JONES ALONE: Rickie Lee Jones fans got...

JONES ALONE: Rickie Lee Jones fans got a treat when the singer previewed her first-ever solo acoustic tour recently with an informal show at the Troubadour. And there was a bonus: Lyle Lovett joined in on harmonies for three songs, including an unreleased Jones number. Bassist extraordinaire Rob Wasserman also made a guest appearance.

Jones seemed inspired by the close quarters of the club, joking with audience members who were shouting requests between songs, but commanding hushed attention during them. With Jones mostly alone at just a piano or acoustic guitar, her songs lost the musical complexity of their full-band arrangements, but gained in intimacy.

“I wanted to create something of a more secluded environment on stage,” Jones told Pop Eye. In keeping with that, Jones will stick to small theaters on the tour, which starts Tuesday in Berkeley. A Los Angeles date is expected in April.