JP Soars has spent over two decades building his reputation the way roots music was meant to be built: onstage, night after night, delivering a high-energy, blend of American blues and beyond. A fiery guitarist, soulful singer, and inventive songwriter, Soars moves effortlessly through blues, rock & roll, Latin grooves, country, and gypsy jazz—never confined by genre, always guided by feel.
That musical vision comes fully into focus on Gypsy Blue Revue, a project featuring acclaimed violinist Anne Harris (Keb Mo & Taj Mahal, Otis Taylor, Cracker). The partnership between Soars and Harris began in 2019 after crossing paths on the festival circuit and joining forces at the Big Blues Bender in Las Vegas. The chemistry was immediate, and what began as a one-off quickly turned into something bigger: a blend of songwriting styles and instrumental chops, set to a backdrop of Southern soul, roadhouse blues and rock, and eclectic folk music.
Gypsy Blue Review was tracked live at a studio in rural Ohio without click tracks or overdubs, capturing the immediacy and chemistry that have made them such a powerful draw. “We approached it exactly like a show,” says Soars. “All in one room, playing together. We just wanted it to sound like us.” The album also features JP Soars’ longtime band, drummer Chris Peet and bassist Cleveland Frederick.
The forthcoming singles from JP — “Jessie Mae,” “Goin’ Down to South Carolina,” and “Viper” — showcase the breadth of his blues storytelling and musicianship. “Jessie Mae” transforms a real-life encounter with Hill Country blues legend Jessie Mae Hemphill into a tale of strength, humor, and authenticity, with JP playing a 1960s vintage Silvertone H1446. “Goin’ Down to South Carolina” captures the magic of a spontaneous studio session, growing from a single riff into a fully realized groove fueled by JP’s Silvertone H1446 and 1940s Gibson lap steel. Meanwhile, “Viper” is a cautionary narrative inspired by a friend’s romantic misadventure, warning against getting involved with someone who’s nothing but trouble. Together, these tracks highlight JP’s ability to blend storytelling, grit, and blues.
Born in California, raised in Arkansas and now based in South Florida, Soars’ musical path was set at age 18 after seeing—and meeting—B.B. King backstage, an encounter that cemented his devotion to the blues. After briefly exploring heavy metal, he returned to the roots that best suited his voice and guitar style, while continually expanding outward.
He has released half a dozen albums to date – Back of My Mind (2008), More Bees With Honey (2011), Full Moon in Memphis (2014), JP Soars Live From The Netherlands (2015), Southbound 1-95 (2018), and Let Go of the Reins (2019), produced by Tab Benoit and lauded Blue Blast Magazine who described it a “A super set of tunes, that will make your summer travels a lot of fun as you savor this CD over and over again. I highly recommend it!” No Depression proclaimed “Soars has put together a rowdy, swampy package bustin’ at the seams, ready to get loose and spread the red-hot glory emanating from his fingertips.”
Soars’ career accolades include winning the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge and the Albert King Guitar Award in 2009, along with multiple Blues Music Award nominations spanning Best Guitarist, Best Blues-Rock Artist, Best Contemporary Blues Artist, Band of the Year, and B.B. King Entertainer of the Year. His albums have landed in the Billboard Blues Top 10, earned Little Steven’s Underground Garage recognition, and garnered Blues Blast Music Awards including Blues Band of the Year.
Chicago-based singer / songwriter Anne Harris is a classically trained violinist whose career bridges pop-rock, folk, country, and roots music. She has released six studio albums and toured internationally, including a decade-long collaboration with Blues Music Award-winning artist Otis Taylor—an experience she credits with reshaping her approach to space, texture, and storytelling. Harris has performed at festivals worldwide and served on the Chicago Chapter Board of Governors of the Recording Academy.
Gypsy Blue Revue showcases both artists at their most vital—raw, adventurous, and deeply connected—bridging classic influences with contemporary energy. It’s a project forged onstage, refined in the studio, and built for audiences who value authenticity, musicianship, and music that refuses to sit still.
“This is a music lover’s record,” says JP. “There’s everything from Caribbean grooves to country songs to Django Reinhardt influences. If music moves me, I don’t care about the genre, and I think our audiences love that diversity.”