The emergence of a new contemporary jazz artist in the United Kingdom is always special and one better than most is guitarist Lee Jones. His debut album ‘Swish’, which he has both written and arranged, is a delightful blend of up tempo and tranquil rhythms that sound like they might have come right out of Southern California. More surprising therefore is that Jones hails from and makes his music in the semi rural confines of the market towns of Shropshire, Hereford and Worcester that are places a million miles away from what one would associate with a contemporary jazz groove. That not withstanding the quality of his playing, and the standard of the backing musicians he has gathered around him, leaves no doubt that Lee Jones is someone who is destined to go far.
Born in 1984, Jones names George Benson and Larry Carlton among his musical influences. He has cut his teeth with performances at various jazz festivals and, along the way, picked up the ‘Best New Instrumentalist’ of the year award from Jazz FM. Jones is now studying for his BMus Jazz (Hons) at the Birmingham Conservatoire in England’s West Midlands although, if the depth of ‘Swish’ is anything to go, its likely to be his talent and not his qualifications that gets him noticed. The CD opens up with the tight and up tempo title track that is driven by enticing keyboards from Alex Steele. When Jones later reprises this fusion flavoured winner as a ‘jam mix’ it’s the turn of Ben Thomas on trumpet to shine and he keeps it funky for ‘Cookin On Gas’. This time it is Pete Parkinson on sax who makes a telling contribution and Parkinson is also around for the wonderfully mellow ‘Retrospective’ and the equally stunning ‘Majik’.
The gently funky ‘Dorian Diversion’ is replete with Jones ‘Benson-esque’ playing and when he turns it down for the laid back yet bluesy ‘One Little Blue Note’ the end product is just as good.. Another turned down gem comes courtesy of ‘Out Of The Day’ and the jazzy ‘Halfway House’ has a vibe all of its own. In fact the title might well speak to the blend that Jones comfortably creates from the contemporary and straight ahead elements of his playing. It’s a combination that serves him well and helps confirm ‘Swish’ as a really accomplished first effort. For more on Lee Jones go to www.leejones-guitarist.com
