Al Jones R.I.P. (1 June 2008)

Subject: Al Jones R.I.P.
From: GUEST,Ian Anderson
Date: 01 Jun 08 - 02:41 PM

Shocking news - I'm just off the phone from hearing that my oldest friend, the wonderful songwriter/ guitarist/ singer and English original Al Jones, died suddenly and unexpectedly this morning, aged 62.

I first met Al when he showed up in Bristol somewhere around 1965/66 and we instantly became mates, pretty quickly formed the trio Anderson, Jones, Jackson together (with harmonica player Elliot Jackson). We took up residency at the Bristol Troubadour when it opened and also regularly made trips up to Les Cousins in London. We made both of our recording debuts with an EP together in December 1966, and both briefly moved to Notting Hill in London in '68/'69 as we were heavily involved in the blues boom at the time.

Al became good friends with Pentangle's John Renbourn who helped introduce him around, and in 1969 he made his first album Alun Ashworth Jones for Parlophone with producer Sandy Roberton, who was building a roster of artists also including fellow Bristol residents Keith Christmas and Shelagh MacDonald. Al's major label experience wasn't a happy one, so I produced his second album Jonesville for our then Village Thing label in 1972.

Around this time Al decided to head in the opposite direction to the music business and moved to Cornwall, where he briefly became a coastguard, whilst still playing sporadic gigs and tours (like many of us at that time, over in mainland Europe, Belgium and Germany in particular).

He was also developing the Ashworth range of instrument pickups which became his main business, and later, with guitar maker Nigel Thornbory, the extraordinary little rubber-stringed Ashbory basses, much sought after by session musicians and still made under licence by Fender.

He never stopped playing and writing though, and I was pleased to issue a later album of his, Swimming Pool on our Weekend Beatnik label in 1998. He continued gigging locally in Cornwall: we played together again at my birthday party last July.

All his early works - the first two albums, tracks from compilations, live recordings and even something from our EP were released as the double CD All My Friends Are Back Again by Castle just last year. Hearing it all again really brought it home what an original guitarist and supremely clever songwriter he was (including, frankly, a couple of the best Beatles songs they never wrote . . . )

Al had re-married a couple of years ago, to the wonderful Linda who was a perfect soul mate, sharing Al's unique sense of humour. Big thoughts are with her. Al is survived by his three children Emily, Rosie and Jake from his first marriage to Lesley.

Subject: RE: Al Jones R.I.P.
From: gnu
Date: 01 Jun 08 - 02:45 PM

Oh my. So young. RIP.

Subject: RE: Al Jones R.I.P.
From: Peace
Date: 01 Jun 08 - 02:46 PM

My sincere condolences to Linda and his children, Ian. And to you too, of course.

Bruce Murdoch

Subject: RE: Al Jones R.I.P.
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 01 Jun 08 - 02:48 PM

Too young

G

Subject: RE: Al Jones R.I.P.
From: cptsnapper
Date: 01 Jun 08 - 02:49 PM

How sad to see the news. A really nice man who'll be much missed.

Subject: RE: Al Jones R.I.P.
From: strad
Date: 01 Jun 08 - 02:53 PM

Another of my Bristol friends gone. A true gentle person, a superb guitarist and he made brilliant transducers, as well. A pleasure to have known him.

Subject: RE: Al Jones R.I.P.
From: Leadfingers
Date: 01 Jun 08 - 03:29 PM

I was talking to Al only last week - Had to get a new Transducer for my Mandolin ! This is the kind of news we definately DIDNT want to hear ! I also have fond memories of Anderson Jones Jackson in the 'Bad Old Days' !

Subject: RE: Al Jones R.I.P.
From: GUEST,Ian Anderson
Date: 02 Jun 08 - 10:55 AM

Indeed, if you're who I think you are (hi Terry?) I have photographic evidence of you as a young tin whistler sitting in with us at the Old Duke. Well, younger than now, anyway . . . they weren't such bad days . . .

Subject: RE: Al Jones R.I.P.
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Jun 08 - 12:38 PM

Yes Ian - And Al remembered me sitting in when we chatted !
A copy of that emailed to me WOULD be appreciated !

terryleadfingers at blue yonder dot co dot uk !

Subject: RE: Al Jones R.I.P.
From: breezy
Date: 02 Jun 08 - 12:45 PM

I met the two of you when you promoted a gig in the Church Hall? in St Merryn way back when, but twas only brief and fleeting as you were both superstars then.

I was even allowed a floor spot! and it went down O K too.

I'm still there or thereabouts

I'ld have liked to have seen more of Al, did he still have his Yamaha 300ish?, or did it warp and he moved on?

I remember him mentioning the transducer that he was developing he was most enthused

Please convey my condolences to his surviving family

Will be thinking of him when I'm next down that way.

Subject: RE: Al Jones R.I.P.
From: GUEST,Chico
Date: 02 Jun 08 - 01:32 PM

The saddest news possible. Al was my friend and inspiration back in those halcyon days. Shared many gigs with him at the Frome Folk Club at the old Mendip Motel and of course at the Bunch of Grapes Folk Club in Warminster to name but two. He was unique, a one-off.

Subject: RE: Al Jones R.I.P.
From: GUEST,David Blight
Date: 02 Jun 08 - 03:39 PM

I was a humble folk club organiser in Exmouth in 1974 when this incredibly friendly individual came up to me to do a floor spot and said he and his wife Lesley had just come to live in the town. We became really good friends and he just happened to have a few mates who he suggested come and play at the folk club - just a few unknowns like John Renbourn and Bert Jansch. Our folk club which held about fifty people suddenly had queues a couple of hundred yards long for these guests who would do anything for Al. Over the next year he taught me how to sail and I spent hours with him and his very young family. It was at the time he was developing his electronics products - the first of these was a foot pedal called the reverser (I did the handouts for him on my then employer's Gesteetner!) When Al moved to Cornwall, initially I saw him fairly regularily and latterly kept in touch with him via John Bickford. I was really stunned when John called me today. He will be remebered for being one of the really good guys. My favourite Al Jones instrumental has a title that sums up his bizarre sense of humour - 'Most chickens are mild and friendly - or would like to be.'

Subject: RE: Al Jones R.I.P.
From: BB
Date: 03 Jun 08 - 03:15 PM

That is a shock. I remember Al well from Bristol days, and although we lost touch, I heard snippets about him over the years. A lovely man, and such a loss to those who were close to him. My sympathies to them all.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Al Jones R.I.P.
From: GUEST,Ian Anderson
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 11:12 AM

Al's funeral will be at St Gluvia's Church, Penryn, Corwall, next Tuesday 10th at 2.30pm

Subject: RE: Al Jones R.I.P. (1 June 2008)
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 06:54 PM

I couldn't make the funeral, but want to send my respects.
It feels a privilege to have known him, to have played music with him, to remember him.
There goes the sun.
Shelley