Based in New Jersey, guitarist Ivan “Boogaloo” Joe Jones was one of the earliest of a new group of soulful players signed to Prestige in the late 1960s. Along with Houston Person and Charles Earland, they signposted the way for a funky blues-drenched jazz that would dominate the label’s releases over the following four or five years. Jones’ first record was released in early 1968. Its title, “Introducing The Psychedelic Soul Jazz Guitar Of Joe Jones”, was an attempt to cash in on current musical trends, but the record featured very good soul jazz, a formula repeated on his second album.
His next five LPs fitted into the funky soul jazz template proffered by the label, with Jones alternating languid comping with quick-fire improvisation. These albums are all sought-after collectors’ pieces. The title track of his final Prestige set, ‘Black Whip’, is his most in-demand number in the UK where it became a jazz dance classic.
By Dean Rudland
