Seth Lee Jones – Tulsa Custom
More blistering blues guitar with raw-accentuated vocals that invests in many previous blues guitarists who have target-practiced their contagious notes into a time-honored genre. The tunes have all the accessories required to lay down a tight cool groove surrounded by a contingent of blues bedeviled by the more than capable axe-man — Mr. Jones.
Recorded in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Seth Lee Jones is the focus of 10 blues bullets fired point blank into Tulsa Custom (Drops May 17/Horton Records/35:00). This is his 2nd effort. I hear the urgency & heat in his vocals but found this recording itself lacking in successfully bringing his vocals to the front. The lead guitar’s well captured but I couldn’t make out many lyrics.
Seth sounds dedicated & engaged. Vocally he’s exceptional on “110” which is derivative of Z.Z. Top in style & on Little Walter’s “One Chance” — closer to authenticity. Seth stings the ears through his strings with a pulsating delivery. His voice can be between Captain Beefheart (during a serious performance) & Mason Ruffner.
Fortunately, while his lead guitar isn’t as articulated as the late Roy Buchanan (who couldn’t sing nearly as good as Seth) or as flashy as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Seth navigates through an electrifying showcase with panache.
Once the harmonica rears its head the tunes sound rooted in early J. Geils Band. But there’s a heady vitality at work that reminds one of The Paul Butterfield Blues Band’s stabbing guitar approach of the dual guitar leads of Elvin Bishop & Mike Bloomfield.
One of the best of the 10 is “Mr. Evil,” where the essence of Seth comes with this King’s X tune. It’s swampy blues & there’s enough in the delivery to grab a guitar lover’s ears & tweak them regally. “Outta My Mind,” is nourished by traditional blues gutsiness. At a loss is the “originality” so many speak of — since most songs follow the blues map.
The charmer is “Penny Park.” Seth sings in an austere but workable style reminiscent of Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits). A good track driven by a vocal & creativity that the others lack.
There’s nothing wrong with this showcase — what’s needed is for Seth to focus more on how to find Seth Lee Jones. That may be a challenge. There are distinct differences between the blues of say, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Robben Ford, Johnny Winter & John Mayall – but we recognize them individually because of their characterization that differentiates them from anybody & everybody who plays.
Seth does come through especially with “Walter,” arranged with sensitivity & it brings out his excellence.
Highlights – “110,” “One Chance,” “Mr. Evil,” “Outta My Mind,” “Penny Park” & “Walter.”
Musicians – Seth (guitar/vocals), Bo Hallford (bass), Chebon Tiger (harmonica), Matt Teegarden (drums/tambourine/shaker) & David Teegarden, Sr. (tambourine)/shaker).
B&W image courtesy of Seth’s Facebook. CD @ https://www.hortonrecords.org/ & https://sljguitarstulsa.com/