Robert Lewis Jones
b. October 12th, 1925 in Decatur (Georgia)
d. April 2nd, 1996 in Winston-Salem (North Carolina)
MY SOUTH MY BLUES
Gemini
THE WELFARE BLUES
Jambalaya
1970
Né en Georgie, il grandit dès l'enfance à Winston-Salem puis à Durham. Son père Sonny (ou Sunny) Jones est un bluesman local (il a enregistré pour Vocalion en 1939 et pour Orchid en 1950). Dans sa famille de métayers, tout le monde pratique la musique. Il apprend alors à jouer de la guitare dans les rues en observant son père mais aussi influencé par "Blind Boy" Fuller et le Reverend Gary Davis. Dans les années 50 et 60, il vit sur la route comme de nombreux bluesmen, collaborant avec différents musiciens (comme Lightnin' Hopkins) ou prenant part à des revues itinérantes (Jimmy Straits' Fair). En 1970, Gabriel se rend à Pittsburgh et grave un premier single pour Gemini suivi d'un album complet sous le nom de Nyles Jones. Bill Lawrence produit la séance avec ses propres moyens mais ni lui ni Gabriel ne seront rémunérés par Gemini. Ecoeuré, Gabriel retourne à Winston-Salem où il continue à jouer pour ses proches. Le disque remporta un bon succès régional et fut repéré par Mike Leadbitter dans les pages du magazine "Blues Unlimited". Remarquable chanteur et guitariste dans le style Piedmont, il délivre ici un superbe disque de blues rural sans fioritures et rempli de feeling. Les compositions sont puissantes, directes, émouvantes : "Sweet little angel", "Expressin' the blues", "The welfare blues", "Log cabin blues", "Down on the farm". La très rare version originale fut rééditée par le label (français ?) Jambalaya en 1988.
Born in Georgia, he grew up in Winston-Salem and Durham. His father Sonny (or Sunny) Jones is a local bluesman (he recorded for Vocalion in 1939 and for Orchid in 1950). In his sharecroppers family, everyone practices music. He learns to play guitar in the streets by watching his father but also influenced by "Blind Boy" Fuller and Reverend Gary Davis. In the 50's and 60's he lived on the road like many bluesmen, collaborating with various musicians (such as Lightnin' Hopkins) or taking part in itinerant shows (Jimmy Straits' Fair). In 1970, Gabriel went to Pittsburgh and wrote a first single for Gemini followed by a full album under the name of Nyles Jones. Bill Lawrence produces the session with his own money but neither he nor Gabriel will be paid by Gemini. Frustrated, Gabriel returns to Winston-Salem where he continues to play for his relatives. The record was a regional success and was spotted by Mike Leadbitter on the pages of "Blues Unlimited" magazine. Remarkable singer and guitarist in Piedmont style, he delivers here a superb disc of rural blues without frills and filled with feeling. Compositions are powerful, direct, touching : "Sweet little angel", "Expressin' the blues", "The welfare blues", "Log cabin blues", "Down on the farm". The very rare original version was reissued by the (french?) label Jambalaya in 1988.
TOOT BLUES
Karibu (only on cassette)
Music Maker
March 1991
En mars 1990, l'enseignant Timothy Duffy - orienté par James "Guitar Slim" Stephens - retrouve le bluesman toujours actif. Devenu amis, Duffy le convainc de reprendre les enregistrements et les tournées. Quelques temps après, Timothy Duffy et sa femme Denise crée la Music Maker Relief Foundation, une fondation venant en aide aux bluesmen. Sa première et modeste cassette lui permet de figurer à l'affiche de la Blues Estafette d'Utrecht (Pays Bas) la même année. Pour ce premier enregistrement organisé par Tim Duffy, Gabriel chante et joue de la guitare et est accompagné par Duffy lui-même (à la guitare). On retrouve ce blues brut et rauque, très évocateur, que Gabriel a toujours su jouer. On retient "Do you know what it means to have a friend", "Landlord blues", "She's been gone too long", une magnifique lecture de "Careless love" (chantée par son ami Captain Luke) et une version ultra-rude de "Just a little bit".
In march 1990, teacher Timothy Duffy - oriented by James "Guitar Slim" Stephens - found the bluesman still active. Become friends, Duffy convinces Gabriel to resume recording and touring. Some time later, Timothy Duffy and his wife Denise create the Music Maker Relief Foundation, a foundation that helps bluesmen. His first and modest cassette allows him to appear at the Blues Estafette in Utrecht (Netherlands) the same year. For this first recording organized by Tim Duffy, Gabriel sings and plays guitar and is accompanied by Duffy himself (on guitar). We find this crude and hoarse blues, very evocative, that Gabriel has always known how to play. We can point out "Do you know what it means to have a friend", "Landlord blues", "She's been gone too long", a beautiful reading of "Careless love" (sung by his friend Captain Luke) and an ultra-rough version of "Just a little bit".
DEEP IN THE BLUES
Karibu
Cello
August - December 1991
Accompagné de Tim Duffy à la guitare et parfois de Michael Parrish au piano, Guitar Gabriel délivre un programme plutôt varié même s'il manque un peu de surprise. Sa belle voix est parfois un peu faible mais son jeu de guitare reste parfait. On peut retenir le superbe "Came so far" mais aussi "Ain't gonna let no woman", "Down on the farm", "Miss you like the devil".
Accompanied by Tim Duffy on guitar and sometimes Michael Parrish on piano, Guitar Gabriel delivers a rather varied program even if it lacks a little surprise. His beautiful voice is sometimes a little weak but his guitar playing remains perfect. We can mention the superb "Came so far" but also "Ain't gonna let no woman", "Down on the farm", "Miss you like the devil".
TOOT BLUES : THE BEGINNING OF THE MUSIC MAKER STORY
Dixiefrog
March 1991 - April 1994
Le label français Dixiefrog propose ici un recueil de faces réalisées sous la supervision de Tim Duffy entre 1991 et 1994. Il y a aussi deux bons morceaux repris de son premier album "My south my blues". Ces enregistrements de terrain méritent une écoute attentive : "Started out this morning", une sympathique version de "Rock me baby" avec sa soeur Lucille Lindsay, "You got to watch yourself", "Meet me in the bottom", "Running with Jesus is just like an automobile" (avec son frère Pernell King), "Okalaka blues" simplement accompagné d'un son de percussion. Ces morceaux illustrent la facilité du bluesman à s'adapter à différents styles. Le programme constitue d'ailleurs un excellent panorama de l'oeuvre de Guitar Gabriel. Avec le CD, on trouve également un remarquable DVD racontant l'histoire de la fondation Music Maker.
French label Dixiefrog proposes here a collection of sides recorded under the supervision of Tim Duffy between 1991 and 1994. There are also two good tracks taken from his first album "My south my blues". These field recordings deserve careful listening : "Started out this morning", a nice version of "Rock me baby" with his sister Lucille Lindsay, "You got to watch yourself", "Meet me in the bottom", "Running with Jesus is just like an automobile" (with his brother Pernell King), "Okalaka blues" simply accompanied by a percussion sound. Those sides illustrate how easy the bluesman is to adapt his playing to different styles. The program is also an excellent overview of the work of Guitar Gabriel. Along with the CD, there is also a remarkable DVD telling the story of the Music Maker Relief Foundation.
VOLUME 1
Music Maker
February - April 1994
Un recueil de titres gravés pour Music Maker un peu long et parfois monotone. On trouve cependant de bons moments comme "Here comes the devil", "You gotta watch yourself", "Leave my goat alone", "Hospital blues".
A collection of titles recorded for Music Maker a bit long and sometimes monotonous. There are, however, good moments like "Here comes the devil", "You gotta watch yourself", "Leave my goat alone", "Hospital blues".
DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS OF CELLO vol.1
Cello
Early 1990's
A LIVING PAST
Music Maker
Early 1990's
Dans cette anthologie Music Maker, on trouve un morceau inédit de Guitar Gabriel. Il s'agit du monologue "A living past".
In this Music Maker anthology, we find an unissued track of Guitar Gabriel. This is the monologue "A living past".
CAME SO FAR
Music Maker
Early 1990's
BLUES CAME TO GEORGIA
Music Maker
Early 1990's
Dans cette sélection Music Maker, on trouve l'excellent et excitant "Let no woman".
In this Music Maker selection, we find the excellent and exciting "Let no woman".