Walsall loses renowned Django guitarist.
— The Jazz Phoneys (@jazzphoneys) November 7, 2023
It is with great sadness and disbelief that The Jazzphoneys announces the following: Jon is no longer with us, having died suddenly on Thursday, aged
only 61.
The Jazz Phoneys are Jonathan Smith on guitar, Rob Dickens on tenor sax, Mark Shaw on alto sax (occasional), and Rob's smartphone on piano, bass and drums (courtesy of the amazing iREAL b app).
Our repertoire of jazz standards includes many in the gypsy and Latin-American genres, and has grown steadily since we began meeting up for a weekly jam session in the summer of 2011.
We specialise in playing to audiences at smaller, sometimes unconventional venues, where an 'analogue' rhythm-section simply wouldn't fit, or might be too loud.
Please email rob.dickens AT jazzphoneys.com or ring Walsall (01922) 620 953 for further details.
June 7, 2014: Col Walker took these pictures at the Chuckery Festival.