Lew Thomas Jones
Teacher/performer releases CD from ‘80s era
by KT
Lew Thomas Jones presented a "new-old" CD recently, at Mock Crest Tavern on N. Lombard.
This recording was made live in 1987 at the Satyricon by Billy Triplett, who gave Jones a master copy. It's called Before the Gold Rush and it's hard rock.
That was an era when bands were starting to get signed and the drug trade had not yet dug its claws into the scene. "I wanted to document that time," asserts Jones. Triplett handed Jones the live recording as it was done. The quality was so good, Jones was able to get a good-sounding CD from it. Since Triplett is famous for his high quality work; having his name on your CD is a big plus.
Jones is a delightful conversationalist; intense, chatty and brilliant, with a gift for relating his experiences. He teaches guitar as well. Teaching, a skill he needed to study for, takes a lot of personal energy and will actually leave you tired. It's not an easy job.
In his live, acoustic-level performance, Jones is a popular act and a strong guitar player. He employs alternate tunings for his slide work and he makes it look like the guitar has it all, while he is just along for the ride. And, what a ride!! Jones uses a flat-top guitar with a sound-hole pickup for a little boost in the tavern ambience. Of course, you can use any style of guitar you choose, but generally the flat-top guitars with the round sound hole allow the strings to mix and ring together, creating a chordal background for accompanying a singer. The arch-top f-hole guitars are engineered to separate the notes more, making it ideal for soloing.
Jones does both accompaniment and strong-handed solos on one guitar. He performs a mix of his original material plus his unique and sometimes quirky arrangements of tunes made popular by others. He mixes jazz chords with his accompaniment, with unique and well-supported lead lines, employing harmonics, octaves and chord substitution. His dry, soulful voice makes plain statements in the lyrics, statements that are both straightforward and subtle in the nuances of meaning. The emotion comes across well.
Jones rendered nice solos on tunes like Red House and Little Wing; even on these blues standards he always sounds live, never canned. His second set this Wednesday evening included a special Lew Thomas Jones arrangement of New York, New York and an amazing arrangement of Take Five, that segued into St. James Infirmary, perhaps hinting at his understated humor.
Mock Crest Tavern, at 3435 N. Lombard, sits on the eastern petticoats of the St. Johns district. Its large neon sign reminds one of a '40s-'50s era movie theater. It is comfortable and friendly, with fast and attentive service. A big-screen TV, video lottery games and Portland memorabilia are featured in the decor. They advertise live blues five nights a week, open mike on Thursdays at 8:30 p.m., and "Never-A-Cover."
Join the Mock Crest neighbors for a relaxing, fun time and Lew Thomas Jones for some very nice guitar playing.