Midnight Circus Records artist: JP Blues - Live At Darwins - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Live At Darwins, from JP Blues and it's a cool heavy blues rocker. Opening with Keep On Walking, JP sets a solid base with a steady blues form. This track reminds me a lot of Robin Trower with Shiloh Bloodworth on drums, Tony Hossri on bass and JP on vocal and guitars. He has a gritty guitar style and a gutsy voice. On Upset Me Baby, a cool boogie, Hossri sets up a great walking bass line and JP cuts loose with some voracious guitar riffs. Old Man Joe has a heavy driving beat with the hammer of Mahogany Rush. A nice rock groove ensues and the gang really hits it hard. JP on slide chokes the neck all the way to the top and Bloodworth and Hossri are solid. Meet Me Halfway has a light funky groove with nice drum work from Bloodworth. JP takes a nice opportunity to solo off and he rips a number of good ones. This really is quite a concert. American Boy takes a total departure in direction with a jazz overtone. An instrumental track with cool chording and even a hot bass solo from Hossri, no one has any doubts about the bands versatility after this track. Very nice. Reggae rhythms underlie Day By Day, a simple pop melody with strong bones. Building upon this concept the band lays out an extended jam led by JP on vocals. 99 Problems is a 7 minute plus blues based rocker with a strong sense of direction along the lines of early Mountain. Another Time Another Place is a quiet ballad based track with a really nice melody. With a perfect stage set, JP takes it to the house on this 8+ minute track. This is really an excellent jam and a must hear! Wrapping the concert and the release is Sonny Boy Williamson's Good Morning Little School Girl, but with a modern blues twist. My first recollection of this track was Ten Years After's amazing version and I'm happy to say that this track, with a more Frank Marino feel, is a lot of fun to listen to for the more than 9 minute stretch. Joined by Truett Lollis on guitar, this is a real nice blues rock jam with exceptional fluid runs. This is a really cool live release and a great example of the passion of JP Blues.

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

JP Blues with Anni Piper - Keep On Walking

JP started playing guitar at the age of 8 and by age 10 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" him. 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 as Michael Falzarano (Hot Tuna), Chris Beard, Debbie Davies, Pete Sears (Jefferson Starship), Buddy Cage (New Riders), Caroline Aiken, Geoff Ackerson, Jon Paris, Kerry Kearney (Marty Balin), Phil Grande (Joe Cocker), Scott Holt (Buddy Guy), Vince Converse, Nathaniel Peterson and Dennis Innessibuw (Robert Plant), Sam Bluzman Taylor, , Derek Trucks, Johnny Winter, Robben Ford, Joe Bonamassa, Cactus, Pat Adkins (Gary US Bonds), Kofi Burbridge (Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi), Yonrico Scott (Derek Trucks), Todd Smallie (Derek Trucks) It is clear that JPBlues searing, soulful guitar gives hope to the rebirth of passion and soul in music!

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Make Room At The Table - JP Blues - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Make Room At The Table, from JP Blues and I really like it! Opening with Keep On Walking, a blues rocker with a Jim Dewer/Robin Trower feel. I really like the guitar tone that John Pagano (JP) gets on rhythm and his riffs are fluid and fresh. On Love So Cold, a slow blues track, JP lays out some great vocals and hot guitar riffs blended with the power blues riffs on the chorus not unlike Leslie West. With an fluid extended guitar solo taking the place of lead vocals JP shows that he is ready to stand toe to toe with the likes of today's young guns like Bonamassa and co. Lap steel work leads the way on Old Man Joe reminding me quite a bit of old Procol Harem, with a heavy background and powering drums by Yourico Scott and super guitar lead riffs from JP. On title track, Make Room At The Table, JP rides the slide in tandem with his vocals. I have always liked this technique and it is used effectively here. Another Time Another Place opens with a real nice bass solo by JP leading to a bluesy ballad. Delicate guitar riffs, double stops and volume swells add dynamics to this track which eventually explodes to a full guitar rip with vibrato bends and and soaring lead over really nice bass riffs. Excellent! Holy Roller is a flat out blues rocker with John Young on bass and really hot drumming from Shiloh Bloodworth. Good Enough, a funky rocker, is really a super toe tapper with JP on keys and guitars making fun music. I particularly like his vocals on this track and Johnathan Norwood holds down the bass on this hot potato. It's unusual that I ever like a remake of a track better than those that I've heard so many times but for the second time in a year or so (earlier report of Ruthie Foster on Ring of Fire), JP tackles classic Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood and really lays down a new bar to be raised. Playing complex Jimi like chords he sings with heavy soul and conviction. Really nice! Trouble On Heels is a cool track with back country blues sound. JP plays bass and slide on this track and rides it hard. Todd Smallie's presence on bass is immediately apparent on We Ain't Going Nowhere. A free form style of blues guitar solo plays into this track sounding a bit more like a loose jam but working well with rap track by RoSe LaFt. Wrapping the track is fast paced rocker, Day By Day. Having a bit of a British sound and classic rock construction, it could find it's way to broader audiences and airplay. This is a real strong outing for JP Blues. I think it will please existing fans and likely win JP a lot of new ones. (Oh... and I really like the cover).

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

 

Update on JP Blues

Just caught up with JP of JP Blues. JP just moved to Atlanta, Georgia and will be working on a project with Yonrico Scott of the Derek Trucks Band. They are putting some gigs together for it, none are booked right now. His last CD “I Will Not Go Quietly” was on the RMR (Roots Music Report) charts for 28 weeks and hit #4 nationally.

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JP Blues

JP started playing guitar at the age of 8 and by age 10 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" him. 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 as Michael Falzarano (Hot Tuna), Chris Beard, Debbie Davies, Pete Sears (Jefferson Starship), Buddy Cage (New Riders), Caroline Aiken, Geoff Ackerson, Jon Paris, Kerry Kearney (Marty Balin), Phil Grande (Joe Cocker), Scott Holt (Buddy Guy), Vince Converse, Nathaniel Peterson and Dennis Innessibuw (Robert Plant), Sam Bluzman Taylor, , Derek Trucks, Johnny Winter, Robben Ford, Joe Bonamassa, Cactus, Pat Adkins (Gary US Bonds), Kofi Burbridge (Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi), Yonrico Scott (Derek Trucks), Todd Smallie (Derek Trucks)



It is clear that JPBlues searing, soulful guitar gives hope to the rebirth of passion and soul in music!

Get Facebook support for your favorite band or venue - click HERE