John Jones Music

A special E.S.P. Rainbow for Dee!

Magentalane by Klaatu was recorded at E.S.P. Studios, Buttonville.

All the best wishes and love to my loyal friend, Steve Ferrone. Happy Birthday Steve!

John and Steve

My English/American big brother Stephen, has been a major part of my life since 1991, when we first met in London, during the drum recording session for Ordinary World. Since then, we have been friends and worked together for half of my life, including our years together at Drumroll studios in Burbank in the 00’s!

It is also my long time school friend and music partner Ken Basman’s birthday. Sending love to the Basman’s, and to all of Ken’s friends. Missing Ken very much!

John and Ken

Dee Long at AIR Studios 1987 (©johnjonesmusic)

On the occasion of the celebration of the birthday of my long time friend and partner; a toast to Dee’s compassion, empathy, and genius!

Happy Birthday Sir Dee Long!

Dee Long and John Jones in Hammerwood 1989.

I can’t believe we’ve lost Ken Basman! God has no mercy. The world is emptier tonight! Three cheers for the life of Ken!

Of all the people I have ever known in my own life, Ken was the first true pillar of humanity, of common sense, of fair play, a believer in social justice, and a lighthouse in the fog of teenage war! The apple does not fall far from the tree! He turned me on to as many books as he did to albums. We longed for a just world. We believed in love.

The son of Muni was a great great man from the beginning. We connected with music, style, and culture! I loved spending all day at the Basman home on Denino Ave., in Hogs Hollow, learning what cool was all about! The house was full of history, art, and philosophy, which were all as important as the sex and drugs and rock and roll that Ken and I were enjoying! And, who can ever look at a Cadillac Eldorado convertible, and not think of Muni? What an awesome man! Ken made Muni proud. I know he did! I was there!

Ken never took on anything without completing it, showing all of us what hard work, and what we musicians call wood-shedding, can do! Ken practiced and listened, and practiced, and listened, and became an equal best musician to anyone I have ever met, by the time he and I were 17.

And we played chess! Hours and hours of it, including chess by mail with Ken’s grandfather in Winnipeg! I remember having three games going, at one time, against a Basman! By high school at A.I.S.P., in Toronto, we were forced to invent Losers Chess, in order to save time for making music!

Over the years, Ken and I put together a bunch of bands. I don’t remember all the names, but orignally we were known as; F**k, The Baffin Island Boogie Band, Beyond Saturns Window, Beyond, Behind, and a few more!

We played music and life together, from junior high, through high school, performing original songs, some written by me, and some by Ken, and we did covers by Stevie Wonder, Weather Report, Alice Cooper, Joni Mitchell, Spirit, Chick Corea, Edgar Winter, Wes Montgomery, the Beatles, Miles Davis, and many others! I know you’re not going to like this, but, we thought Led Zeppelin were a teeny-bopper band! Go figure! My point is, we loved all great music! The word genre was poison to us!

Our many bands included friends and musicians; Daniel van Kranendonk, John Johnson, Dave Worth, Gary Boigon, Jim Honeywell, Bob Little, Cam Hawkins, Reggie Shoji, Gary Justice, and many more great musicians, who are still doing it!

Our last proper gig together was as the house-band at the original Massey family house, which became Julie Fine’s, Bombay Bicycle club, in Toronto. It’s now the Keg n Cleaver. I think Yousuf Karsh took some nice photos of us there. I have had one of them on my piano for many years! I’ll scan it soon! I hope Ken’s family have the originals, so we can all see these historical time slices properly?

Although it is true that there are more reasons for who I am than meets the eye, Ken was always my guardian angel, through some pretty brutal experiences. His ability to stay cool in outrageous situations was legendary! And having a friend who was so far ahead of me musically, and who respected my music, was the greatest gift a young music man can ever have!

I love you Ken Basman. From the bottom of my person! I will never forget you! Love is the answer!

                Meninos Do Morumbi & Friends

A year ago today we were finishing off the lovely Peter Gabriel song, Don’t Give Up, featuring Alex Ligertwood and Emily Richards, for the Meninos do Morumbi & Friends album, that also features, Julian Lennon, Richie Kotzen, Alan Frew, Gary O, Terry McDermott, Gary Twinn, Gene Anderson, Barnett O’Hara, and yours truly.

It’s not too late to Buy the CD or Download the Album, and help support Meninos do Morumbi through the Music is Hope Foundation!

Sir George Martin in Studio 5, AIR Studios

In addition to having the greatest respect for his life’s work as a musician and record producer, Sir George had a personal impact on me from our first meeting at AIR Studios in London in 1985. At that time, Sir George and the late John Burgess, with the strong endorsement of Dave Harries and Malcolm Atkin, allowed Dee Long and I to be their partners, in building and operating studio 5, the Fairlight/Midi/Production at the original Oxford Street location of AIR. Sir George made himself available to promote our cause, and quickly chose to work with us on the pre-production of his epic Under Milk Wood album project, proving the value of our view of the future, as well as Dee’s mastery of the machines, and the successful creation of what became standard procedure in recording studios ever since.

To have met Sir George Martin’s standard was the greatest achievement of our lives, the benefits of which have never ceased. Thank you George, and John. Rest in peace.
More Sir George Martin

Although my Dad passed on over 30 years ago, a day hasn’t gone by without missing him!

Surgeon Lieutenant J.A.B. Jones of the Royal Navy, March 15, 1951, Shikoko, Japan.

Dear friends,

I just signed the petition “Save Air Studios“ and wanted to ask if you could add your name too.

This campaign means a lot to me and the more support we can get behind it, the better chance we have of succeeding.

You can read more and sign the petition here: Save AIR Studios

Can you also take a moment to share the petition with others?

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Thank you!

John

Thank you for your support for my Mother!

John and Dorothy Jones, with the SOCAN #1 Award for So Blind.

OUR amazing Mum passed away in Ottawa, Canada today, due to complications from a recent hip operation and her long battle with Dementia. My brothers and sister and I were with her, at her bedside, holding her hand and stroking her brow.

All who knew Dorothy, knew that we had the best Mum ever! And now she can laugh again with our Dad, who has waited 30 years for her, and her dear sister Sylvia, and our sister Sara, and Aunt Margaret and Uncle Jack, and all of the many wonderful friends and family, who we have loved! Rest in Peace! God Bless, Mum!

Fairy Nuff (1940s) - Dorothy May Caldwell Jones (1931-2015)