Tennessee Run
VizzTone, 2020
8/10
The veteran roots artist Lloyd Jones has had an impressive career that includes 7 albums now, countless tours and awards, as well as playing alongside legends like Albert Collins and Charlie Musselwhite. Here, he’s in the company of Kevin McKendree, Delbert McClinton and Teresa James, among many others, across 14 originals that were inspired by the Delbert McClinton ‘Sandy Beaches’ cruise.
Jones starts the listen with the bright horns, warm organ and playful guitar riffs of “You Got Me Good”, and this upbeat tone continues to the percussive strong and bouncy “Me & You”, as well as rollicking keys and danceable rhythm of the honky tonk friendly “I Wish I Could Remember Loving You”.
Closer to the middle, “Turn Me Loose” brings a timeless rock’n’roll spirit to the raw but tuneful setting that sounds like it could have been birthed in the ‘50s, while “That’s All I Want” benefits greatly from a busy display of brass prowess and plenty of festive grooves. “Chicken Bones”, the best of the best, then finds itself in swampy southern blues territory andthat’s as timeless as it is memorable.
Deeper into the record, “Dilly Dally” recruits dynamic chemistry between the talented players on hand, and “Chevrolet Angel” exits the listen soulful, and with a gospel influence amid soaring female backing vocals
Though he lives in Oregon, Jones brings the spirit of Memphis and New Orleans to these lively tracks, and though he might be the most criminally overlooked blues musician of this generation, his name should be synonymous with Gatemouth Brown, Coco Montoya and Joe Louis Walker, who, incidentally, have all covered his songs, which only brings further credibility to the strength of Jones’ song craft.
Travels well with: Andy Watts- Supergroove; JW-Jones- Sonic Departures