Music
Press
It's not too often that you meet musicians that are the true sense of the word. However, with south Florida's JP Soars that is the case. Soars entered the music scene in the late 1980's right in the swing of what was at the time a burgeoning new style known as "death metal." Spending many years playing that style of music, Soars became captivated with Gypsy Jazz and the Blues and decided to devote his main gig solely to these styles.
In a rather short amount of time, Soars has definitely shown his dedication to his craft as he has quickly become one of the area's best known and respected musicians for his inventiveness and soul. Chosen for the third year in a row to represent the Blues Society to represent south Florida at The International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN. We caught up with Soars to discuss everything from the local scene then and now, to his progression from his aggressive musical past to the somber blues...
To read the entire article, please go to:
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/features/arts/music/blog/2008/09/jp_soars_back_of_my_mind_for_w.html - Sun-Sentinel
Discography
"Back of My Mind"
Full-length EP released Sept 2008
Receiving world-wide airplay including France, Canada, Argentina and all over the United States. being played on sirius and XM bluesville
Photos
Bio
There's a reason JP Soars and The Redhots have been chosen three consecutive years to represent the South Florida Blues Society in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis: Their unique blend of inventiveness and soul combined with rootsy blues, gypsy jazz, gritty lead vocals and top-notch players.
Most blues guitarists haven't played in a handful of metal bands and aren't influenced by jazz icons like Django Reinhardt and Wes Montgomery. Which, as much as anything, explains why Boca Raton Florida based JP Soars doesn't sound like any other area guitar slinger. The 40 year old guitarist/vocalist fronts a self-titled blues band and has side projects with both former Elvin Bishop saxophonist/vocalist Terry Hanck as well as the Gypsy Blue Acoustic Revue, which updates the classic 1930's and 1940's material of Django Reinhardt and violinist Stéphane Grappelli.
Soars was born in California and raised in Arkansas. He moved to South Florida in 1985. "I love Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan but I don't try to play like them. I listen to the guys they listened to, like Albert King, Johnny Guitar Watson, T-bone Walker, Muddy Waters and Guitar Slim. I'm also very into Django Reinhardt and Wes Montgomery as well as horn players like Louie Jordan."
Soars has just released his own cd entitled "Back Of My Mind." Soars is a versatile guitarist who is constantly evolving and reaching for new heights.
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