the enigma of nic jones, BBC4

TheOtherDennis · September 2013

If you can take the fact that it's about folk music, this is an absolute orgy of exquisite acoustic guitars and playing.

The only problem is that as with most docs, they talk far too much and play not nearly enough, and they talk over the playing way too much.

But there's some phenomenal guitar porn on there, especially Roger Bucknall's and the one Martin Simpson plays in it. And the playing you can hear is stunning.

Must get hold of Penguin Eggs at some point.

not_the_dj · September 2013

Brilliant isn't it.

I was at Warwick that year, but his performance was a special for the Thursday night and we didn't get there till the Friday....gutted to miss it.

TheOtherDennis · September 2013

That was fucking ace. The music was fantastic and that lovely little poem from John Hegley at the end, the tale of the kids in the primary school, what a finish.

And followed by a Richard Thompson concert!!

You have to love the Beeb.

[Deleted User] · September 2013

I'll iPlayer this. He's one of those legendary people who I've never actually heard but have heard referred to a lot. Thanks for posting.

badlydrawnbanjo · September 2013

I flicked it on last night and was amazed to see The Globe in Glossop (local to me, and a place I have frequented many, many times) played a major part in Nic's story.

bertie · September 2013

TheOtherDennis said:

The only problem is that as with most docs, they talk far too much and play not nearly enough, and they talk over the playing way too much.

uh, isnt that the point ?

:-S

TheOtherDennis · September 2013

bertie said:

TheOtherDennis said:

The only problem is that as with most docs, they talk far too much and play not nearly enough, and they talk over the playing way too much.

uh, isnt that the point ?

:-S

What, to talk too much?

bertie · September 2013

how can a documentary be talking "too much??"

If you want to hear more playing - watch a concert surely ?

TheOtherDennis · September 2013

On music docs, there's a balance between talking and the music. Given that this doc was about a man hailed as one of the best ever folk guitarists, one would think that one would see a reasonable amount of evidence to support that assertion. It had only the merest glimpses instead, with more people telling us how great he was rather than music to show us. So, imo, it had too much talking and not enough music.

You can't watch a concert of Nic Jones, he's only played one in the last 32 years because of a car crash in 1981 that broke virtually every bone in his body - bits of his teeth were found in his lungs, apparently. He hasn't even held a guitar since then. We saw about 30 seconds of that one concert from Warwick last year, roughly 15 of which were talked over.

No footage exists of his previous concerts from the 70s. I had never heard of the man before this documentary, so with all that I have just said taken into account, I believe it's reasonable to wish to see a bit more playing and a bit less talking.

viz · September 2013

Spinal tap would have been diminished without the music. Actually on second thoughts perhaps not.

not_the_dj · September 2013

I thought the balance of footage/talking was fine considering what footage is available. If you knew his songs you got a feel for the new arrangements with his son, if you didn't then it made you want to go out and buy 'Penguin Eggs'. Job done.

bertie · September 2013

TheOtherDennis said:

On music docs, there's a balance between talking and the music. Given that this doc was about a man hailed as one of the best ever folk guitarists, one would think that one would see a reasonable amount of evidence to support that assertion. I

depends on the subject context surely?, was the documentary primarily about the man or his music ?

Take the recent one about Jeff Lynn for instance, the music, which we all know, was completely superfluous - the interest of this program was in his hearing about his history, his alliances and the anecdotes/additional "facts" from people he had worked with along the way - not the music

Antique_Guitars · September 2013

Nic Jones is very good shame about his accident

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