Hollywood Rotary Club Music Awards 2015

March 3rd, 2015 § Comments Off on Hollywood Rotary Club Music Awards 2015 § permalink

Another year, another crop of great singers and musicians auditioning for the Rotary Club of Hollywood Music Awards.

The awards are cash to help school age musicians continue their education into college and university.

The director of the awards is our great friend, composer and violinist, Benedikt Brydern.

This year’s judges were David Wheatley, Benedikt, myself and Melody St. John. The auditions were held at the Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood.

The fifth wheel in the photo is the amazing Stormy Sacks, who accompanied many of the teenagers on piano.

Stormy is the Grammy Nominated composer/producer, who put the Hollywood High School music program on the map!

David Wheatley, Benedikt Brydern, Stormy Sacks, John Jones, Melody St.John

 

Sarah – Level IX Remaster

March 3rd, 2015 § Comments Off on Sarah – Level IX Remaster § permalink

If you are a fan of my little rock band song from my One Moment in Time album, then you will appreciate the extra clarity and warmth that Ken Robert’s Level IX mastering process has brought to SARAH!

Click on the cover to hear a clip and buy the Remastered SARAH single on CD Baby.

SARAH - Level IX Remaster - John Jones

 

Dick Wagner Interview about Alice Cooper’s Da Da album

March 2nd, 2015 § Comments Off on Dick Wagner Interview about Alice Cooper’s Da Da album § permalink

Da Da, Alice Cooper

Da Da will always be one of the great albums of the 1980s to me. I was there, learning every day, when they recorded it in our studio, ESP, in Buttonville.

Dick Wagner was a monster guitar player and song writer and producer and a powerful personality. He passed away in 2014 after a very successful and fullfilling life!

I’m quoted near the end of the interview. What an education it was to hang out with Dick WagnerAlice Cooper, Bob Ezrin, Dee Long and John Clarke, all those years ago!

Follow the link to the interview.

Albums Unleashed – DaDa w/Dick Wagner (Ep. 134)

 

Hold On Julian!

February 14th, 2015 § Comments Off on Hold On Julian! § permalink

Beautiful song and video from Julian Lennon

Holding on to Alan Frew

February 13th, 2015 § Comments Off on Holding on to Alan Frew § permalink

With a wink and a nod, no doubt to escape the winter storms in the East, Alan Frew paid a visit to sunny California.

Of course, it was also Grammy week, and Alan was here in Los Angeles connecting with Canadians and other aliens of extraordinary ability for a bit of musical mash.

It’s been more than 20 years since we recorded his fine solo album HOLD ON !

So we started writing a new song, which ain’t half bad…

As you know, Alan sings the newest track for the Meninos Do Morumbi and Friends album project. Stay tuned!

John Jones and Alan Frew; a Welshman and a Scot! - February 2015

 

Honoring Nile Rodgers

February 11th, 2015 § Comments Off on Honoring Nile Rodgers § permalink

The Producers & Engineers Wing of N.A.R.A.S. honored Nile Rodgers at the Village Studios on February 3, 2015. Billboard Article

Like Nile, I was overwhelmed at seeing so many old friends again this year at the Village. I’m sorry I missed some special ones, but it can’t all be perfect!

Here are some really low-fi iPhone photos of friends who were there to honor Nile.

John on the red carpet

Neil Portnow and Nile Rodgers

Flee and Nile jamming!

Steve Ferrone and Neil Dorfsman

Skip Saylor, Neil Dorfsman and John Jones

John Jones with Ed Cherney and gang!

Jones, Ferrone, Dorfsman, Adam Moseley

Bob Dylan Speaks!

February 11th, 2015 § Comments Off on Bob Dylan Speaks! § permalink

Just in case anyone missed it, here is Music Cares Person of the Year, 2015, Bob Dylan, speaking about his songs and his life, in Los Angeles on February 6, 2015.

Bob Dylan’s Music Cares Speech Transcript – LA Times

Bob Dylan, President Carter, Neil Portnow, 2015 Music Cares

Some NAMM 2015 photos

February 8th, 2015 § Comments Off on Some NAMM 2015 photos § permalink

John Jones and Carol Welsman at NAMM 2015

Sandra, JJ and Steve Cooke at NAMM 2015

Richard Martinez, Sean Halley and John Jones at NAMM 2015

Jim Burgess of Saved by Technology and John Jones at NAMM 2015

Richard Martinez, Tim Brannon and John Jones at NAMM 2015

Steve Ferrone's Heartbreakers Gretsch kit at NAMM 2015

Richard, Robert Sarzo, JJ and Avery Sarzo

John Jones, Forrest Richardson and friends at NAMM 2015

Jones, Ferrone and Cooke - goofing around!

 

Too Bloody Much – lyric video

February 1st, 2015 § Comments Off on Too Bloody Much – lyric video § permalink

Too Bloody Much was originally written and recorded in 1983 at ESP Studio in Buttonville. It was re-recorded at a slower tempo in 1996 in Hollywood with Steve Ferrone. It was my most successful track on MP3.com, back in the day, and was from my One Moment in Time album.
I think the song was my reaction to Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative speech, mixed in with a little anger at girlfriend!

Roger Linn – NAMM 2015 – 1

January 26th, 2015 § Comments Off on Roger Linn – NAMM 2015 – 1 § permalink

What a man! Roger Linn changed my life once before…

He might be doing it again!


Roger Linn’s LinnStrument