Many artists are just so driven that they continue to seek that ultimate goal that sometimes they don’t even know what that goal is! I’ve been there. JW-Jones is still there. He has taken his sound and brought to the people, the stages, the producers, the masters. He has laid it all before them because he is confident in what he does and believes in it.

Sure, his sound is steeped in blues tradition, but he has brought it from its depths to revive the sound in a pure and honest way. And he has accolades, baby. Oh yes. One of the all-time Blues greats, Buddy Guy said of JW, “This young man is one of the people who will keep the Blues alive.” Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, JW-Jones! Come and see him and his super tight, incredible band on Friday, March 21 as part of the Blues at The Cove series! Details and reservations here: web link

Seamus Cowan: You have a real, pure Chicago Blues guitar sound. Everything is so clean! Your playing is spectacular and so in your face. Who are your true inspirations both on guitar and on the mic? Do you feel like you could have been on the scene in the 60s?

JW-Jones: Thank you for the kind words! All of my favourite guitar players have a clean tone. My biggest influences were playing shows and recording before distortion pedals came along. When you are just hearing the hands on the instrument going through an amp, you hear the character of the guitar itself, but you also really hear the character of the player. With less between their ideas and the output, I feel like you are really hearing who they really are. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good distorted Jimi Hendrix solo just like the next guitar geek and there’s room for everyone to express themselves however they like.

Would I have fit in in the 60s? Man, that’s a tough question… I don’t think I’m in the same ballpark as all of those great players, because we owe so much to them. But I sure wish I was around to meet some of those guys!

Q: Winning the International Blues Challenge in Memphis for Best Guitarist must have had you flying so high! To be considered for such an award in a category built on legendary tradition would have really made you feel like you had tapped into another level in playing guitar. How did it change things for you?

JW: It was a real honour! There were so many great guitar players there, like over 200 from all over the world. I truly don’t think art should ever be a competition. Once you’re at a certain level and expressing yourself in a competent way, I don’t think it’s fair to say one player is better than another. Is Albert King better than T-Bone Walker? Is Aretha Franklin better than Etta James? They’re all amazing and just totally different. But all that said, these things help with the bio which leads to Bookings, which leads to the reason we do this in the first place… bringing the music to the people!

Q: You seem to have really immersed yourself in the American Blues touring scene. In a land where the Blues began, you have managed to fly your banner high. What is it like being on regular tour in the States these days? It seems like a never ending circuit for what you want to do!

JW: I love touring in the US, the home of where all of this music came from. The home of where all of today’s great genres come from… Rock ‘n’ roll, country, hip-hop, jazz, and the grandfather of them all, blues. There are so many wonderful blues fans in the US and we always have a good time. Playing in places like Texas covering a Freddy King song or a Fabulous Thunderbirds tune, it just hits differently!

Q: I know you have a connection with the MonkeyJunk boys of Ottawa. Seems there is quite a good music scene right now. How important is it to have a real home base and do you feel like Ottawa is a good place to grow and develop as a bourgeoning musician? Do you have any advice for up and comers considering all the awards and encouraging words you have received over the year?

JW: I’m so grateful for growing up in Ottawa having a couple of blues clubs and the Ottawa Bluesfest to introduce me to so many of my favourite artists. My advice to up-and-coming musicians is to develop your craft, play the music you love and nothing else, don’t try to make music that fits in, but rather make music that you love. On the business side, you can never stop hustling! It’s a grind, but it’s worth it!

Q: You have accomplished so much, travelled so far, recorded and performed with so many greats. What do you look forward to continuing to develop in your art and is there something you might be able to tell that you’d still really like to do in your career?

JW: Honestly, I just want to keep doing what I’m doing. I don’t have any illusions of grandeur or that I will be playing at the Super Bowl in my career. I’m grateful that I can make a living playing the music that I like playing and I’m grateful that I am working with so many of my favourite musicians and producers! It was a major bucket list item to record with Jimmie Vaughan on my latest release. I can’t wait to release some new music in the next year! It’s a good life and I’m a happy guy! Posted: Mar 18, 2025 Originally Published: Mar 14, 2025