Blues Challenge winner JP Soars brings his eclectic musical styles the Side Door on Saturday

Here at the Palladium we love presenting some of the top blues musicians working today. And this weekend is no exception. We’re bringing in JP Soars and The Red Hots to the Side Door for a Saturday night show.

 

JP is one-third of our favorite super-group – Southern Hospitality – but like SOHO bandmates Damon Fowler and Victor Wainwright – he’s a star on his own. JP and his band won the 2009 International Blues Challenge in Memphis and Soars won the Albert King Award as best guitarist. That’s the same combo of awards that Selwyn Birchwood won a few years ago. (By the way – Birchwood will be here for two nights in August!)

 

What I love about JP  is that he doesn’t fit easily into any musical box. First off, he’s not only a great guitarist, he can sing.

 

In his previous shows with SOHO he leaned into some Latin jazz, along with the blues and soul. He also leads a gypsy jazz side project playing in that intricate and beautiful style of Django Reinhardt.

 

I spoke with JP this week from his home in Palm Beach County. He said he bases his work in the blues, but loves to branch out from there.

 

“I don’t want to be pigeonholed into any one thing. Certain music activates me. I want to go wade around in those waters, so to speak,” he told me.

 

His latest CD, 2014’s Full Moon Night in Memphis, offers proof. Its blues variations include the funky, tongue-in-cheek “Back To Broke,” the Latin-peppered jazz of “Lil’ Mamacita,” and the rollicking “Somethin’ Ain’t Right,” featured in a powerful Soars music video and in frequent play on Little Steven’s “Underground Garage” XM Radio program. JP and the band also have a big following in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands. His 2013 live album is called “Live From The Netherlands.”

 

JP’s international follow continues to grow. The band just returned Monday from a 10-day European tour that included the Peer Blues Festival in Belgium that also featured Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal, Brian Setzer, Joe Bonamassa.

 

“We got a great response and people told me our band was the talk of the festival,” he said.

 

The band also played in France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. During the French tour, he played a small gypsy jazz show dedicated to the music of Django. He says he plans to do a couple of those tunes this weekend.

 

For tickets and info, follow this link or call the Palladium box office at 727 822-3590.