CARVIN JONES

Jimi Hendrix is dead, long live the King. And while there have been many pretenders to the Hendrix crown, none have come so close as the flamboyant Phoenix guitarist Carvin Jones.

Raised in Texas, and a product of countless Texan roadhouses, Carvin Jones moved to Phoenix Arizona in 1989 and promptly set up the longest lasting residency in the State. Drawing heavily upon a mix of college kids, rock/blues and guitar fans in general, Carvin quickly made a name for himself with four hour shows that took the concept of guitar trickery and showmanship to a new level. Whether climaxing a set by playing two guitars at once in either hand or by playing chords with his feet, Carvin antics carved out a significant niche for himself and soon had the likes of Johnny Winter and Carlos Santana asking him to open for them.

Carvin's lightning runs, and high octane shows remind 70's fans of Alvin lee, 80's fans of Steve Vai and Eddie Van Halen and guitar devotee's of Hendrix.

Carvin made his UK debut in 1999 and has since toured Europe relentlessly impressing new generations of kids. As Salvaturo Caputo from the American Express Hendrix magazine accurately comments, The way he wields his guitar, the way he peels of a tasty run down the fretboard, his expressions as he plays, and the hat he wears will remind you of a certain guitar hero from Seattle.

If there is a down side about Carvin it is his vocals which have taken a hammering from his 330 shows a year! The live show is best encapsulated on the 2005 DVD King of Spain, on which he is literally mobbed by fans in a bullring in Madrid.

The 1998 debut CD Carvin Jones Band Unleashed, was an ode to his blues heroes such as Freddie King, Lowell Fulson, and Albert King, while the following Live at Joe's Grotto documented his sell out residencies and included a rousing cover of Albert Collins's Driving South and the stage favourite Beck's Boogie.

Two years on he cut the studio album Hot As Hell which featured one of his very best guitar instrumentals Midnight Seduction, while the new album I'm What You Need is easily his best effort with the shuffle Born To Win coming closest to capturing the live magic.

2006 saw Carvin kicks things off with a hugely successful 30-date UK tour, with his headline appearance at the 5,000 strong Skegness Rock & Blues Festival setting the standard. The king may be dead but for many fans Carvin Jones is without doubt the closest experience you will get to the great man.

More information:

Artist website

© 2006 Pete Feenstra/GRTR! All rights reserved.