Behind the Red Door
Get thee to Watertown

by Dan Barry - January 6, 2005

I returned to The Red Door on Saturday night for a dose of the blues. Originally from Connecticut, guitarist and singer L.A. Jones brought his Blues Messengers back from California for a show in his home state. "I grew up playing around here in clubs that are long gone," he said. Jones is a cross between the austere showmen of old and a down-home bluesman. He cuts a dapper image, and has the confidence of a seasoned performer. Quick fingers, too. Jones' improvisations are controlled and conclusive, leaving no room for argument. The Blues Messengers' whiskey riffs were a great way to put a little hair on Baby New Year's chest.

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W.C. Handy Nominee Mr. L.A. JONES!

LA is a wonderfully gifted left handed BLUESMAN. Years and years of playing all over
the world. Please take a minute to visit his web site. He brings genuine cool old Fenders
and Gibsons to each performance, and plays thru an old 50's Tweed Fender Amp. And he
does one of the most upbeat & swingin' renditions of Bill Doggett's "HONKY TONK" you
will ever hear! LA Jones is high-energy ELECTRIC BLUES. Period.

LA also plays both left handed & right handed guitars- he can play anything you put
in his hands. Strung high 'E' string towards the floor, or towards the ceiling...it just doesn't matter.
( I welcome anyone to come on stage and attempt keep up with him
with the strings reversed from what you normally play!)

My personal favorite part of his shows is when he plays one of his two Flying Vs. The entire vibe
of his performance changes, where upon he does incredible ALBERT KING-style single-note bends that are as gripping as the late master himself! If you dug Albert when he's on- check Mr. Jones, who you can still catch live.

Barney Roach - guitarist for Lafayette and the Lease Breakers, San Diego

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Article that appeared in "Concerto" Blues Book in Austria. Written by Dietmar Hoscher, Head of Blues Department, Vienna Austria