"what really got to me were the lyrics. ...it is
“blues†transformed, updated and
urbanized."
..
Taking Blues to New Places with R&B, Soul, and Urban Style : "Exquisite Modern and Traditional Blues and Neo-Soul by one of the
most talented artists on the contemporary scene.
Billy Jones is a young, genius-level, totally charismatic veteran
who shows all the signs of becoming as big or bigger than Buddy
Guy. This young man has enormous talents.
I recently witnessed a 2-song DVD by Billy and his band that just
added to my excitement regarding this on-stage dynamo who boasts
movie-star good looks, a Huge voice, great guitar-playing and a Hot
repertoire of tunes. All tracks were written by Billy ...and what a
voice!
With Billy Jones showing so many talents and covering every single
genre close to Blues, the Man is a
‘can’t
miss’ star-in-the-making…No
wait, he’s not
in-the-making…He’s made!
If a major U.S. label doesn’t scoop up this
high-level Blues genius within the next 3-4 months then
we’re all in trouble! But, whatever happens, No
One is going to keep a lid on Billy Jones. He’s
off on-a-rocket folks and we certainly need a Big Blues talent like
his." "One of the very Best Authentic Modern Blues and Soul albums in
recent memory." http://www.realbluesmagazine.com/ http://myspace.com/billyjonesbluez
...gangsta bluez from the ghetto. ...gangsta bluez for the ghetto :"Billy Jones is one of the ‘good
guys’. He is a young man from Arkansas who is
truly interested in advancing and extending
‘Great Soul Music' from the Ancient to the
Future’ and making sure that it is available for
future generations. As such he is one of my personal musical
heroes. We don’t have enough artists like him
and hopefully he is going to inspire others.
Updating the blues for the 21st century is not an easy matter...
Billy Jones has managed it.
Think Bobby Womack with Curtis Mayfield's social conscience and you
are getting close.
Perhaps the most important thing to note is that his sound is more
acceptable to modern ears and maybe that will get more people to
listen to his message.
Jones has a voice that will enchant you. This is a fine, soulful
album.
It's a first person rumination about "growing up in the ghetto"
that packs a poignant wallop. The message is deep and heartfelt...
lyrically-inspired Contemporary R&B." http://www.Soul-Patrol.com http://www.blackplanet.com/billyjonesblue...
"Billy Jones brings back the Thrill that once belonged to Jimi
Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush. ...A
refreshing blast of the really great sound of Healing Blues, Jazz,
Funk Music. Loaded with Rich Blues Tradition B.B. King, Muddy
Waters, Even Johnny Winter Flavors. I'd recommend this to any avid
blues listener and I look forward to hearing more from the
reclusive Billy Jones."www.southerncoalitionmovement.com/... www.centerstagechicago.com/music/w...
..
The Incredible Resurrection, Metamorphosis and Re-invention of
Blues and Soul Music :
No one who I can think of, except perhaps James
“Blood†Ulmer, has taken a truly
contemporary look at traditional blues with the musical and lyrical
intensity of Billy Jones. While Ulmer’s music is
often dark and angry, Jones takes a more restrained and soulful
approach while still expressing deep love, despair, and other
intense feelings with his music.
Musically, there is a mix of styles on the CD. Jones can hammer out
some hard, driving blues or go more traditional in his approach.
But what really got to me were the lyrics. There are several songs
where Billy gets into the urban problems of his "hometown."
The modern, urban blues lyrics start right from the beginning of
the CD. He starts out with some slow jam/blues in a ballad called
“Here With Youâ€. He sings of how deep
his love is: “your love is much warmer than my
prison cell, so if the homies ride tonight I think
I’m gonna stay right hereâ€. With the
second track, “Pull My 44â€, Jones
sings of a jealous lovers' rage. He describes his lovers' beauty
and talks about how he’s jealous and if
“I catch you messin’
wit’ my woman, Man I’m
mo’ pull my 44â€. The music has a
Mississippi Delta component to it, yet it is modern and urban.
Later, we hear “Crystalâ€; this is a
semi-psychedelic rocking song about his addiction and the dangers
of Crystal. It’s not a girlfriend named Crystal,
but crystal methamphetamine. In the title track,
“My Hometown’, Jones talks
frankly about the problems in the ghetto. Schools not teaching you
what to do, gangs, violence, meth labs, broken families, and a
repressive system all become part of these modern blues.
Jones goes a more traditional R&B route with music and lyrics
in cuts like “Right Now†and "Never
Let You Goâ€. The deep bass notes driving the beat and
his vocals are a throwback to an older soul era where he sings of
loves won and lost. In “The Clownâ€
Billy goes to his guitar and sweetly bends some notes to punctuate
the song about his lost love, where he states
“and girl for you I’m just a
clown.â€
Top to bottom, this is a nice little CD.
Jones calls his music “Bluez†and
sings about the problems of his life and hometown with heart and
feeling; it is “blues†transformed,
updated and urbanized. This North Little Rock, Arkansas musician is
the real deal and “my Hometown†is a
great CD!" http://crossroadsreviews.blogspot.com...
The Incredible Resurrection, Metamorphosis and Re-invention of
Blues and Soul Music :
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