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"Belmont Boulevard" consists of 12 really great Tracks, this time around produced by none other than the great Tom Hambridge, whom when you say he has Produced albums for the best in the business, it is really starting to become a huge understatement. Tom Hambridge also stepped in, as he does with pretty well all the Albums he produces, as a Songwriter and performer, co-writing 7 of the songs, several with JW-Jones, whom also wrote or co-wrote 7 songs. "Belmont Boulevard" gets the ball rolling with "Love Times Ten", a real nice Blues Rocker that opens with the nice fat Drum beat courtesy of Tom Hambridge. In addition to Hambridge and JW-Jones (Vocals/Guitar), we have Reese Wynans cranking out some tasty work on Keys, Rob McNelley (Guitar), and Dave Roe (Bass). When I heard this song I immediately thought this one was going to be my number one Favorite, but as the album progressed, many more Tracks jumped into the ring to fight for that spot. "Watch Your Step", a Bobby Parker Original, started off and continued with a really nice Guitar line, which continued throughout, giving this tune a little bit of the 50's/60's Blues Rock sound. Reese Wynans again cranked up a mean set of Keys. This Track had a lot of great stuff happening on it and thoroughly amazed me, especially with the fabulous Vocal work of JW-Jones. I really loved my Jean Jacket when I was young and it appears that JW-Jones really loved his, as well, as he offers up a nice song about his called "Blue Jean Jacket". This one, as with the previous 2 Tracks, again rocked to the max, with JW-Jones offering up some mighty fine Guitar work, especially on the last 1/3 of the song as he finishes it off in fine style. The first 4 Tracks on "Belmont Boulevard" featured the lineup as listed above, but starting at Track 5 with "Don't Be Ashamed", we have Laura Greenberg and Jamie Holmes step in on Bass and Drums, of which they also do on Tracks 7, 10, and 11, which especially for the Drum work, certainly brought a whole new set of dynamics to the album, of which a couple of stand out examples were Track 7 "Magic West Side Boogie" and Track 10 "What's Inside Of You". "Magic West Side Boogie" was a real Fast Paced Barn Burner Instrumental of a Track with it basically being all Drums and Guitar from Holmes and Jones. Amazing Stuff. "What's Inside Of You" caught my ear right away with the syncopated drum beat of Holmes, which subtly weaves itself in out of this Soulful Bluesy Buddy Guy original. "Belmont Boulevard" finishes the amazing journey with "Cocaine Boy", a nice almost Psychodelic Rock number, that really trips out as JW-Jones stretches his out of the box creativity to the max. This tune was an amazing way to end the album, leaving me with, certainly a sense of Wow and certainly an eagerness to soon listen to the album again, but that is JW-Jones music for you, and you really can't expect to much less from Canada's Premier Blues Guitarist and Singer. Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network) Listen To 2 Tracks Off The Album Here... http://www.jw-jones.com/album/belmont-boulevard/ Additional Artist Info... http://www.jw-jones.com/
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Just finished listening to "Belmont Boulevard", the newest release from Canadian Blues Slinger JW-Jones and, as with all his previous releases, I must say that I am very impressed. "Belmont Boulevard" is JW-Jones' Debut release for Stony Plain/Blind Pig Records and he could not of put together a better album, to show his amazing talents to his new Labels.