Back in 2007 I described British guitarist Lee Jones as someone who was destined to go far. His debut album, ‘Swish’, proved to be a fine blend of up tempo and tranquil rhythms which sounded as if they had come right out of Southern California and was all the more amazing for the fact that Jones hails from and makes his music in the semi rural confines of the heart of England. Indeed the market towns of Hereford and Worcester are places a million miles away from what one would associate with a contemporary jazz groove but that notwithstanding, and four years, later he has returned with the sophisticatedly jazzy ‘Songs From The 13th Hour’. Not only does it includes guest performances from the likes of Larry Coryell and Jean Toussaint but also marks out Jones as someone who is making music that is accessible yet thought provoking.
Take for example the wonderful concoction that is ‘Guess Who’ where sax from Andrew Shillingford takes on a decidedly straight ahead disposition and in so doing contrasts delightfully with a rhythm from Jones that has something of a Bob James vibe to it. Talking of influences, ‘Game On’ has a Rippingtons-like groove and a Jones - Coryell guitar combination that is quite special while elsewhere the CD’s only cover version takes Jones on a magically mellifluous journey with the Norah Jones staple ‘Feelin The Same Way’.
The jazzily complex ‘Iconic’ features fine muted trumpet from Ben Thomas and although ‘13th Hour’ is a roller coaster of light and shade, ‘In Another Time’ is anchored by the double bass of Zoltan Dekany and invigorated by haunting violin from Ric Sanders.
‘Western Escape’ has a pleasant mid tempo lilt, ultra smooth sax from Shillingford and more immaculate playing from Jones. It is right up there with the best that the album has to offer but just shading it as Smooth Jazz Therapy top track is the zesty ‘Behind The Scenes’ where splashes of flugelhorn from Ben Thomas prove to be the icing on this extremely rhythmic cake.
As Jones uses the tantalizingly mellow ‘Silhouette’ to bring down the curtain on ‘Songs From The 13th Hour’, the listener is left to contemplate the splendour that has gone before and, given his relatively young age, the riches that are yet to come.
For more on Lee Jones go to www.leejones-guitarist.com.
