Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)

Subject: Where's Wizz?
From: Bugsy
Date: 27 May 03 - 02:30 AM

I've always been a great fan of Wizz Jones, but living in Aus, I hear very little of what he's up to at the present time.

Can anyone fill me in on how he's going/what he's doing?


CHeers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 May 03 - 03:20 AM

Hi, Bugsy - this page (click) at the All-Music Guide tells quite a bit about him.
Nice to see you again.
-Joe Offer-

---

The English folk scene with its many leaves and branches are traceable to a few, gnarly yet enduring taproots. Along with the Watersons, and Davy Graham, guitarist Wizz Jones is one of them. While virtually unknown in America in this sorry age, Jones was paramount in influencing virtually every acoustic guitarist and folk scenester who came after him in the U.K.
Jones began to play guitar seriously in the mid- to late '50s after being inspired by the literature of the Beat Generation, and American blues and folk recordings such as those of Son House, Blind Blake, Woody Guthrie, Cisco Houston, Robert Johnson, Lonnie Johnson, Tampa Red, Big Bill Broonzy, and others. Jones bore a strange figure in British coffeehouses with his uncharacteristically long hair and hobo-ish demeanor, including a guitar that was literally held together with leather straps. He knew his stuff, however, and his playing was rooted deep in the Mississippi Delta and in early Chicago blues styles and he established a reputation early among younger players who soaked up both his image and the licks he fired off from a rapid right-handed picking style that was clearly his own. Jones was interviewed early on by the BBC who was trying to figure out what the ruckus was on the new British folk music scene, and came off as a bearded shaggy-haired smart ass. To the BBC's credit, they left his segment in and Jones became a folk hero to the second generation of Brit folk musicians, many of whom were about to make their own mark. Among those who saw the broadcast and claim to have been directly influenced by it are John Martyn, Ralph McTell, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, and Richard Thompson.

Embracing the beat life, he and Clive Palmer took to busking in the streets of France for a while — even encountering a young British bluesman in Paris named Rod Stewart. Back in England, Jones met banjo king Pete Stanley in 1962 and formed a bluegrass duo that released a now legendary — and highly collectible — Columbia recording called Music for Moonshiners in early 1963. The duo issued one more recording for the label called 10 Tons of Bluegrass before disbanding in 1966.

Beginning in 1968, Jones began recording a series of albums upon which his obscure, yet legendary, modern reputation was founded. Hanging with a bunch of locals and a loose-knit band he formed called Lazy Farmer, Jones issued nine albums between 1969 and 1977 for labels United Artists, Village Thing, and Plant Life, in addition to Columbia as well as a small host of German independent records. These discs include Wizz Jones, The Legendary Me, Right Now (w/ John Renbourn), Winter Songs, When I Leave Berlin (with Lazy Farmer and Bert Jansch), Lazy Farmer (as Lazy Farmer), Happiness Was Free, Magical Flight, Folk and Western Songs, and Solo Flight.

From the end of the '70s and through most of the '80s, Jones played the festival and small club circuit in the British Isles and in Europe and almost ceased to record on his own, though he was a regular performer on other artists' recordings, including those by Ralph McTell, Derroll Adams, and Chas MacDevitt. Only two records appeared during the '80s, Roll On River with Werner Lammerhirt and The Grapes of Life, in 1981 and 1987 respectively.

The '90s saw the beginning of Jones' resurgence as a solo performer, teacher, and recording artist. First there was the Live in Dublin recording for LPR Publications, and then the issue of The Village Thing tapes which were compiled of '70s material, showed there was a renewed interest in Jones' work. Perhaps due to the excellent BBC series, Acoustic Routes, presenting the U.K.'s folk heritage, Jones' talents were in demand on the festival circuit, at home, and throughout Europe for much of the '90s. Other recordings of note from the '90s include Late Nights & Long Days, and a single of "Easy Rider."

1995 saw the issue of Jones' first U.S.-released recording, Dazzling Stanger, a newly recorded compilation of his earlier music on the Scenes Of label. In 1998, Jones was paid tribute to by being included in the Masters of British Guitar series. Jones played no less than 15 songs for his segment.

Jones' Through the Fingers album on Far Flung is an issue of his highly regarded and much sought after Milton Keynes performance from 1998. He also released Lucky the Man in 2001, another Scenes Of disc released simultaneously on both CD and limited-edition. Guests include Renbourn and Jaqui McShee from Pentangle, old busking mate Clive Palmer, Gerry Conway, Simeon Jones, Martin Weatley, and others. Jones' career in the early part of the new century included touring and recording balanced with reissues of his entire catalogue by various labels in the U.K. and the U.S., all of them with bonus tracks creating a new wealth of material for collectors. — Thom Jurek

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 27 May 03 - 04:15 AM

He has been appearing at the Rhuddlan Folk Festival every now and then.
Dont know if he is on this year ,but the festivasl is early August, and is worth going to. We have been four times and enjoyed each and every one.

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: okthen
Date: 27 May 03 - 06:56 AM

Hi Bugsy, this should be a link to a google search wizz jones
if it works.
cheers

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: Nemesis
Date: 27 May 03 - 08:05 AM

I've just received some promo from him.. think I should book him then? :)

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: Bugsy
Date: 28 May 03 - 03:04 AM

Nemesis, I haven't seen him perform for years but if his albums are anything to go by, then by all means book him. I doubt very much that you'd regret it.


And if anyone's seen him perform lately, how about giving us a rundown?


Cheers,

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: John J
Date: 28 May 03 - 03:39 AM

He was on stage in Manchester a couple of months ago, playing support for Allan Price.

John

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: Bugsy
Date: 16 Jun 03 - 09:11 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: Fossil
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 05:33 AM

Wizz was on the road around Europe earlier on this year - regrettably, he only did one small and obscure gig in Brussels, but I did manage to catch it. He looked fit and well and the music was super. Book 'im Danno!

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: Tam the bam fraeSaltcoatsScotland
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 08:02 AM

I remeber when he came to the Irvine Folk Club one year and my sister was there with me.
And she thought that there was something wrong with him because he was shaking a lot, And i told her that was a part of the act.

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 11:15 AM

get a copy of "folk North West" he has a few gigs listed.

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: Leo Condie
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 11:49 AM

wizz played glasgow last month and was absolutely marvellous!

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 17 Jul 03 - 12:06 PM

He gets lots of gigs near his home in South London. See Time Out.

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 10 Feb 04 - 03:45 AM

A flyer going the rounds at the Fourth Annual Interplanetary Festival of Skiffle and Related Musics on Sunday advertised Wizz Jones at the Secombe Theatre ("Hello Folks") Cheam Road, Sutton, Surrey, Feb 29th 8pm supported by Betty Davila and the Acoustic Astronauts.

RtS

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 02:53 PM

Jones was interviewed early on by the BBC who was trying to figure out what the ruckus was on the new British folk music scene, and came off as a bearded shaggy-haired smart ass. To the BBC's credit, they left his segment in and Jones became a folk hero to the second generation of Brit folk musicians, many of whom were about to make their own mark. Among those who saw the broadcast and claim to have been directly influenced by it are John Martyn, Ralph McTell, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, and Richard Thompson.

That interview with the bearded shaggy-haired smart ass can now be viewed once more, this time on YouTube

Wizz Jones

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 03:00 PM

say what tou like about the telly in those days - at least they had Wizz Jones on telly. all they have now is the bleeding X factor.

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 03:13 PM

For a more recent performance, try this one, uploaded by the man himself earlier this month.

Wizz Jones playing the blues

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: GUEST,bobcat
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 06:12 PM

Whizz has a gig in Yorkshire in december...can't remember where but you'll find it in Tykes News....and I'll be there. It's on my calendar

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: Bassic
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 08:04 PM

Wizz giggs In Yorkshire

Thursday 30th November        
        
The Topic Folk Club
Bradford
Cock and Bottle
93 Barkerend Road
Bradford
01274 222305


Friday 1st December        

Rockingham Arms
Wentworth near Rotherham
Tel; 01709 585977
rob.wentworthrock@
btinternet.com

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: Bugsy
Date: 12 Oct 06 - 10:09 PM

Glad to see he still Just as brilliant as ever.

Get's better with age.


CHeers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: richd
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 01:50 PM

He was at the Green Man this year. Was very good.

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: GUEST,Nicholas Waller
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 07:04 PM

The Wizz Jones evening at the Topic is a ticket affair; normally the Topic doesn't do tickets (except for Vin Garbutt) but has gone this route for all the gigs in the 50th anniversary season, ie from September to the end of the year.

You may well be able to get a ticket on the door but if you're planning to come from a way away and absolutely want to ensure you'll get in you can buy the tickets in advance by post. Check on the Topic website at http://www.topic-folk-club.org.uk/   for instructions.

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: Bugsy
Date: 19 Oct 06 - 10:59 PM

So, how did the night at the Topic go?


CHeers


Bugsy

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: GUEST,Nicholas Waller
Date: 20 Oct 06 - 07:17 AM

He's not at the Topic until November 30th.

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: GUEST,woodsie
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 12:18 PM

Saw Wizz at orpington a few weeks ago absolutely brilliant!!!

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 04:04 PM

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: Murray MacLeod - PM
Date: 11 Oct 06 - 02:53 PM

Jones was interviewed early on by the BBC who was trying to figure out what the ruckus was on the new British folk music scene, and came off as a bearded shaggy-haired smart ass. To the BBC's credit, they left his segment in and Jones became a folk hero to the second generation of Brit folk musicians, many of whom were about to make their own mark. Among those who saw the broadcast and claim to have been directly influenced by it are John Martyn, Ralph McTell, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, and Richard Thompson.

That interview with the bearded shaggy-haired smart ass can now be viewed once more, this time on YouTube

Unfortunately, that BBC video has gone the way of so many other great videos on YouTube, the result of so-called "terms of use violation",
removed by pettifogging minions with small minds (and probably small dicks)

IT MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL ....

On the plus side, Wizz has uploaded some more of his stuff, well worth a view.

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 06:54 PM

ahem, it appears that some public spirited person (thank you "lupine22" )has in fact reinstated the BBC video ...
That interview with the bearded shaggy-haired smart ass can now be viewed once more, this time on YouTube

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: GUEST,woodsie
Date: 17 Jan 08 - 10:18 PM

Wizz Jones - Excellent!!!

Subject: RE: Where's Whizz? (Wizz Jones)
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 18 Jan 08 - 05:19 AM

I saw him at the Ullapool Guitar Festival last October. He was one of the highlights for me.