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Taking the Crossover Blues Road
​Laurence Jones – Live From Camden broadcast, Powerhaus, London 25th April 2021
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Laurence Jones' blues rocking credentials can be heard to fine effect on albums such as debut release Thunder in the Sky (recorded when he was only eighteen) and the Mike Vernon produced Take Me High.

But he has also, more lately, showcased his penchant for soul-pop and crossover blues on 2017's The Truth (sadly hamstrung by producer Gregory Elias’s rearrangements and over-sanitised production) and the much better (but still a little studio-sterile) Laurence Jones Band album in 2019.
In short (song arrangement), two albums that offered up soul-pop/ crossover blues potential, but certainly not perfection.

Meanwhile back (after a near 18 month live hiatus) at the on stage ranch known as the Powerhaus for a lockdown show...

From its slow build swell of organ keys and guitar licks 'I’m Waiting' powered up to top gear and threw itself down the blues rockin’ highway in similar sonic shape to its Laurence Jones Band studio variant but with that added live, even without an audience, vibrancy.
The song was also, rather obviously, unhampered by the anti-climatic and frankly needless quick fade of the studio version; here the number and its big finish conclusion were delivered in fine and purposeful fashion.

But then there is no question a song such as 'I’m Waiting' thrives in the live environment, at home on stage in the company of LJ, right hand keys man Bennett Holland and a new rhythm section of Jack Alexander Timmis (bass) and Samuel Jenkins (drums).
The band were joined for the one hour show by the voices of Nadia Latoya and Georgia Graham, who did a fine job throughout, adding backing vocal sass on the up-tempo numbers and blues-soul appeal on the slower songs.

While showcasing a number of Laurence Jones Band tracks was a prime requisite of the set, it was good to hear the likes of the funky 'n' punchy 'What’s it Gonna Be' (from the 2015 album of that name) getting an airing, here underpinned by some seriously bubbly bass lines from Jack Alexander Timmis.  

And The Truth of the matter was songs from that particular album – 'What Would You Do' (carrying more weight and a spacious groove, extended to allow Bennett Holland to lay down some seriously tasty soloing), the soul-pop smooth 'Never Good Enough' (featuring a couple of nicely weighted and melodically framed solos from the Jones boy) and tasteful piano-led ballad 'Take Me' 
– all got a chance to show what they could do outside of their restrictive studio confines.

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Laurence Jones Band songs making their mark included the sassy rock and Rolling Stones brace of 'Stay' and 'Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,' the funky 'Wipe Those Tears Dry' and, should there yet be any doubt Laurence Jones can play the blues, the slow and sultry 'Mistreated,' LJ conjuring atmospheric licks over Bennett Holland’s keyboard backing and the recurring, pulsating rhythm delivered by Messrs Timmis and Jenkins.

Even more blues powerful was 'Thunder in the Sky,' a now ten minute long debut album blues-de-force of striking six-string play (it's also a song that would launch a full Fan Inquiry if Laurence Jones ever decided to drop it from the set).

A couple of cover song change ups also made an impression – Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 'Fortunate Son' cleverly interpolated the riff of the Spencer Davis Group's 'Gimme Some Lovin’' (a nice touch) while a boisterous, set closing 'Purple Haze' featured not just some pretty hot six-string licks but a pretty commanding vocal from Laurence Jones (it’s noticeable that Jones is singing better (and more confidently) live, now, than at any time in the past).
   
The Powerhaus show wasn’t broadcast live (pre-recorded to allow little interspersed segments of LJ introducing some of the songs) but it was a full live performance and, it has to be said, the strongest outing this reviewer has yet heard (and seen) from Laurence Jones, who is now more musically mature in every way.
(He even looks the slick backed hair and bearded blues dude part now; just a few years back you got the impression young Mr Jones had to be on and off stage early as possible so he could get his homework done).

It was also another excellent streaming performance reminder of just what we’ve been missing this last year and more, courtesy of Laurence Jones and his accomplished band taking the crossover blues road in fine live style.

Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ



Live From Camden is a concert series filmed by Live Eye at the newly refurbished Powerhaus in Camden Market, London.
Formerly the legendary Dingwalls, the venue reopened in December 2020 with a show by Van Morrison and is the new home for concert promoter Vince Power, founder of The Mean Fiddler, The Grand Clapham, The Forum, Subterania, Nell’s and many other venues and festivals.
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