Glenn Jones: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concerts

Glenn Jones' most recent album, 'The Wanting,' is a compelling work of American folk music that tells stories without a single word. Watch the masterful guitarist perform a lovely set at the NPR Music offices.
Set List:
Tinka Marie"
"The Great Pacific Northwest"
"Of Its Own Kind"
For more videos and to subscribe to the Tiny Desk Concerts podcast, visit npr.org/tinydeskconcerts.

[@b33thov3ndangkhoa]

I found Glenn Jones in my most depressing time of my life . His music brought me some peace.... I keep listening to his album "Fleeting" over and over ...day and night ...

[@jerricocrittenden8311]

Cleo’s awake and Cleo’s sleep ❤❤❤

[@alexarchibald2725]

The man is a great minimalist expressionist, which is the whole point of the american primitive tradition: taking what you've got for technique and using it to SAY SOMETHING. It's not about flash or technique. Not AT ALL. You may feel that you have more technical ability, but if you feel the need to advertise it to a bunch of strangers as some kind of misguided criticism then you're simply missing the point, not to mention the heart and soul of these brilliant compositions! Do your homework....

[@HailToMyself]

The Great Pacific Northwest brought back memories of hiking in Oregon. Incredible stuff.

[@TalesoftheBoatman]

Glenn is the best. I love his banjo playing

[@davidroe7125]

Beautiful.. These NPR recordings have introduced me to so many wonderful sounds,musicians and artists. So many thanks from the U.K.!

[@stevenkoehler6018]

Super interesting music! Very moody & provocative. He's unique.

[@joaquinodriozola4963]

really theres people complaining about the guitars being out of tune? just shut up and listen! you may learn something

[@andrewdvirga]

folks... you are missing the point. its not supposed to be perfect. this is great improvised music. it is a metaphor for life. american primitive style is an exercise in spontaneity and free form thought. it is a meditation. it is supposed to be slightly out of tune and chaotic. ISNT LIFE ? thats the point. hope you can go forward with a new understanding of what you are listening. to . check out Tompkins square records if you get it.

[@Deathbyplane69]

avid american primitive guitar listener; i disagree, guitar should definitely be in tune at the very least

[@alexarchibald9783]

+kevin kehl Maybe it sometimes takes going a step further and being immersed the same music these players are inspired by, namely the earliest recordings of american and other music, much of which is out of tune on record (often deliberately) but so full of depth of feeling and compositional brilliance it's definitely worth being patient and practicing a deeper form of appreciation. Listening to and playing music in what you might call the american primitive style, I find it adds immensely to the experience to have a basic understanding of the aesthetic of those early sounds. Dissonance is a HUGE part of the learning and the feeling of this style, as well as letting go of rigid ideas about tuning perfection. A sense of context always adds to appreciation, and context is sometimes more important than others. This isn't for everyone and it isn't for surface listening. Fair enough. That being said Glenn Jones is probably my favourite living guitar player so there's that. There's more depth in these tunes compositionally and emotionally than I hear in most things... Just listen to any of his records!!

[@johnkidder5099]

+Andrew Virga Glenn plays in so many many tunings that there is bound to be some dissonance apparent - it's part of the art. Glorious.

[@ryanleaf9729]

Alex Archibald l

[@alexarchibald9783]

Hey Ryan! I played a show with Ralph Johnston last year and he told me about your music. I like your playing!

[@ZeriMelodik]

Great and Excellent. I LOVE IT.

[@grantmartin6094]

What a cool Guild. Suits his sound and whole artistic vibe. Great set!

[@evansgate]

definitely hear the fahey influence... which is a good thing. also came here from one of Glenn's comments on a Fahey recording.

[@gnrdakota]

Yeah, I find him located right on the corner of Fahey and Kottke Avenue. Love his sound.

[@natalik]

I am in love...

[@MrTimothyBlaine]

Beautiful guitar.

[@FreedomFighter1759]

My favourite man

[@psmithbell]

Oh Glenn, it is so fine.

[@dan32113]

great Welsh name Jones! A true Celt..

[@noodles4573]

so nice

[@MagsTheJedi]

Awesome. These videos are incredible.

[@TheReactorSings]

Guys, guys, the flat string adds frisson.

[@caiocintra647]

Does anyone knows which specific model of guitar is he playing??? I really love this songs and would want to learn to play it!

[@Siimeon98]

Hey! It looks like an older Guild D-50. 👋🏻🙂

[@tdavis6378]

I have a Guild D-35 I bought in 1970 which is a great guitar but I think this is a step up.

[@ScottGarcian]

Such a great guitarist. I think NPR should try to get Les Claypool on the show. I'd be the happiest man..

[@melindalemmon2149]

Where do I get that little OF ITS OWN KIND capo and whats it called.

[@sir0nion]

Look up the company Shubb, they make partial capos that cover only some strings.

[@paridisegrowth]

@electrichealinghand Do you have any links to your work? I've been trying to find a folky singer/songwriter to make a video for

[@adims654]

i need a banjo.

[@rscottenglish]

Is he composing this music on the fly? If he is this is an amazing musical experience.

[@RebeccaPedersonHessey]

Nice

[@braulioarellano9740]

I see we have many experts in American Primitive in the comments. Stick to your lame jobs while Jones creates these epic pieces.

[@melindalemmon2149]

Jaaaaaa

[@Lenin426599]

@mjsarr alternate tunings, not out of tune

[@GreenGenesMr]

thats super cool. do you know what the thing is called that holds up the first 2 strings?

[@GreenGenesMr]

i guess a different kind of capo?

[@davidlindsay6853]

@@GreenGenesMr its called a partial capo, you get various types to cover certain strings.. sometimes you can even use 2.

[@squab154]

It looks like he just got a fresh manicure + clear coat haha

[@Blink182POPPUNK]

Get the top G string on that banjo in tune!

[@wilderwheaton]

Guild D-40?

[@KAISERDJG]

get up there and do better then .

[@taila1976]

cute

[@keishii]

too little banjo in there

[@afflynn]

I love to listen to Glenn Jones, but as other have pointed out his banjo is out of tune on this - and no, I do not think it is intentional. He is better represented on other recordings, check him out!

[@iphelper]

The rattle on the E-string is also not intended I'd assume. Capo is not properly set. Notice that he resets it before the second song. Still, what an amazing player.

[@youllregretit]

that banjo needs a tuning. he's good. just that high g is killing me

[@mcmichaelcalendar9449]

i tell my students...we tune because we care... how embarrassing for everyone concerned.

[@zgmill]

Yeah, hard to get past the out of tune banjo for this caliber player. Pretty unprofessional for a listening room type solo set. However no complaints on the guitar work and cool to see him use the half capo.

[@braulioarellano9740]

Dumbest comment goes to this guy.

[@SiliconMolybdenumNitrogen]

Said a professional you tube commenter .

[@MrJoealesi]

sorry...the banjo is out of tune..not just an atlternate tuning. Nothing happening here... I've played guitar for 40 years and just got a banjo and I think I already play better than that. I'm watching his guitar playing as I write this. The intro is weak and uninteresting. The rest is OK. Just my opinion. That's what the comments are for.

[@matthewbriggs9414]

That erratic vibrating on the guitar ruined the music for me. Otherwise great.