J.P. Reali Blues Since Birth

September 8, 2024

J.P. Reali

Blues Since Birth

Reali Records

J.P. Reali is a blues guitarist, and singer-songwriter currently living in Newark, Delaware. Originally from New York, J.P. spent nearly forty years living and performing in the Washington, D.C. area. A veteran of the D.C. scene J.P. has evolved from his early days as the lead guitarist for the psychedelic blues band ‘The Next Step’, to the acoustic blues duo ‘The Reali Brothers’ and onto a solo career. J.P. is steeped in the traditions of both Piedmont and Delta blues with four solo releases under his belt, 2007’s “Cold Steel Blues”; 2010’s “Bottle of Blooze”; 2012’s “The Road To Mississippi”; and 2019’s “A Highway Cruise”. In addition J.P. won the D.C. Blues Society’s Battle of the Bands in the solo category in 2010 and 2011, and went on to compete in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. He was a Washington Area Music Association nominee for Best Blues Instrumentalist, and for Best Traditional Blues Recording. He is a member of The D.C. Blues Society, The Baltimore Blues Society, and The Piedmont Blues Preservation Society.

J.P. opens with “The Devil’s Take”, a boogie combining two of his major influences, John Lee Hooker and Booker T. (of the M.G.’s). The song is a poetic ode to the crossroads where the devil resides. Co-written with his brother Chris, J.P. plays bass as we get to hear his vocal. On “The Virus Blues” J.P. plays both guitar and harmonica as he chants “wash your hands don’t touch your face”, a personal testimony to the time when he had Covid.

“It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry” is the Bob Dylan classic, “I’ve been up all night leaning on the window sill…if I don’t make it I know my baby will”. “Drunk And In The Way” is a country blues and a tale of domestic bliss. “Blues In A Minefield” is a lowdown blues reminiscent of Albert King, as J.P. chimes “I want to get up early” with the regular rhythm section of bassist Gill Glass, and co-producer Jim Larson on drums. “The Bad Dog Blues” is a shuffle and tribute to Magic Sam. On “Eileen Left” J.P. plays banjo as he belts out “I woke up this morning, there was a note beside my bed”, the song is about a wayward lady love; influenced by Woody Guthrie the song includes a socio-political twist. On the emotive “Cold Steel Blues”, with J.P. on harp and slide, J.P. croons “freight train, freight train, going down the track…freight train, freight train, angels dressed in black”.

The closer “Blues Since Birth”, is an autobiographical blues stomp from J.P. as the guitarist sings “Papa says you won the battle but the war has just begun…since I was a child I’ve been fighting for my name…now that I’m a senior I got the blues since birth”.

Co-producers J.P. and Larson reconnected in the spring of this year after twenty-some-odd years apart to complete this selection of songs. “Blues Since Birth” showcases the influences they still share. I think you’ll agree this is the best we’ve ever heard from J.P. Reali.

Richard Ludmerer

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