JP Soars review…August 25, 2014…

JP SOARS

FULL MOON NIGHT IN MEMPHIS

SOARS HIGH PRODUCTIONS

FULL MOON NIGHT IN MEMPHIS–BACK TO BROKE–MAKES NO SENSE–SOMETHIN AIN’T RIGHT–MEAN OLD WORLD–SAVIN’ ALL MY LOVIN’–REEFER MAN–WAY BACK HOME–THE BACK ROOM–THORN IN MY SIDE–VIPER–THE ROAD HAS GOT ME DOWN–LIL’ MAMA CITA–MISSIN’ YOUR KISSIN’

In 2009, JP Soars pulled off a rare feat.  He and his band, The Red Hots, not only won the IBC Band competition in Memphis, but JP won the prestigious Albert King award as the Challenge’s most promising guitarist.  Since that magical “Full Moon Night In Memphis,” JP’s career has certainly taken off.

That also serves as the title of his latest album, on the Soars High Productions label, and shows off more of JP’s brilliant talents, not only as a guitarist, but as a singer and composer as well.  As one listens to this collection, that’s the thing that’ll stay with you.  JP has a background in playing with jazz ensembles and even metal  bands along with his blues repertoire.  And, the ease with which he handles the different genres’ is readily apparent throughout these cuts.  He predominantly uses a hollow-body Epiphone, a dobro, a lap teel, and a homemade, two-string cigar-box guitar throughout, and the varying tones he coaxes out of them all adds to the vibe of this set, and it’s something for everyone to listen for.

That cigar box contraption kicks off the celebration with the autobiographical title cut, which also features harp from Brandon Santini.  These two giants team up again on “The Road Has Got Me Down,” a decidedly country-fied blues that has Teresa James on duet vocals.  JP goes for a bit of a wah-wah sound on the funky “Back To Broke,” where “all my money went up in smoke,” but is still a rich man “as long as I’ve got you.”  JP has some real fun with a full horn section and the rapid-fire fretwork that goes along with the tale of the “man who sells dimes for nickels,” that funny “Reefer Man.”  Terry Hanck is on sax as the set closes with another fine jump-blues cut, “Missin’ Your Kissin.”

We had several favorites, too. “The Back Room” follows a low-down-and-dirty Memphis Stax groove, while “Viper” is a perfect example of  JP’s affinity for Django Reinhardt-era jazz stylings.  And, that huge, T-Bone Walker-like tone that flows thru “Makes No Sense” really plays into JP’s versatility.

Since that “Full Moon Night In Memphis,” JP Soars has gotten better with each successive project,  This is truly a set that fans do not want to miss!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.