Getting back on the one-man bandwagon

Paul Ubana Jones plays his very distinctive and original music at Uxbridge Arts and Culture in Howick on November 30. Photos supplied

Paul Ubana Jones arrives in Howick this Saturday for a concert at Uxbridge Arts and Culture and it’s one of the first he’s played in some time.

That’s unusual for Jones, as he’s renowned for constant touring and playing his highly accomplished solo blues-roots and folk music shows across New Zealand, Australia and Europe.

When the Times caught up with Paul on the phone at his Canterbury home this week, he was in his usual friendly and thoughtful mood.

He says he hasn’t played in a while because he and his wife have been over in France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom on their annual trip to the northern hemisphere visiting family and friends.

But the 12 weeks, “was one of the longest times in my life that I haven’t played a show, since I was 16-17”.

Jones, 72, usually fits in a few concerts on those northern trips and has built up an audience there, but this time round “it was about the other things in my life like meeting new grandchildren”.

He’s getting back on the bandwagon this weekend for a show at Whitianga on Friday and then at Uxbridge on November 30, where he’ll be playing his beautiful Taylor guitars.

He says he’ll probably vary up the sets between the concerts as the audiences are a little different, and because he’s got a vast back-catalogue of songs to call upon.

And there’s news of new material. Jones has always been a productive creator of unique and distinct songs that draw on the ingredients of blues-roots, folk, psychedelic rock and even classical styles, and he says he’s been “tidying up some writing”.

He’s thinking about another new album and going into the studio next year with his long-time collaborator-producer, Trevor Reekie, of Pagan Records, and legend of the New Zealand music scene, including being a long-time member of the Radio NZ National music unit.

“I’ll slowly be focusing on building up to shows in March and April, and with the new material, I’m wanting to be inclusive and tip my hat to the music of other cultures,” Jones says.