An Exclusive Interview with JPBlues!

March 10, 2015

An Exclusive Interview with JP Blues! by Richard Lhommedieu on Mixcloud

On the heels of releasing his brand new CD “LIVE from Darwins” which was recorded at the famous blues venue in Atlanta Georgia Darwin’s Burgers and Blues .. Recently JP competed in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis and place in the Semi finals. From that experience he has been able to take the contacts he made during that event to help fill his Festival tour schedule for this year. Since we last talked with him he received an endorsement from Epiphone guitars and was chosen as one of the artists on the upcoming “Making a Scene Indie Blues Vol 1” compilation! Listen as we talk with JP about his recent accomplishments and what he sees as the future of the INDIE BLUES Artist JPBLUES!

JP started playing guitar at the age of 10 and it was clear that something special was happening here. This “Something Special” was recognized by legendary bluesman Sam “Bluzman” Taylor. Sam took JP under his wing and began to school him on the blues, or what Sam use to call “SAMerizing”. It was under Sam’s watchful eye that JP began to flourish as a musician and a bluesman!

JP has had the pleasure of either performing with or opening for such legendary artists asMichael Falzarano (Hot Tuna), Chris Beard, Debbie Davies, Pete Sears (Jefferson Starship), Buddy Cage (New Riders), Kerry Kearney (Marty Balin), Phil Grande (Joe Cocker), Scott Holt (Buddy Guy), Dennis Innessibuw (Robert Plant), Sam Bluzman Taylor, , Derek Trucks, Johnny Winter, Robben Ford, Joe Bonamassa, Kofi Burbridge (Tedeschi Trucks Band), Yonrico Scott (Derek Trucks), Todd Smallie (Derek Trucks)

JP released his first CD in 2009 called, “Die Happy”. In that same year JP went on to compete in the International Blues Competition representing The Long Island Blues Society. The JPBlues band, at the time consisted of Pat Adkins (Gary US Bonds, Chuck Berry) on Drums and John Young (Ryan Leslie) on Bass. At the time JP was 17 and was one of the youngest competitors to have entered into the IBC. Competing in the same venue, was Ruff Records recording artist Oli Brown. He and JP struck up a fast friendship. Also in the same venue was the band “Trampled under Foot”, who went on to win the whole competition. In 2010, JP once again competed in the IBC this time as lead guitarist for the band Frank Latorre and the King Bees. Frank Latorre, can be heard on Johnny Winters Roots CD as well as many other great recordings. Ironically competing in the same club that Year was Grady Champion, who, you guessed it, won the whole competition.

His second CD, “I Will Not Go Quietly” charted on Roots Music Report for radio airplay at #4 and remained on the RMR charts for 28 weeks straight. It was also voted by RMR as Top Blues CDs of 2011. Giving JPBlues the nod, this CD has special appearances by Albert Castiglia andCaroline Aiken! This was unprecedented for an independent artist!

After graduating High School, JP realized that music was going to be his career. So, while touring and Playing the local NY blues scene, he attended “Five Towns College” where he received a degree in Music Business. He knew that if he was to be successful as a musician and a band leader, he needed to become as adept at business as he had become at performance.

In 2011, JPBlues left the New York blues scene and moved to Atlanta Georgia. It is here that he met his drummer Shiloh Bloodworth, and in 2013 they both were hired to back Australian blues artist “Anni Piper” (Blues Leaf Records) on her first US tour, which was a great success. With the addition of Tony Hossri, JPBlues had put together a power trio, which took to the road and toured throughout the Northeast and South.

JP’s CD,”Make Room at the Table”, was released in Sept 2013 and has received critical acclaim from the blues press and continues to chart on RMR Blues airplay Charts. Once again some of the top musicians in the Atlanta area came out to give JPBlues a nod and contribute to his latest CD, in addition to his new Band. Both Yonrico Scott (Derek Trucks, Royal Southern Brotherhood) and Todd Smallie (Derek Trucks, JJ and Mofo) appear on this new CD.

His new CD “LIVE at Darwins” Debuted on the RMR Blues Rock Charts at #1 and continues to chart on both RMR Blues Rock and Blues Charts.