If you’re looking for a little authenticity this year on St. Patrick’s Day, look no further than Celtic Crossings Pub or the Bird Cage Saloon. Both venues will host Irish singer and songwriter Karl Jones in their celebration of all things Irish, and it doesn’t get more authentic than this. Jones was born and raised in Ireland, grew up surrounded by traditional Irish music, and has incorporated that heritage into the music he creates. He still sports a little of that Irish brogue in his speech—probably even a little more on the day Americans drink green beer to honor an Irish saint. Karl’s musical journey began at an early age, when his grandfather would take him round to taverns in the small seaside town of Wexford. “There were often some stellar balladeers playing,” he recalls. “I love the lilting sound in the voice that is the hallmark of well-sung Irish ballads.” Karl says he wanted to be a good singer as early as he can remember, and by the time he was in his teens, he was writing his own songs. “That was never hard for me. It took a long time for me to want to learn other people’s songs...” He started on guitar at the age of seven, later influenced by both Jimi Hendrix, who made him want to learn to play electric, and Dave Matthews, who he says “dispelled any doubt about how cool and relevant pure acoustic guitar can sound, and what can be accomplished with it,” shaking its reputation as a folk instrument.
Jones also remembers another pivotal moment: Michael Glabiki of Rusted Root did an acoustic show in Flagstaff in 2003, where he “unleashed so much energy, charisma, and rock sensibility that I made the decision there and then to make playing solo an important component of what I express as an artist.” Jones strives to recreate on the guitar the fiddle riffs and chord combinations of the traditional Irish music he grew up on. When he’s not playing solo shows, Jones leads a trio he calls Dublin Soul, accompanied by Courtney Yeates on cello and vocals, and Lindzy Kat on bass. The music they produce is shaped by the legendary Van Morrison album, Astral Weeks, and the music of Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice, who also uses a simple trio of guitar, cello and bass.
Jones has nothing but high praise for his fellow players in Dublin Soul. “Courtney was first chair cello in the Miami Symphony...she understands everything from Bach to the Beatles. She has a beautiful voice and is a strong lead singer in her own right.” She also plays in a duo with Lindzy Kat, who has played in various incarnations of Dublin Soul for years.
Jones says he’s “a bit of a snob” for Irish musicians, and cites U2’s Bono as a major influence on his singing. “Growing up in Dublin I was listening to and meeting musicians who worked with Thin Lizzy, The Boomtown Rats, Sinead O’Connor, Van Morrison, and even punk bands like Stiff Little Fingers. There’s such an abundance of music in Ireland then and now, so I often looked no further.”
Since living in America, though, he’s spent a lot of time listening to blues, jazz, soul and R & B. “I think I have a better foundation for what I do having delved into American roots music.” He admires the later work of Johnny Cash, and sees a distinct connection between bluegrass and traditional Irish music, noting, “melodies and rhythms from the Celtic people have found their way inextricably into what we think of as American music.”
The audience for Jones’ music, whether solo or with the band, has grown as he plays venues as far-flung as Albuquerque, San Diego, and Phoenix. Since he lives in Sedona, most of his shows are in Northern Arizona. He plays every Monday at Oak Creek Brewing Co. and once a month at Mooney’s Irish Pub, both in Sedona. He loves playing with Dublin Soul at Paul and Jerry’s in Jerome, where “something about the acoustics and the history make it a lot of fun.” And of course, he’s a regular at Celtic Crossings in Prescott, both solo and with the band. On April 1, they’ll make their debut at The Compound Grill in Scottsdale, a higher-profile gig, where they expect a couple hundred people to show up.
Karl is a little reserved about his goals for his career, believing they have more power when shrouded in mystery. But when asked about his beliefs about the state of music and where he fits in, he knows how he feels: “There was a vibe in the sixties that had to do with sharing, and we need to get back to it. It’s about moving hearts. I hate to sound corny, but it’s about telling a story— it’s about love and communication.”
You can see Karl Jones on St. Patrick’s Day at Celtic Crossings, 2-6 p.m. and at the Bird Cage Saloon, 8-Midnight.
Written by ~Don Cheek
Published Friday, 04 March 2011 08:48
on Pop Rocket Press: http://www.poprocketpress.com/music/41-music/88-karl-jones-an-irishman-with-heart-and-soul.html
Jones also remembers another pivotal moment: Michael Glabiki of Rusted Root did an acoustic show in Flagstaff in 2003, where he “unleashed so much energy, charisma, and rock sensibility that I made the decision there and then to make playing solo an important component of what I express as an artist.” Jones strives to recreate on the guitar the fiddle riffs and chord combinations of the traditional Irish music he grew up on. When he’s not playing solo shows, Jones leads a trio he calls Dublin Soul, accompanied by Courtney Yeates on cello and vocals, and Lindzy Kat on bass. The music they produce is shaped by the legendary Van Morrison album, Astral Weeks, and the music of Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice, who also uses a simple trio of guitar, cello and bass.
Jones has nothing but high praise for his fellow players in Dublin Soul. “Courtney was first chair cello in the Miami Symphony...she understands everything from Bach to the Beatles. She has a beautiful voice and is a strong lead singer in her own right.” She also plays in a duo with Lindzy Kat, who has played in various incarnations of Dublin Soul for years.
Jones says he’s “a bit of a snob” for Irish musicians, and cites U2’s Bono as a major influence on his singing. “Growing up in Dublin I was listening to and meeting musicians who worked with Thin Lizzy, The Boomtown Rats, Sinead O’Connor, Van Morrison, and even punk bands like Stiff Little Fingers. There’s such an abundance of music in Ireland then and now, so I often looked no further.”
Since living in America, though, he’s spent a lot of time listening to blues, jazz, soul and R & B. “I think I have a better foundation for what I do having delved into American roots music.” He admires the later work of Johnny Cash, and sees a distinct connection between bluegrass and traditional Irish music, noting, “melodies and rhythms from the Celtic people have found their way inextricably into what we think of as American music.”
The audience for Jones’ music, whether solo or with the band, has grown as he plays venues as far-flung as Albuquerque, San Diego, and Phoenix. Since he lives in Sedona, most of his shows are in Northern Arizona. He plays every Monday at Oak Creek Brewing Co. and once a month at Mooney’s Irish Pub, both in Sedona. He loves playing with Dublin Soul at Paul and Jerry’s in Jerome, where “something about the acoustics and the history make it a lot of fun.” And of course, he’s a regular at Celtic Crossings in Prescott, both solo and with the band. On April 1, they’ll make their debut at The Compound Grill in Scottsdale, a higher-profile gig, where they expect a couple hundred people to show up.
Karl is a little reserved about his goals for his career, believing they have more power when shrouded in mystery. But when asked about his beliefs about the state of music and where he fits in, he knows how he feels: “There was a vibe in the sixties that had to do with sharing, and we need to get back to it. It’s about moving hearts. I hate to sound corny, but it’s about telling a story— it’s about love and communication.”
You can see Karl Jones on St. Patrick’s Day at Celtic Crossings, 2-6 p.m. and at the Bird Cage Saloon, 8-Midnight.
Written by ~Don Cheek
Published Friday, 04 March 2011 08:48
on Pop Rocket Press: http://www.poprocketpress.com/music/41-music/88-karl-jones-an-irishman-with-heart-and-soul.html
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