By Thomas Semioli
Self-taught and greatly inspired by Charles Mingus and British and American rhythm and blues, Jones plies his craft with a repertoire of glissandos, harmonics, and three-finger riffage, among other techniques, in his work as a jazz-fusion prog-rock master.
A composer, arranger, sideman, collaborator, multi-instrumentalist, and solo recording artist, Percy has anchored several watershed sides, most notably as a member of Brand X, and with Brian Eno, Roy Harper, Steve Hackett, David Sylvian, and Tunnels to cite a very select few.
A University of Liverpool Engineering student, Jones put his education towards designing assorted bass guitar pedals and gadgetry such as a Voltage Controlled Filter and various flange devices.
Among Percy’s weapons of choice include a Fretless Fender Precision, Wal basses produced by Electric Wood Limited, and customized Ibanez instruments.
Percy Jones Sound & Vision
Percy with KYBP Adjunct Professor Tony Senatore, Van Romaine, and Manolo Badrena on “Shapla” https://youtu.be/x4d6_qnRPrk
Brand X:
“Noddy Goes To Sweden” https://youtu.be/2K6OvrKyoGU
“Nuclear Burn” Live https://youtu.be/aPouOx7nAnI
Brian Eno:
“No One Receiving” https://youtu.be/eYDBTYfn9D8
Tunnels
“Tunnels No. 1” https://youtu.be/ghXyKhA-3nw
Solo artist:
“Thin Line” https://youtu.be/WH9samKzsaA
“Alive and Kicking,” “Games Without Frontiers,” “In The Air Tonight,” “Babooshka” “Don’t You Forget About Me”
Among the most prolific studio / sidemen in UK rock history, John Giblin’s career spanned six decades in a wide array of musical genres including pop, jazz, classical, rock folk, avante-garde and permutations thereof. Born in Bellshill Scotland, John stated paying in local band in his early teens and never looked back after migrating to London in 1970.
An early adopter of the fretless bass, Giblin was a dexterous player, rending pocket grooves, and countermelodies to enrich countless hits and album tracks.
His work on stage and on record included notable array of artists and seminal sides, as compiled by Know Your Bass Player Com reader Xavier Padilla: Eric Clapton, Sting, Mark Knopfler, Phil Collins, Brand X, Peter Gabrie, David Sylvian, Chris de Burgh, Masami Tsuchiya, Kate Bush, Scott Walker, Al Green, Duncan Browne, Joan Armatrading, John Lennon, Judie Tzuke, Annie Lennox, Roberta Flack, Paul McCartney, The Everly Brothers, George Martin, Gerry Rafferty, Hugh Masekela, Mavis Staples, Simple Minds, Jon Anderson, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, John Martyn, Richard Ashcroft, Franco Battiato, Saro Cosentino, Eros Ramazzotti Claudio Baglioni, Manolo García, Alan Parsons…
John Giblin Sound & Vision:
Simple Minds:
“Alive and Kicking” https://youtu.be/ljIQo1OHkTI
“Sanctify Yourself” https://youtu.be/sGQNRyxmhhg
“Don’t You Forget About Me” https://youtu.be/VQdhDw-hE8s
Kate Bush:
“Babooshka” https://youtu.be/6xckBwPdo1c
“Breathing” https://youtu.be/VzlofSthVwc
“Rubberband Girl” https://youtu.be/85wZw1O83aE
Peter Gabriel:
“Games Without Frontiers” https://youtu.be/3xZmlUV8muY
“Family Snapshot” https://youtu.be/EYnk8a–fXQ
Phil Collins:
“In The Air Tonight” https://youtu.be/YkADj0TPrJA
“Tomorrow Never Knows” https://youtu.be/5nH-sUGWALo
Courtesy of Embama Com
Courtesy Sony Legacy Com
Photo courtesy of Mo Foster Com
Among the most revered and versatile British session and touring bassists, Mo Foster’s talents as a composer, musician, educator, and author were equaled by his uncanny wit, hospitality, and sidesplitting sense of humor!You know Mo the bassist from his stellar work with a wide range of artists and ensembles including Affinity, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Luka Bloom, Howard Jones, Russ Ballard, Michael Schenker, Maggie Bell, Gerry Rafferty, Joan Armatrading, Kevin Ayres, Gary Moore, Scott Walker, and the London Symphony Orchestra, among scores of others.
Tom Semioli holds Mo Foster’s first bass! Photo by Mark Preston
Mo Foster Sound & Vision…
Affinity https://youtu.be/LVxTQZLVVYU
Jeff Beck https://youtu.be/P1vduurgxWQ
Mo Foster & Friends https://youtu.be/8VBu5E0WgRM
You’ve heard Mo’s bass artistry support James Bond in For Your Eyes Only (1981) and Octopussy (1983).
As a bandleader Mr. Foster has waxed a handful of brilliant jazz/fusion/ambient albums including Bel Assis (1988) and Southern Reunion (1991) featuring guitar icon Gary Moore and drummers Gary Husband and Simon Phillips.
Bravely venturing where no voltage enhanced bassist had gone before, Mo founded the first academic course in electric bass at the Goldsmiths College, University of London in 1975.
Mo’s two terrific tomes: 17 Watts? The First 20 Years of British Rock Guitar: The Musicians and Their Stories (2000) and British Rock Guitar: The First 50 Years (2013) – the latter of which I reviewed for Huffington Post and interviewed Mo are essential for musos and fans alike.
My interview with Mo on Huffington Post for History of British Rock Guitar https://bit.ly/2QVBxwm
My interview with Mo’s Affinity bandmate Linda Hoyle on Huffington Post talkin’ Mo https://bit.ly/35A8d3M
Watch Mo Foster on Know Your Bass Player on Film Season One – 2014, from Mo’s home in London https://bit.ly/2EBNPHH