect. His guitar was one of the driving forces on the last album and there’s no sign of him letting up on this. Hey Girl keeps up the fast start to the album and again is on the Rock n Roll side of the fence, but only just. Clean guitar and saxophone are the highlights here. On All My Money, JW harks back to the golden era of the 50s and gives the song a 21st century feel. This swing blues has the classic themes of infidelity and money at its centre. I Don’t Want To Hear is classy, brassy and full of soul. In addition, there’s a lovely bass line from Nathan Morris and a sweet sax solo. Games has echoes of Robert Cray and has the horn section on top form whilst Parasomnia is a high octane big band blues instrumental that allows JW to be let loose on guitar.

The big band feel continues on Fly To You, which is smoothness personified. Got Me Chasin’ is an electric Kansas City style blues that shows JW can turn his hand to a number of techniques. There’s also some good harmonica work from Frank Seanga who also contributes sax to a number of tracks. There are some slower tracks on offer and Way Too Late is one example. This has full backing from the horns and the piano segment leading into the guitar solo is seamless. Hallelujah I Love Her So is an example of the swing blues that JW is so good at. He has to be one of the best exponents around. Pretty Little Sweet Thing heralds the return of a faster pace and this funky blues showcases a band that is on top of its form and Standing In Line is hard hitting electric blues that contains references to Elmore James’ The Sky Is Falling. The blues theme of love and death helps contribute to one of the highlights of the album. The staccato guitar and drums of JW and Artie Makris gives No Love a jumpy feel and this is a blues with a twist – just listen. The set is rounded off with Here She Comes, another that harks back to the 50s. It’s a medium pace finish to a high class album. Very professionally produced and played by a band that knows where it wants to be and ably backed up by the excellent Wind-Chill Factor Horns.

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www.jw-jones.com
Copyright David Blue 2006.