FL Jones

FL Jones is seeking to redefine soul music. Although he is a product of the hip-hop generation, this New York native is drawn to live instrumentation. His music embraces sonic vibrations across cultures, genres, and movements. As an artist and song writer, he has performed in some of the more prestigious venues in New York (the Jazz Standard, Le Bar Bat, The Bitter End, The Cutting Room). However, his music expands much further than his experience as a live performer. Scoring the feature film 200 American, he demonstrated his ability to compose original songs for the entire film. FL Jones is a genuine artist and when it comes to music that is a rare thing. Whether he is singing about love, relationships or struggle, the lyrics and production are seamlessly intertwined to create a composition you can believe in. Having recently announced his debut CD, Becoming Myself, will be released soon, listeners should expect the songs to be a composite of Contemporary R&B with the Classics.

- reviewed by: Jason Kordich

Artist Feature: FL Jones

http://leisurelab.com/2009/05/08/artist-feature-fl-jones/#more-1634


FL Jones has a unique background. He served as a US Marine in the Gulf, toured the world as a cast member of the Broadway musical RENT, served as an advocate for at-risk youth in inner city New York, and performed alongside artists such as James Brown, and CeCe Penniston. If that’s not enough, he also composed music for the films “200 American” and “Whirlwind.” While working full-time managing Youth Development grants for the NYC Department of Education, Jones managed to find time to record his debut solo album. His new CD is called Becoming Myself, and it’s available now.

Jones’ sound blends vintage R&B, sophisticated pop, a touch of funk (”Living by the Funk”), and a hint of disco (”I Choose You”). But Becoming Myself is more about songwriting than genre, with sweet-sounding chord progressions and arrangements, and lyrics that often take an introspective tone without becoming self-involved. Jones takes his influences equally from Prince, Stevie Wonder, Sting and Seal, and the diversity of those influences is apparent in every song.

If you haven’t already, we recommend getting to know FL Jones.

- Leisure Lab/artist feature

http://www.fljones.com
LI: Tell us a little about yourself.
What made you get into the music
business?
Who were your inspirations?
I decided my life was going to
involve music during High School.
I had an incredible Band Director
named Nathaniel Drake. He was
my music mentor for 5 years
throughout Junior High and High
School. Even though I always
loved to sing, and performed all


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the time for my family, even as a baby, I didn't believe music would become the
focal point of my life until I met him. Truly inspiring. That’s why I still work for
kids now, in the hopes of helping them find the courage to do whatever they want to
do.
LI: Describe your music to our readers. What do you bring different to the table?
What kind of feedback have you had thus far? What have been some of your challenges?
I like to call it modern soul music, Nouveau Cameoesque, funkadelica with a splash
of Sly. I write songs, if it doesn't make sense, I won't sing it. So I tried to make a
record that people will feel on the first listen, but hear on the 3rd.
So far the industry has really responded well to it. I have started to get a few festival
bookings, and a lot of people are starting to ask to collaborate or offer some
assistance. It's hard you know, I do this while working a 9-5, so someday, I definitely
feel like a schizophrenic modern day renaissance man. I don't get a lot of sleep. But,
the work I do for the education department feeds my spirit in an entirely different
way.
What upcoming projects to you have that readers should know about (if any)? *
A film I served as music supervisor on, and wrote a few tracks for is now on DVD,
it's an indie film called "Whirlwind". I also am working with this incredible
producer from Jersey called M-Sol; I think he's about to remix a few things for
Ultra Records. We have written a few tracks together that are for the club heads.
REALLY love house! Have a few mixes coming soon to a dance floor near you! And
also writing new material for the next record which will be much more like our live
performances.
LI: What kind of support have you received? If you needed help with anything, what
would it be? The universe always provides, but I am doing this solo DIY. Am
working with Countdown Entertainment now, they are great. But always looking
for anyone who wants to establish a partnership. It's all still so new. Right now, I am
trying to book a mini college tour, so anybody with a hook-up at a college...
LI: Is there anything you want to add? Contact info? Upcoming shows? *
Yeah, you can check me out at www.myspace.com/fljones, www.fljones.com
The CD is available at http://www.cdbaby.com/fljones
or itunes Support Indie Music!!
LI: Where do you see yourself in the next five years? Playing everyday - Lyric Magazine

Artist Feature: FL Jones

http://leisurelab.com/2009/05/08/artist-feature-fl-jones/#more-1634


FL Jones has a unique background. He served as a US Marine in the Gulf, toured the world as a cast member of the Broadway musical RENT, served as an advocate for at-risk youth in inner city New York, and performed alongside artists such as James Brown, and CeCe Penniston. If that’s not enough, he also composed music for the films “200 American” and “Whirlwind.” While working full-time managing Youth Development grants for the NYC Department of Education, Jones managed to find time to record his debut solo album. His new CD is called Becoming Myself, and it’s available now.

Jones’ sound blends vintage R&B, sophisticated pop, a touch of funk (”Living by the Funk”), and a hint of disco (”I Choose You”). But Becoming Myself is more about songwriting than genre, with sweet-sounding chord progressions and arrangements, and lyrics that often take an introspective tone without becoming self-involved. Jones takes his influences equally from Prince, Stevie Wonder, Sting and Seal, and the diversity of those influences is apparent in every song.

If you haven’t already, we recommend getting to know FL Jones.

- Leisure Lab/artist feature

I must admit during my first run through of Becoming Myself I wasn't prepared to hear the big genre leaps to 80s pop/rock, then to acoustic house/disco, and then again to smooth soul, but play-by-play, they grew on me. Those genre jumps and Jones' hurried rhyme techniques may still be album pitfalls for some, but for me Jones's talent still finds a way to make these grooves blossom. What gives the album its calling card is the Northern soul tinge of Jones's vocals, a dry martini mix of Seal and Lenny Kravitz. Though most of Jones' vocal work could be reduced to clever whispers and the occasional gritty staccato grunt, here his execution proves smart, giving these songs a wit and expediency that will leave listeners' surprised. While the genre shifts may strike up some resistance with particular listeners, the album is still full of musical treats. Credibly, Jones briskly enters into AC pop when rendering the peppy 80s melodies on the regretful "Waking Up Without You," a particularly painstakingly arranged cut. "Hey Friend" (whose piano chords bare a striking resemblance to Sara Bareilles's "Love Song") and "Sexy Beast" are also cool retro innovations. He also toys with funk on the brief, Prince/James Brown-styled opener for "Living By the Funk," giving the song an ambient playfulness. Breezy Philly strings coat the big disco sounds of "I Choose You" and "Did I Mention" radiates those pulsating, Tortured Soul vibes. Solid production and supersonic musical fireworks make even the B-side offerings of the project passable. With just a couple of extra repeats, it's surprising how good Becoming Myself actually becomes.

Notable tracks: "Hey Friend," "Did I Mention," "Waking Up Without You" and "I Choose You"

Vocals: 2.5 stars
Lyrics: 2 stars
Music: 3 stars
Production: 3 stars
SoulTracks Call: Recommended
- Soultracks.com

FL JonesBecoming Myself© 2008 Lotus Musiq
"FL Jones has the qualities to become an overall eyecatcher."1. Living by the Funk
2. Satisfied
3. 3 Weeks Later
4. Waking up without You
5. Did I Mention
6. Trust Me
7. I choose You (featuring Leah Johnson)
8. Sexy Beast
9. Becoming Myself
10. Hey Friend
11. Affirmation
From theatre to film and back, pursuing that dream, that's Becoming Myself, the debut album by musical centipede FL Jones.
First of all I don't think that Becoming Myself is a project that will shake the foundations of soul related music. On the other hand, the disc does contain some nice, contemporary sounds in which FL clearly tried to avoid repetition and tried to combine a soulish base with pop, funk and R&B influences, ending up with accessible, appealing songs as a result.
In one way or another, FL Jones' debut, radiates joy and pleasure and etalates the fact that the accomplishment of this album has always been the man's dream. And 'the man' undoubtly possesses great qualities and skills. I think though that there's still quite some space for development and improvement. Fl's writing is good by all means and so is the construction of the songs. The factor that can improve most I feel is the production, which can be richer and fuller and will certainly add that little extra touch to lift the album to a higher level.
Nevertheless tracks such as the uptempo dancefloor killer Did I Mention, the sexy ballads Trust Me and Becoming Myself, or the (quite mainstream sounding) Hey Friend, easily end up in the upper half of my quality scale.
Becoming Myself certainly is an interesting album and FL Jones for me is one of those talented artists who excites my curiousity for the future.
Just that little extra, and this might become an overall eyecatcher.
Mildly recommended. - JazzandSoul.com

I must admit during my first run through of Becoming Myself I wasn't prepared to hear the big genre leaps to 80s pop/rock, then to acoustic house/disco, and then again to smooth soul, but play-by-play, they grew on me. Those genre jumps and Jones' hurried rhyme techniques may still be album pitfalls for some, but for me Jones's talent still finds a way to make these grooves blossom. What gives the album its calling card is the Northern soul tinge of Jones's vocals, a dry martini mix of Seal and Lenny Kravitz. Though most of Jones' vocal work could be reduced to clever whispers and the occasional gritty staccato grunt, here his execution proves smart, giving these songs a wit and expediency that will leave listeners' surprised. While the genre shifts may strike up some resistance with particular listeners, the album is still full of musical treats. Credibly, Jones briskly enters into AC pop when rendering the peppy 80s melodies on the regretful "Waking Up Without You," a particularly painstakingly arranged cut. "Hey Friend" (whose piano chords bare a striking resemblance to Sara Bareilles's "Love Song") and "Sexy Beast" are also cool retro innovations. He also toys with funk on the brief, Prince/James Brown-styled opener for "Living By the Funk," giving the song an ambient playfulness. Breezy Philly strings coat the big disco sounds of "I Choose You" and "Did I Mention" radiates those pulsating, Tortured Soul vibes. Solid production and supersonic musical fireworks make even the B-side offerings of the project passable. With just a couple of extra repeats, it's surprising how good Becoming Myself actually becomes.

Notable tracks: "Hey Friend," "Did I Mention," "Waking Up Without You" and "I Choose You"

Vocals: 2.5 stars
Lyrics: 2 stars
Music: 3 stars
Production: 3 stars
SoulTracks Call: Recommended
- Soultracks.com