Brian Jones on Monkeyclaus

March 28, 2008; 10:53 PM • by Dean Christesen

Brian Jones – the man who comes to gigs with a lunch box filled with a variety of his CDs released over the years – is changing the way he gets his music out to people’s ears. His homemade label Slang Sanctuary is teaming up with Monkeyclaus Digital Download Store to sell his MP3s online for the first time. Although the site is still in its beta stage, it is a well-run site that catches up with the new trend of releasing albums digitally.

Jones is excited about releasing his works on Monkeyclaus, because as he explains, his Slang Sanctuary is a “no-budget label.” “If I can spend money,” he goes on, “it is better to spend it on studio time rather than packaging – no matter how cheap the packaging is.”

It’s important to understand why Jones records album after album and rarely goes beyond selling them to intrigued listeners at gigs and giving them away to musician friends. He describes his behavior through the years as a “musicology project on myself.” Each record documents his playing at that point in time. If the only thing Jones got out of his time spent recording albums was being able to take a CD off the shelf years from now and listening to how his music sounded then, he would be content. Now with Monkeyclaus, the range of people his music can reach is virtually limitless, making it possible for the world to hear the talented musician that Richmond knows so well.

Most of Jones’ past releases are already on the site. Five unreleased recent projects will debut on the site by May. Brian Jones Snow Panda Remixes Vol. 1 contains tracks from Jones’ duo album with Colin Killalea and a quartet album with Kevin Simpson, J.C. Kuhl, and Randall Pharr. All the tracks have been remixed by Gabe Churray of Ilad, giving them a completely new musical identity that Jones is very enthusiastic about. Jones + D’earth + Kuhl + Pharr’s Redhead is going to be a particularly heavy album featuring John D’earth on trumpet. On this album, Jones comments, “I’m learning to like the mistakes. That’s the best part.” Jones + Kuhl + Ralston + Hall’s Ballads employs two double bass players in Cameron Ralston and Matt Hall. As evidenced at ADA Gallery in January, the quartet almost redefines the common definition of “ballad,” and the interplay between musicians in this unique idiom is very impressive. Brian Jones New Trio’s Antipol consists of Jones, Alan Parker on guitar, and J.C. Kuhl on saxophone, and has an extraordinarily full sound for a bass-less trio. Brian Jones Choir Vol. 1 is an EP of alt-rock tunes, “like low budget Beck,” and features Jones on vocals as well as an array of percussion, with a few musicians helping out.

With Monkeyclaus’s help, Brian Jones can focus his time and money away from the busy work of packaging and distribution and spend more on furthering his fascinating musicology project. His shelf of CDs continues to grow and display all of his accomplishments as a musician, drummer, composer, leader, and sideman. One can only wonder how big the shelf will get.