Alun Ashworth-Jones (31 October 1945 – 1 June 2008), known as Al Jones, was an influential English folk and blues songwriter, guitarist and singer, noted for his distinctive and original folk-rock guitar style and his often darkly humorous lyrics.
He first came to prominence in the Bristol folk scene in the mid-1960s, where he formed a trio with harmonica player Elliot Jackson and singer/guitarist Ian A. Anderson. They were resident performers at the Bristol Troubadour Club and frequently played at Les Cousins in London. Jones' recording debut was as part of that trio on an EP in 1966. He moved to London in 1968/1969 and featured on "Matchbox Days", an early Village Thing compilation of tracks by the white British "Blues Boom" artists of that period, alongside Jo-Ann Kelly, John James, Mike Cooper and Dave Kelly. He made an album before moving to Devon, then later to Cornwall. Anderson persuaded him to make a further album in 1972, "Jonesville", which featured a very early Rodney Matthews cover. Jones' reputation gained cult status in Britain and abroad, his albums becoming highly sought-after, and he occasionally emerged to play gigs in Europe, particularly Belgium and Germany, where he had a particularly dedicated following.
Instrument makingedit
His main business became the manufacture of his Ashworth range of instrument pick-ups and he later joined with Nigel Thornbory, the guitar maker, to produce the silicone rubber-stringed Ashbory bass, which is the only British instrument ever licensed to Fender; it is no longer in production.
Re-emergence from obscurityedit
Colin Irwin, in fRoots magazine in 1998 wrote about Jones: "In 1991 he had a call from a friend who wanted to put on a concert, and couldn't believe it when he found himself agreeing to appear. 'I couldn't play anything at first, it had been such a long time and my fingertips had gone soft.' But on a business trip to London he got his hands on a Strat and it felt so good he couldn't put it down. Gradually he eased back into gigging and sitting in with any damn band that passed by. 'People like Wizz Jones and John Renbourn would come down and I'd play guitar with them. I remember John playing something and it sounded familiar and I said 'John I know that one!' He said 'you should…you wrote it!' He started writing again. Prolifically. Got a new acoustic guitar. And ultimately he came to record a brand new CD, Swimming Pool' in 1998.
His gigs at that time were mainly in Cornwall and he rarely travelled beyond the Duchy's boundary.
In 2000, Jones recorded "A little bit of Heaven" under the band name Blues De-luxe, with fellow Cornish musician and long term friend Pete Flaskett. The album consisted of a selection of songs from the album Swimming pool as well as some new material written by Jones and Flaskett. Blues De-luxe took part in festivals and gigs around Cornwall for several years.
In 2001, Mooncrest Records reissued Alun Ashworth-Jones as a double CD with numerous, previously unissued, "bonus" tracks including live recordings from April 1969 with a full electric band, and five acoustic tracks recorded in 1971.[1]
His early works were reissued in 2007 on the Castle Records label as a double CD, All My Friends Are Back Again.
Jones died suddenly and unexpectedly on 1 June 2008 at the age of 62.[2][3]
(*) reissued on Ace Records (UK) Big Beat label, catalogue number CDWIKD 168, in 1997 (**) tracks also available as bonus tracks on 2001 CD reissue of "Alun Ashworth-Jones"
Referencesedit
^"Answers - The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions". Answers.com. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
^. 17 July 2011. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
^"Family notices – Alun David ASHWORTH-JONES: Obituary". Western Morning News. 6 June 2008. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
External linksedit
Al Jones on Answers.com (Richie Unterberger, Allmusic)
Martin & Kingsbury – Introducing Al Jones
April 10, 2024
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Al Jones English musician news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message Alun Ashworth Jones 31 October 1945 1 June 2008 known as Al Jones was an influential English folk and blues songwriter guitarist and singer noted for his distinctive and original folk rock guitar style and his often darkly humorous lyrics Alun Ashworth JonesAl Jones in 1998Background informationAlso known asAl JonesBorn 1945 10 31 31 October 1945Saffron Walden Essex EnglandDied1 June 2008 2008 06 01 aged 62 GenresFolk blues folk rockOccupation s Songwriter guitarist singerInstrument s Guitar vocalsYears active1960s 2008 Contents 1 Early career 2 Instrument making 3 Re emergence from obscurity 4 Discography 4 1 Tracks on compilations 5 References 6 External linksEarly career editHe first came to prominence in the Bristol folk scene in the mid 1960s where he formed a trio with harmonica player Elliot Jackson and singer guitarist Ian A Anderson They were resident performers at the Bristol Troubadour Club and frequently played at Les Cousins in London Jones recording debut was as part of that trio on an EP in 1966 He moved to London in 1968 1969 and featured on Matchbox Days an early Village Thing compilation of tracks by the white British Blues Boom artists of that period alongside Jo Ann Kelly John James Mike Cooper and Dave Kelly He made an album before moving to Devon then later to Cornwall Anderson persuaded him to make a further album in 1972 Jonesville which featured a very early Rodney Matthews cover Jones reputation gained cult status in Britain and abroad his albums becoming highly sought after and he occasionally emerged to play gigs in Europe particularly Belgium and Germany where he had a particularly dedicated following Instrument making editHis main business became the manufacture of his Ashworth range of instrument pick ups and he later joined with Nigel Thornbory the guitar maker to produce the silicone rubber stringed Ashbory bass which is the only British instrument ever licensed to Fender it is no longer in production Re emergence from obscurity editColin Irwin in fRoots magazine in 1998 wrote about Jones In 1991 he had a call from a friend who wanted to put on a concert and couldn t believe it when he found himself agreeing to appear I couldn t play anything at first it had been such a long time and my fingertips had gone soft But on a business trip to London he got his hands on a Strat and it felt so good he couldn t put it down Gradually he eased back into gigging and sitting in with any damn band that passed by People like Wizz Jones and John Renbourn would come down and I d play guitar with them I remember John playing something and it sounded familiar and I said John I know that one He said you should you wrote it He started writing again Prolifically Got a new acoustic guitar And ultimately he came to record a brand new CD Swimming Pool in 1998 His gigs at that time were mainly in Cornwall and he rarely travelled beyond the Duchy s boundary In 2000 Jones recorded A little bit of Heaven under the band name Blues De luxe with fellow Cornish musician and long term friend Pete Flaskett The album consisted of a selection of songs from the album Swimming pool as well as some new material written by Jones and Flaskett Blues De luxe took part in festivals and gigs around Cornwall for several years In 2001 Mooncrest Records reissued Alun Ashworth Jones as a double CD with numerous previously unissued bonus tracks including live recordings from April 1969 with a full electric band and five acoustic tracks recorded in 1971 1 His early works were reissued in 2007 on the Castle Records label as a double CD All My Friends Are Back Again Jones died suddenly and unexpectedly on 1 June 2008 at the age of 62 2 3 Discography editAnderson Jones Jackson Saydisc 33SD 125 5 track EP 1966 Alun Ashworth Jones Parlophone 1969 Jonesville The Village Thing 1972 Swimming Pool Weekend Beatnik 1998 Alun Ashworth Jones reissue by Mooncrest Records with many previously unissued bonus tracks 2001 All My Friends Are Back Again compilation of Alun Ashworth Jones Jonesville and additional tracks Mooncrest 2007 Tracks on compilations edit Matchbox Days The Village Thing 1972 Searchin the Desert 49 Greek Street RCA Records SF8118 1970 reissued on Ace Records UK Big Beat label catalogue number CDWIKD 168 in 1997 tracks also available as bonus tracks on 2001 CD reissue of Alun Ashworth Jones References edit Answers The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life s Questions Answers com Retrieved 1 December 2017 fRoots 17 July 2011 Archived from the original on 17 July 2011 Retrieved 1 December 2017 Family notices Alun David ASHWORTH JONES Obituary Western Morning News 6 June 2008 Retrieved 23 October 2012 External links editAl Jones on Answers com Richie Unterberger Allmusic Martin amp Kingsbury Introducing Al Jones Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Al Jones English musician amp oldid 1213664607, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
