Jon Paris – A Man For All Seasons

Jon Paris – A Man For All Seasons

The Johnny Winter Band, Elephants Memory, Link Wray..if anyone could claim to be a true rock-blues journeyman, Jon Paris is that man. Here, Pete and Jon discuss matters past, present and future…

I’m pretty sure I first saw you play live with the great Johnny Winter, but what were you doing musically before that please?

I sang in our junior high school choir, played drums through high school in The Fabulous Chevelles (with David Zucker), played bass and harmonica in The Walkers (with Jerry Harrison), formed OX with Bob Metzger, joined Short Stuff with Junior Brantley and Joe Kelley, and played guitar in a Blues band with James Solberg. I moved to New York in ’74 and worked with singer-songwriters like Stuffy Shmitt and John Carney, and in bands like Jake and the Family Jewels and Elephant’s Memory. I did a lot of solo gigs (singing, playing guitar and harmonica on a rack), and finally formed The Jon Paris Band. In late ’77 and early ’78 I toured with Robert Gordon and Link Wray (with Anton Fig on drums)…

My memory says that the Johnny Winter show was at The Venue in London’s Victoria. Mid-70s? What memories might you have of that set of dates?

According to “The Jon Paris Archives” it was May 1979, we did three nights there. It was great to be back in London.

There were a couple of little stage tricks you and Johnny had up your sleeves?

Once in a while I would play guitar and Johnny would play bass, sometimes he’d reach around and play my guitar and I’d reach back and play the bass. Other than that maybe, no tricks that I can remember; no gimmicks, no smoke machines, no strobe lights, just MUSIC!

Regarding your current power trio act, who plays what, who sings, what’s the dynamic?

I sing and play guitar and harmonica. The multi-talented Amy Madden is my first-call bassist. We’ve had several great drummers over the years: Steve Holley, Bobby Chouinard, Sandy Gennaro, Yoshi Shimada, Mark Greenberg, and most recently Sam Bryant. Look ’em up, all World-Class musicians.

For present day shows, say with the trio, what gear do you opt for – instruments and amplification?

Fender American Standard Strat, Tele (with a Bigsby Palm-Pedal) for slide, various Boss and Ibanez pedals… I own a couple of Fender Princeton Reverbs, but most of the clubs have house gear. For concerts I usually request Fender Hot Rods or Marshall half-stacks. And of course, Hohner Marine Band harmonicas.

Paul Jones would support you there! For my style I go for Lee Oskars. OK the radio is playing in your kitchen – what would you cross the room to turn up?

The Blues, Rock’n’Roll, 60s R&B, 40s or 50s Jazz, Rockabilly, good Country, maybe even Classical.

– and what would you cross the room to turn off?

I don’t know… Probably Rap or Pop

Did you first get into blues and roots music via the radio, records/ the jukebox or live shows?

All of the above. Certainly listening to my transistor radio under my pillow at night, hearing the music of other worlds, like Chicago and Nashville.

We had Radio Luxembourg, Jon. Poor signal, but Slim Harpo. Do you recall the first blues performance that you went or were taken to? And where was that?

Don’t remember the first, but there were some clubs in my hometown, like The Avant Garde and Teddy’s, where we were fortunate to catch Magic Sam, Big Walter Horton, Big Joe Williams, Johnny Young, Johnny Shines, Dave Ray, John Koerner, James Cotton with Matt Murphy, Muddy Waters, Freddy King, Luther Allison…

Just on your recordings with Johnny Winter, which do you regard as the most successful or impactful?

My favorite was probably Johnny’s “Raisin’ Cain” LP. I played bass, harmonica, and guitar, and Johnny covered two of my songs (“Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” and “Don’t Hide Yer Love”). It sold really well for a Blues record, but for a Johnny Winter record, I wish it was more successful, I wish more people were hip to it.

I have a high regard for Edgar Winter – do you ever play with him?

Never gigged with Edgar, but I did record with him, and I did sit in with him. He sat in with us several times over my years with Johnny; the two of them together was just magical. Edgar’s a monster talent, and he’s still out there rockin’! Check him out, People!

How do you look after your voice?

I don’t really, Pete. I just get up there and let it out!

How would you describe the place where you live, in five words?

I can describe this place in one word, lucky! Lucky to have a roof over my head!

Do you tour much these day? In current conditions what are the pluses and minuses?

Not as much as I’d like to. Sadly, it costs too much to make it financially worthwhile.

I really like backing female musicians and singing with them – what are your thoughts on that musical situation?

For me, male or female, Black or White, young or old, if someone has talent and has something to say, that’s the important thing.

Do you keep your personal politics out of your lyrics? And what about in live performances?

(Smiles) If I have something to say, I’ll try to express it.

This Ain’t The Planet I Signed Up For – how did that song happen?

Speaking of politics. That’s a common phrase from my comedian friend Steven Pearl. Pretty much sums up The State of Affairs, don’t you think?

Is there an album – any artist, any genre – that you can play all the way through and still enjoy?

Jimi Hendrix, Jimi Hendrix, and Jimi Hendrix.

If you got to record a number with Dr John, what song and arrangement might you suggest?

As you might know, Johnny did a month-long tour of Europe in the late 80s with Dr. John. Mac opened solo every night and then joined us for about a third of Johnny’s set. Being with those two legends was a high point for me and drummer Tom Compton. I’d asked Mac to play on my recording of “So Much Love,” but he was a busy man at the time… he still is, God bless him! My trio occasionally does “Walk on Guilded Splinters” which we’ve also done a few very memorable times augmented by The Uptown Horns. Or, it’d be a dream-come-true to have Dr. John on a crazy little number I wrote called “I Really Love You, But I’m Glad Yer Gone.”

Which of your own songs finds you at your most reflective?

Lost in the Shuffle, ‘Til I Lost You, Blues This Bad

And which one your most light-hearted?

Good to Go, So Much Love

Any memories of playing bass with Bob Dylan?

I’d been doing some sessions with Ron Wood, Dylan showed up one night and we all jammed. I was a little nervous, but when I mentioned that I knew Jim and Chuck Solberg, who had known Bob as youngsters back in Hibbing, I was put at ease. Instead of Iconic DYLAN, he became, in my eyes, Fellow-Midwesterner BOB. A week or so after that I got a call to do what I thought were some demos with him… I was pleasantly surprised when “Driftin’ Too Far From Shore” and “Clean Cut Kid” were later released.

We have a couple of friends – maybe more! – in common, namely Peter Green and Pete Brown. What might be their influences on you, if any?

Peter Green is a huge influence. I always felt that his version of Freddy King’s “The Stumble” far exceeds Clapton’s version of “Hideaway” …and Peter sings great and writes great songs. I got to record three tunes on a Peter Green tribute project (“Rattlesnake Guitar”) that Pete Brown produced. An honour to work with Pete; and his Cream classics with Jack Bruce were, and still are, also a huge influence. Please give them my regards.

What makes Jon Paris happy?

Playing music, being with good friends, spending time with a good woman. Reminiscing about the great experiences I’ve had, like touring with Bo Diddley, sitting in with B.B. King, my friendship with Les Paul…

And what makes you sad?

What really depresses me is how Mankind has been on this planet for thousands of years and we still haven’t figured out how to solve our biggest problems: war, greed, poverty, violence, suffering, man’s inhumanity to man… don’t get me started, it’s like the whole World’s got The Blues.

Any recording plans that you can tell us about please?

(Sighs) I’m way overdue. I’ve got about three-fourths of an album already completed AND a bunch more tunes I’d like to record. Any record deals out there?!

Pete Sargeant