Bio

With his new album, Brick By Brick, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist JP Soars makes it clear yet again that he’s absolutely determined to advance his career one step at a time, whether it’s through his interaction with fans or via his ongoing album trajectory. He’s made that consistently clear in the past and his work has been rewarded — not only in terms of his accolades and chart accomplishments — but also through the appreciation he’s received from the audiences and admirers he’s managed to attract every step of the way.

It’s that drive and determination that’s at the very heart of Brick By Brick. “It all seemed very natural,” he says. “The album is very reflective of how I have built my music career, one brick at a time.” Indeed, the album is a testament not only to his expansive musical palette but also to his ability to make music that brought him praise from his fans and followers every step of the way.

“I didn’t set out with any game plan for this album,” JP says. “In fact, a lot of this material came out the pandemic when I was just fooling around with different songs and styles. It just grew around that.”

Produced By JP and Jeremy Staska and recorded, mixed and mastered by Jeremy Staska at Studio 13 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from November to December 2022 (Except “In The Moment” recorded by Denize G. De Oliveira), Brick By Brick features contributions from the following musicians: JP himself (Vocals, Guitars, Dobro, Banjo, Bass, Lap Steel, Two String Cigar Box Guitar, Merlin Stick Dulcimer, Jaw Harp), Chris Peet (Drums, Bass), Raul D Hernandez (Percussion), Jeremy Staska (Percussion),Bob Taylor (Hammond B3), Paul DesLauriers (Background Vocals), Annika Chambers (Background Vocals), Anne Harris (Fiddle), Rockin’ Jake Jacobs (Harmonica), and Terry Hanck (Tenor Saxophone).

Based in Boca Raton, Florida, JP will release the album on June 30, 2024. In addition, it marks his first effort for Little Village recordings. True to form, the music runs a musical gamut spanning riveting blues, gypsy jazz, the sweep and sway of explosive riff-ready rockers, and tender, touching ballads. JP’s stirring vocals provide a particularly emotive element, seizing on the sentiment in a way that’s resonant and resilient from start to finish. That ability to shift gears and vary his template has gained the adulation of audiences, admirers, pundits, and critics since the very beginning.

Living Blues magazine declared “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. Jp Soars inherently understands that… Soars and band make the most of this label debut, delivering 11 energetically performed and well-crafted songs.” Curt’s Blues concurred, maintaining “Little Village’s first release of 2024 is a sonic wallop of the varied and impressive collective proficiencies of JP Soars, a musician whose music can best be described as a fiery co-mingling of blues, roots rock, and straight-ahead rock-n-roll.  This is not your traditional “lump de lump” blues journey; no, this is a modern-day stew of blues and related genres that audibly rip, tear, and demand attention.”

In fact, the kudos have continued throughout JP’s career. In 2009, JP won the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge, as well as the prestigious Albert King guitar award. Since then, he’s been nominated for six Blues Music Awards, including those for Best Guitarist, Best Blues-Rock, Best Contemporary Blues Artist, Best Band and the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year award. Little Steven’s Underground Garage placed him among the “Top Five Coolest CD” for his album More Bees with Honey.” In 2012, he was named a Blues Music Award Nominee for Best Contemporary Male Blues Artist. In 2019, he climbed his way to the top ten of Billboard’s blues chart. That same year, 2019, he was accorded the Blues Blast Music Award for “Blues Band of the Year.”  The same organization cited him for having the “Best New Artist Debut Release.”

Also in 2019, he became a double Blues Blast Award nominee for Best Rock Blues Album and Best Blues Band of the Year, and also garnered a Blues Music Award nomination for Best Blues Rock Artist. Two years later, in 2021, he was nominated for a Blues Music Award for Best Contemporary Male Blues Artist. In 2022, he was cited as a Blues Music Award nominee for Best Blues Instrumentalist (Guitar). He was also nominated by that organization for the BB King Entertainer of the Year honors and for Band of the Year.

In addition, his extensive worldwide airplay has elevated him to the uppermost rungs of every major national and international Blues chart.

Of course, Soars and his powerhouse trio the Red Hots — including drummer Chris Peet and bassist Cleveland Frederick — are also no strangers to electrifying live performances. It’s little wonder; Soars and Peet have played together for nearly 20 years, while Fredrick, “the new guy,” has been with the band since 2016. They’ve proven their mettle on stages both nationally and internationally, played blues festivals from Belgium to Brazil, and shared stages with the likes of Buddy Guy, Joe Bonamassa. Brian Setzer and Larry Graham.

They’ve also been seven time regulars on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise, no little wonder considering the fact that they’re familiar faces on both coasts of South Florida, the place Soars proudly calls home.

“I consider myself both blessed and honored to get to play music for people,” Soars says humbly. “It’s a privilege. I am extremely grateful and I never take it for granted for a minute. I love putting smiles on folks faces and maybe help some folks forget about their troubles for a while. Seeing people dancing,  and having a good time puts a smile on my face.”

Soars may be modest, but even so, it’s little wonder that his reputation is so revered. It prompted Bruce Wheeler, producer of the ever-popular Heritage Music Festival to recently write, “I’ve always been a proponent of live music. The “magic” that happens when the chemistry between musicians… is something that cannot be put into words. That is exactly what I said after experiencing the performance of JP Soars Gypsy Blues Revue at the 2021 Heritage Music BluesFest. See them when ever you have the opportunity.”

Happily, Soars is never at a loss for activity. A dedicated multitasker, he has also performed with the all-star blues ensemble, Southern Hospitality, a band that includes singer/keyboard player Victor Wainwright and vocalist/guitarist Damon Fowler with Chris Peet on drums and Matt Walker on bass. Not surprisingly then, their 2013 debut album, Easy Livin’, garnered a a Blues Blast Award for Best New Artist Debut Release. Soars says plans are afoot to reconvene soon.

In the meantime, Soars can claim an impressive catalog of his own, encompassing half a dozen albums released over the course of nearly fifteen years — Back Of My Mind (2008), More Bees With Honey (2011), Full Moon in Memphis (2014), J.P. Soars: Live From the Netherlands (2015), Southbound I-95 (2018), and his last album, Let Go of the Reins (2019), produced by Tab Benoit. The latter garnered some of the best reviews of his career, with Blues Blast Magazine describing it as “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 added its kudos as well, proclaiming “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.”

Then again, Soars was inspired by the best. At the age of 18, he found himself the recipient of a guitar and tickets to see the great B.B. King in concert, after which he was given an opportunity to meet the legendary musician backstage. After a brief flirtation with heavy metal, Soars realized that he best excelled at basking in the blues. Not content to merely share his playing prowess, he also builds his own cigar box guitars and compact 9 volt battery-powered amplifiers, which in turn, have become prized one-of-a-kind collectors items treasured by aficionados worldwide.

Still, Soars isn’t one to take his success for granted. In fact, he remains firmly grounded, not only in his love of the music, but his appreciation for his fans.

“When someone comes up after a show and says ‘thank you’ or ‘I feel what you do in my heart and soul,’ This is the greatest compliment for me,” he reflects. “It gives me a sense of purpose and I know I’m right where I should be doing exactly what I am meant to do. The good Lord gave me a gift and I love sharing it with the world.”
— Lee Zimmerman, May 2024