Search - Wizz Jones :: Legendary Me

The Legendary Me

K. E. Loucks | Columbus, OH USA | 06/23/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The CD liner notes insist Wizz "has influenced musicians from Eric Clapton, John Renbourn and Ralph McTell to...Bert Jansch and even Rod Stewart." It's a statement that needs to be taken with several grains of salt. In his own words Wizz says, "I went through a stage of not being able to believe how good Bert Jansch and John Renbourn were, and thinking I had to catch up. But then I realized that when it's spontaneous, it's valid." This is not false modesty on Jones' part, but a realistic assessment of his skills. It's hard to believe that he was ever considered more than a persistent, semi-professional journeyman.

Most of the originals here were written by his friend Alan Tunbridge, who is an interesting, somewhat eccentric songwriter. Again, Wizz in his own words: "I was never able fully to capture the subtleties and intricate time changes of his tunes..." The songs are strong enough to make you wonder what they might have been like in the hands of a more capable performer.

While there seems to be a great deal of effort to place Jones on the same level as Jansch and Renbourn, to my ear he has more in common with obscure British odd-balls like Pete Atkin. His music never achieves their level of timelessness. Rather, its time is written all over it. It may please nostalgia seekers looking for an unfamiliar "re-discovery".

Added 11/2007 - I have seen some recent videos of Wizz playing that I enjoyed very much, but I remain disappointed by these recordings. At the time I purchased the CD there were no sound samples available, however, there are some available now at the All Music Guide. Before making up your own mind, give them a listen."