Album: Jack Orion
Artist: Bert Jansch
Born: Glasgow
Released: September 1966
Genre: Folk
Influenced: Cream, Neil Young, Led Zeppelin, Smiths, Beth Orton
Coming down from Scotland in the early 60s, Bert Jansch was part of the thriving British folk scene focused around Soho, where Paul Simon, Roy Harper and Sandy Denny all learned their trade. As was the case for many folk guitarists at the time, one of Bert's main influences was Davey Graham. I love all of his first three solo albums, but Jack Orion is my favourite; on each, his guitar playing is simply on a higher plane. I appreciate but don't fully understand the significance of the innovative guitar tunings that Bert pioneered along with Davey Graham, but I do know that his guitar sound was highly influential on many of the rock guitarists of the 60s and 70s.
Perhaps nobody benefited from Bert's groundbreaking guitar sound more than Jimmy Page; for Waggoner's Lad see Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, for Blackwater Side see Black Mountain Side. Page never credited Jansch on these songs, nor did he ever recognise his influence in public, and likewise Jansch didn't have the resources to take on the legal might of Led Zeppelin. Robert Plant performed at a memorial concert for Bert Jansch in 2013, and I see this as tacit recognition of his influence on Led Zep and shows how Plant was always the most likeable band member. All that aside, Jack Orion stands on its own as a great album with the title track and Nottamun Town, as well as those already mentioned, all featuring bewitching guitar work. Any one interested in the DNA of rock guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Neil Young need look no further than Jansch, who would go on to reach further heights with Pentangle. I recommend this obituary too.
Artist: Bert Jansch
Born: Glasgow
Released: September 1966
Genre: Folk
Influenced: Cream, Neil Young, Led Zeppelin, Smiths, Beth Orton
Coming down from Scotland in the early 60s, Bert Jansch was part of the thriving British folk scene focused around Soho, where Paul Simon, Roy Harper and Sandy Denny all learned their trade. As was the case for many folk guitarists at the time, one of Bert's main influences was Davey Graham. I love all of his first three solo albums, but Jack Orion is my favourite; on each, his guitar playing is simply on a higher plane. I appreciate but don't fully understand the significance of the innovative guitar tunings that Bert pioneered along with Davey Graham, but I do know that his guitar sound was highly influential on many of the rock guitarists of the 60s and 70s.
Perhaps nobody benefited from Bert's groundbreaking guitar sound more than Jimmy Page; for Waggoner's Lad see Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, for Blackwater Side see Black Mountain Side. Page never credited Jansch on these songs, nor did he ever recognise his influence in public, and likewise Jansch didn't have the resources to take on the legal might of Led Zeppelin. Robert Plant performed at a memorial concert for Bert Jansch in 2013, and I see this as tacit recognition of his influence on Led Zep and shows how Plant was always the most likeable band member. All that aside, Jack Orion stands on its own as a great album with the title track and Nottamun Town, as well as those already mentioned, all featuring bewitching guitar work. Any one interested in the DNA of rock guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Neil Young need look no further than Jansch, who would go on to reach further heights with Pentangle. I recommend this obituary too.
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