North West London’s superb Soul, Funk and Jazz trio, Jonson, Jonson & Jonson are some of the most accomplished and skilled musicians on the block. Between them have worked with musical icons such as Celine Dion, George Michael, Aswad, Hall & Oates, The Cure, and Natalie Imbruglia, to name a few. Coming together for their collective debut album project, ‘Back To The Buffet’, the trio deliver quite the feast of sumptuous grooves, all oozing class, style and feeling, from stunning slow‑mo slabs of raw Soul to Latin‑jazz‑tinged journeys and hip‑swaying, irresistible funky jams. It’s hot and you need it in your life! DMCWorld checks in…
Hi guys, welcome to DMC! How has 2026 been for you so far?
Hi there, it’s been lively! We’ve been finishing the album, keeping healthy and avoiding forest fires and sunburn!
Please introduce the band and tell us how you got together?
We are a gang of three – Joe Cang, Phill Thornalley and Danny Schogger. Joe met Phil through mutual musical admiration that led to them co-writing on a project, and Phill has known Danny for years through his work at Raak studios as an engineer and producer, where Danny was a major session player. We got together initially just to have a few well lubricated jam sessions and quickly realised we had a vibe together, so it developed effortlessly really.
What’s the story behind the name Jonson, Jonson & Jonson?
Well as Phil pointed out, Cang, Schogger and Thornalley sounds like a firm of reputable accountants, and so was swapped for the at least partially trusted and familiar ‘Jonson Jonson & Jonson’.
Who does what in the band?
Joe sings, and plays bass and occasional percussion, Phill plays drums, guitar, and engineers, Danny plays piano and keyboards, and we produce collectively.
How would you describe your sound?
Live soul for live souls!
You all also have very successful music careers outside of Jonson, Jonson & Jonson, please tell us a little bit about your other projects?
Phil has had a long illustrious career as an engineer, producer, songwriter and also with his solo artist project Astral Drive. Danny has been a major international session player, song writer and producer, and works here and in the US constantly. Joe’s been a solo artist for many years, (first signed by Clive Davis to Arista), and is still active under his own name and with the band Loco Ironico, whilst also a song writer, and producer for various other artists.
You’ve all spent decades making music at the highest level. How does that depth of experience shape the way you create together now, and do you feel there’s a certain emotional or musical “wisdom” that only comes from living and creating for so long?
Theres a certain confidence in our instincts and abilities which becomes more reliable over time, at least in terms of quality control. But equally, the magical aspect of music making, especially collectively, is often fragile and easily missed if the environments too harsh, or sometimes, too precious. It’s never a given and always subjective, but when we’re playing live in the room, there will be a moment when a take happens and we all know that’s’ the one, so probably that group knowing is maturity at play.
You’ve just released your superb ‘Back To The Buffet’ album on your own new label Swamp Recordings. What can we expect to hear and are you pleased with the results?
Thank you! You will hear soulful social commentary, deep conception inducing Philly soul groovers, laconic Latin slow burners, Parisian night walks, and blues smoked head nodder’s. We are very pleased with the album, its’ been a natural curve all the way, and now its ripe and ready to be tasted!
Who or what inspired the album?
We all inspired each other throughout making this album, but if you mean stylistically, then it certainly has deep 70s soul influences through out. Marvin Gaye, Barry White, Sly, and War, etc, but its hopefully not a pastiche as we wrote and recorded immediately so there was no deliberate referencing. But obviously we’re all raised on that good stuff so it finds its way into what we produce to some extent.
What’s your favourite track from the album and why?
Phil: ‘Keep Falling For It’ – a magical melange of 70s Marvin and a 60s French Film soundtrack. Romantic vibes with social comment. Oo la-la!
Dan: ‘Hip Pocket’ – true cool 70s vibe, ala Crusaders, etc.
Joe: They’ve just said my choices, but ‘Beautifull Feeling’ is special to me, a 3 minute mini Parisian film noir, mist, cigarettes, love and coffee!
How long did the album take to put together?
Well, it didn’t take that long really as we tracked it live, and then Joe did vocals and we all did any overdubs soon after. We generally did two songs each time we got together but due to other commitments, etc, we sometimes had a fair wait before we could get back in the studio. The great thing is that at Phil’s studio, Swamp, everything’s set up and ready to go anytime so we would just pick up again, have a lot of laughs, and let the music flow.
Your album is described as being “played and recorded live with no AI, no autotune”. What does working in such a pure, analogue way bring out in your chemistry as a trio?
We all started recording in the days of takes onto tape, and the instincts of push, pull and pocket involved in getting into the zone were magic is caught and kept. So returning at least in part to this way of writing and recording, kind of re-triggered those skills which are if not lost, can certainly get blunted by screen staring instead of eye contact and listening.
Your music has such a warm, live feel. How do you translate that energy when you’re all in a room together creating? Is there a ritual or dynamic that kicks things off?
The answers built into the question, in as much as its all played live and the sounds of well recorded real instruments, is warm and natural. In terms of ritual, no goats were killed but there’s a lot of joking and mick taking, and occasionally some lunch. Phill also makes a great cup of tea and a world class martini, depending on the time of day so all of the above are certainly involved in the process.
Have you any plans to take the album out on the road?
Well, we’re all stage veterans, and would certainly love to be treading the boards together if we can find a way to do it right, so if there’s demand, we will try to supply… watch this space!
What’s next for Jonson, Jonson & Jonson?
We have more promo for the album planned, possible vinyl production to implement and generally enjoying sharing this album of positive vibrations globally.
‘Back To The Buffet’ Album will be released on September 4th 2026 on Swamp Recordings.
