Percy Jones - Brand X

[MixBass]

I've always got a laugh out of his playing as well,something cartoonish about it at times.
Percy for my ears is one of the most identifiable bassists there is. He can play any number of smallest little things that spell Percy. And as stated by those who've met him, a real gentleman. Good to see John playing next to him as well, true pioneers!!

We're currently listening to Moroccan Roll. Percy is so funny. His fretless work always makes me chuckle for some reason. He really is a bass players bass player. One of the few bands I've never seen that I've always wanted to.

 

[woodyng2]

Oh shoot! I can't remember what goes next!!!!

Photograph Copyright © Jeffrey P. Scott 2016 All rights reserved.

No worries, John, I's got ya' covered, bloke!

Photograph Copyright © Jeffrey P. Scott 2016 All rights reserved.

Amazing tone from such modest gear.

Photograph Copyright © Jeffrey P. Scott 2016 All rights reserved.

Percy also had a couple Eventide pedals to help create his masterful sounds with.

I wouldn't call Euphonic Audio or Eventide gear "modest".
Interesting that he's using Ibanez these days.

 

[kesslari]

@Walfretless5 I must admit some envy that you had the opportunity to study with him for a period of time. Wow.

 

[Walfretless5]

Well the show was TREMENDOUS!!
I was fortunate enough to be at the Brand X show at the IRIDIUM in NYC last nite. Great "intimate" club to see a show, I had preferred seating (well worth the extra cost)....sat at 2nd seat from the stage (if you know the setup of that club), you are like 3 feet from the players.
It was a TREMENDOUS show and I was able to reconnect and hang a bit with my former bass teacher Percy Jones....to me the most UNIQUE and GIFTED fretless fusion players there is. Watching both his left AND right hand techniques I was in awe and it reminded me of how my jaw used to hang down to the floor watching him when he was teaching me....I was like "YOU want ME to play THAT??" REALLY??
The band did a fantastic job on many of the old favorites and I was able to get a meet with the whole band....all such down to earth ,unassuming individuals with ultra talent!
Anyway great show!! Any one interested in seeing this incredible band that can't be at tonite's show , they will be back at the club January 2nd and 3rd. And of course Percy is still performing in Brooklyn with his own band MJ12, so it's another great chance to see him.
Pardon my crappy phone photos but we weren't allowed to use flash and my battery was low so was unable to take many shots.....

**** FOR ALL YOU WAL GUYS****
Although Percy doesn't play Wals publicly anymore (He switched to Ibanez because he wanted to try something different) he STILL has his American Walnut 5 string...I have the same bass as him since mine was built in 1988 when I was studying with him. I have since had the fingerboard epoxied by THOR and I told him about it and I said I would bring it to a show for him to play it and he said he would check it out. Probably at an MJ12 show.
I think that's pretty awesome that he would play my bass on a gig if I brought it.

 

[Walfretless5]

Excellent!

Small venues are the best, really. That is why I like going to Night Town; no stage, just an area in front of the tables. At one of those, a Flora/Airto show, Gary Meek had forgotten his flute stand and asked the couple in front of him if they didn't mind him putting his flute on the table! At another, when we saw Basia at Night Town, one of her comments to the audience was that she felt like she was performing in her living room. A few years ago a friend and I went to Night Town to see Bucky Pizzarelli; he invited us to sit and talk with him before the show. Bucky was warming up on a classical guitar, he told us about how the guitar was just an inexpensive Mexican made instrument but he loved it, then he handed it to us! He did, in fact, use that guitar during the show, alternating between it and his signature Benedetto 7 string throughout the performance.

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Photograph Copyright © Jeffrey P. Scott 2007 All rights reserved.

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Photograph Copyright © Jeffrey P. Scott 2007 All rights reserved.

Another of all the great musicians we have seen over the years at Night Town was Jean Luc Ponty. He's been there a couple of times.

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Photograph Copyright © Jeffrey P. Scott 2007 All rights reserved.

I agree , the more intimate (especially for Jazz) the better. Even the musicians seem to feed off the audience better in these close settings. A lot more personal and the sound is usually better as well.

 

[Les Ismoor]

Plenty of nice pix in this thread.

 

[Watchootognbout]

JEAN-LUC!!

 

[Yonni]

I was just posting on the other forum about Percy being oft overlooked and then I see this. I didn't know they were touring. I've now signed up to their facebook page in case they announce dates in the UK. I haven't seen them since the Do They Hurt tour 1980?

 

[Jon Pomplin]

First off, apologies for violating the rules. Was only trying to share Percy's work.

Here is a picture of Percy from 2011 during the video sessions for the BangTower records on my label. Percy has other projects like MJ12, MJD and others you might be interested in as well. Peace.

 

[Bob_Ross]

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Any idea why he reverse-wraps the low strings on the top three tuning posts?

 

[Deleted member 264575]

I just listened to Another Green World by Brian Eno today. Percy is amazing on that one. Great album.

 

[Jon Pomplin]

Any idea why he reverse-wraps the low strings on the top three tuning posts?

Actually I asked him the same thing when we took the pictures (during BangTower video sessions) but can't remember for sure now, and don't want to mis-quote. I will ask him next time I talk to him. He's using a new custom Ibanez they made for him at the time of this picture which he's using on the Brand X tour and the new BangTower record.

 

[Jon Pomplin]

Percy was recently listed in the top 100 bassists of all time in the Bass Player Magazine. Here's a link to the listings:
The 100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time

PS - I think it's actually listed backwards

 

[Wisebass]

Hi Jeff! just discovered your "old" post.

Thanx for your super photos of one of my biggest idols.

Amazing tone from such modest gear.

I can see what you mean! The guy does not even have one...Rickenbacker Rickenbacker Rickenbacker Rickenbacker Rickenbacker Rickenbacker Rickenbacker

may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

 

[Jon Pomplin]

I asked about the Rickenbacker thing (I have 2 fretted - an '80 4001 and a '14 4003) several years back when I first started producing records with Percy. Being a fretless player first, the fretless Rickenbacker offering was special order in the early 70's and very rare in the UK. And, if you have one (4000-01 series) you know, yanking the frets (aka Jaco) isn't an option. Percy also told me he'd played a couple fretted ones and just didn't like the feel of them so stuck with Fender at first. Obviously switched to Wal and played a couple others, then landed with Ibanez and then an endorsement. BTW - When we shot the videos for BangTower in 2011 (and pic above), was the day after Neil (Citron) arranged to go to the Ibanez custom shop in LA to check out the new basses Ibanez specifically had made for Percy (another story), which you now see in the videos and pictures. SO FAR - The official recordings with that new Ibanez Bass are the new BangTower and MJ12 records. Obviously more coming too. (marks the spot)

PS - The picture is copyright 2012 - Declassified Records; and only available for non-commercial use

 

[Wisebass]

Obviously switched to Wal

Yep! Saw him playing Wal back in the 80s. Percy and Pino made me go GAS for fretless (could not buy a Wal by then )

PS - The picture is copyright 2012

only available for non-commercial us

Of course I respect this as an artist!
My "thanx for the photos" means nothing else but: Thanx for showing your incredible work to me!

may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

 

[Jon Pomplin]

Of course I respect this as an artist!
My "thanx for the photos" means nothing else but: Thanx for showing your incredible work to me!
Wise(b)ass

Wisebass: I just had to add the "note" re: copyright because the photographer reminded me to do it is all. I've been on Talkbass long enough to know the majority of members already understand that (since 2001 after the interview).
BTW - Have some other pics I'll post later.

 

[Wisebass]

the majority of members already understand that

Hi Jon; some do some don't I do....

Have some other pics I'll post later.

cool!!! Thanx!

may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

 

[Jon Pomplin]

Here are a couple more images from the BangTower video sessions from October 2011. I've also posted links to the 2 videos that were created during these rehearsals. The Dog and Bass is Percy's dog (for whom the song was named. Yanked a bunch of hair out of the pickup when the session for Casting Shadows were being done). Click on Thumbnails for pictures (sorry - thought they'd show and the videos would be links).
-
HAIR OF THE DOG

-
BBA