Glen Jones 11/13/17 Cafe 9

Acoustic finger style guitarist Jones played a Manic Monday at C-9. Jones plays the primitive guitar style pioneered by his friend and mentor the late John Fahey. Wordless acoustic 6 string, 12 string, and banjo songs are written in a circular style. Songs start with a distinct melody, meander, then come back around to lend a familiarity that is rare in instrumental music. Jones is a character, and the inter-song banter was great. One tune, "The Last Passenger Pigeon" was written after watching a documentary on man's hand in the extinction of species. "Across The Tappan Zee" was written before the name change to the Mario Cuomo Bridge. Jones told a hysterical story of writing an "un-Christmas carol" and playing it before an audience in Pittsburgh. At the song's lead-in, he sarcastically asked the crowd if anyone likes Christmas? Expecting full well that a crowd of bar denizens would jadedly moan at the specter of the holidays, an 8-year old named Audrey leapt at the question to respond that she LOVES Christmas. Glen did an immediate reflection and about face regarding the sentiment, and has since softened the tune and dedicates it to Audrey upon playing. Jones paid tribute to Robbie Basho and closed with a tune "The Giant Who Ate Himself" that paid homage to Fahey.