James Jones (Violinist)

James Henry Bennett Jones (born 29 July 1998) is a british violinist, guitarist and songwriter known for his unique improvisational style of playing. Eamonn Holmes described him as a "very talented man".^[1] Dave Swarbrick said "One of these days, I'll be supporting him"^[1][2].

Early life[edit]

Jones was born in Cardiff, Wales. He grew up in Caerphilly, Wales^[3]. He first became interested in music at the age of eight when his mother took him to piano lessons at the Forte School of Music in Caerphilly. Shortly after, he started to take an interest in other instruments teaching himself the guitar and began asking his parents for a violin, persuading them that he would be able to have lessons in school. Eventually, his grandfather agreed to take him to Cardiff to buy his first violin which was a Hudson.^[3] He was initially unable to have violin lessons at school as all the spaces were full so he began teaching himself and soon started performing at nursing homes all around the Caerphilly area, entertaining the residents and gathering a local following. After a while his school, The Twyn School, after asking him to play at several events held at the school, agreed to made space for him to have lessons although he preferred to teach himself.^[3]

Career[edit]

In 2009, after he had been playing for two years, Jones was invited to open the show by the National Symphony Orchestra of London for Abba The Show for an audience of five thousand at Cardiff International Arena.^[4] A year later, he won a local talent competition, Caerphilly's Got Talent where one of the judges was BBC Radio Wales presenter Chris Needs, who subsequently asked Jones to perform on at his live shows and often played his music on his radio show.^[5] In 2013, Jones performed on the main stage at the BBC Proms In The Park presented by Tim Rees-Evans and Connie Fisher, billed alongside John Owen Jones, Sophie Evans (performer)|Sophie Evans and Alison Balsom.^[1][3] In 2014, Jones supported Dave Swarbrick, who's music inspired him to take up the violin in the first place^[6].^[7][2] Jones started becoming influenced by the playing of jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli. After finishing school, he traveled to Menorca where he played at hotels and jazz clubs all around the island. He ended up playing with jazz musicians Shanti Gordi, Nito Llorens, Sergi Martin and Terry Cox at a casino in Sant Climent. After returning home, he recorded an EP entitled "Instrumental Jazz" which he sold at his gigs.^[3] At 20, Jones graduated from the University of South Wales with a BA (Hons) in Popular and Commercial music going back to undertake a MA in Songwriting and Production.^[3]

In 2019, Jones signed a record deal with independent label, Serdica Records.^[1] He is currently working on a new album.^[1][3]

In the media[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Add External links

This article "James Jones (Violinist)" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles taken from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be accessed on Wikipedia's Draft Namespace.