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Roots Music Report 03/14/2021
Our latest release is on the charts at the Roots Music Report on 03/14/2021. Please consider downloading and adding us to your playlists today!



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Album Review - Making A Scene - JP & Ekat
JP & Ekat

JP Williams Blues Band featuring Ekat Pereyra

Gizzifter Records

New York City born JP Williams attended Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. It was there that he began moonlighting at college coffee house playing a mixture of folk, blues and soul. After college JP returned to the city and performed at open mikes, and jams. He gave up performing, returned to Tunkhannock just north of Wilkes-Barre, and opened a music store called the “Music Workshop”. He finally resumed performing in 2014.

JP released his debut album “Mixed Bag” in 2016 and won the Steamtown Music Award for “Best Blues Act” at the annual Electric City Conference in Scranton. Two Eps followed, and in 2017 he was nominated Steamtown’s “Best Guitarist”. In 2018 JP released his second full length recording “Everblue” featuring the Russian born Ekat Pereyra joining him on four tracks.

Nine of the ten songs, on this new album, were written by JP. He and Ekat front a band including keyboardist Eric Brody; Eddie “The Harp” Czarkowski or Tommy “Chi-Town” Perrone Jr, harmonica; Andy Bower, saxophone; bassists Gregory Joseph or Firp Edmunds; and Jack Roberts or Mike Weber, drums. Six more musicians are also featured.

JP opens with “Mighty Dangerous Boogie” featuring a hip narrative and some heavy beats as Perrone wails away on his harp. “Around Midnite” is an evocative song sung by Ekat with Bower on sax and some airy guitar from JP. “Regret” is another narrative with the lyric “don’t do nothin’ you might regret one day”; Eddie is on harp and Bower on sax, as Ekat sings in the background.

“Solid Gone” features JP with some fine guitar as Ekat steps upfront, with keyboardist Brody, Eddie on harp, and the rhythm section of Joseph and Roberts. “Never Break This Heart” features the rhythm section of Bill Coleman bass, and Sharon O’Connell drums, as Ekat takes the lead.

“Don’t Let The Devil Ride” is a tune included as a tribute to Leo “Bud” Welch, a gospel and blues singer, who started his career at the age of 82. JP reminds us that Leo believed “it’s never too late in life to follow your dreams”. Sung as duet between JP and Ekat the band’s performance on this classic makes it the centerpiece of this fine recording.

My favorites include the guitar driven duet “Honeychild” with some sweet harp from Eddie; and Ekat singing both “Grey Autumn Day” and “Need a Little Sugar” with Brody on piano. JP closes with the “Talkin’ Coronavirus Blues” and the lyric “wash your hands, don’t touch your face”.

JP is a fine story teller on this entertaining follow-up to his highly acclaimed “Everblue”.

Richard Ludmerer



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Album Review - Barn Owl Blues - JP & Ekat
The first time I heard from JP Williams was in early 2018 when he contacted me himself via Twitter. He then sent me his EP “Stolen Cadillac”, which I liked very much. The album “Everblue” followed at the end of that year. Williams was born in New York City and started performing in coffee shops and nightclubs there. In addition to the normal electric guitar, he also plays the so-called cigarbox guitar. He moved to Tunckhannock, Pennsylvania, where he continued making music until he retired from music for a while. After an absence of several years, Williams suddenly returned in 2014 with the CD “Mixed Bag”. This was succeeded at the beginning of 2018 by the aforementioned “Stolen Cadillac” and “Everblue”.

“Everblue” featured a duet with Russian-born singer Ekat Pereyra, with whom Williams has now released a complete album entitled “JP & Ekat”. The couple is accompanied by Eddie The Harp (harmonica), Gregory Joseph (bass), Jack Roberts (drums), Eric Brody (keys), Tommy 'Chi-Town' Perrone Jr (harmonica) and a dozen others. The CD contains ten songs, nine of which were written by Williams. The single cover is "Don't Let The Devil Ride" by Rev. Oris May, here in tribute to Leo "Bud" Welch, a bluesman to pass on his 82 e made his record debut. JP, Ekat and band just show honest blues on this album. Well written, well crafted and executed. Ekat Pereyra is a more than excellent singer with a beautiful soulful voice, which contrasts beautifully with the somewhat raw, dark voice of Williams. Songs that deserve a special mention in my opinion are the opener “Mighty Dangerous Boogie”, the humorous “Regret” and the already mentioned “Don't Let The Devil Ride”. Great CD.

Eric Campfens

Website: https://jp-williams.com

02.03.2021






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New CD “JP & Ekat” will help reshape the BLUES in 2021
Band: JP Williams Blues Band featuring Ekat Pereyra
CD Title: JP & Ekat
Label: Gizziffter Records
Scranton, PA, Release: February 15th, 2021. For Immediate Release
The JP Williams Blues Band have recorded their fifth commercial CD album entitled “JP & Ekat”, this time featuring the amazing vocalist Ekat Pereyra It is comprised of features nine original compositions by JP Williams and a special traditional blues song, an arrangement as a tribute to bluesman Lou "Bud" Welch, From the driving opening track, “Mighty Dangerous Boogie” (performed by JP on a handmade 4 string Hybrid Cigar Box Guitar), to the smooth sultry vocals of Ekat on the torch song, “Never Break This Heart”, this album showcases both the songwriting and masterful performances of the musicians comprising The JP Williams Blues Band.

It was recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic by the musicians using remote, individual tracks, limited studio time, and masterful assembly of all the parts by Recording
Engineer Lou Pereyra, who together with JP Williams produced the final project.

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Radio Station / DJ Reviews
JP & Ekat is a more-than-worthy successor to the Everblue CD. KRVM played Everblue heavily - now there's more heavy airplay ahead for JP & Ekat.
Johnny Etheredge - Programming, Development Staff at KRVM 91.9 FM - Public Radio in Eugene, OR, USA[

"Love to say it was a cd of the week in my show. Something they surely deserved. Find out why and listen to the cd whenever you get the chance"
John van Lent - Living Room Blues

....She (Ekat Pereyra) adds a new element to an already solid band. JP & Ekat is a great album!
Kevin Hardy - Host - The Main Street Blues - Kansas City Online Radio.

"...it is superb. You two blend voices beautifully especially on Honeychild and the guitar playing is really rocking."
Antoine Magliano - Past Show Host - "Strings Attached" -
WJFF 90.5fm - Radio Catskill

JP Williams’ music just keeps getting better. This fruitful collaboration with  Ekat Pereyra merits attentive listening. merits attentive listening.
from “The Professor of The Blues”, Walter M. Dubiel, DJ, Blues in the Night

"You got some killer blues tunes on this new album."
Greg G, host of RCBC Blues Radio

""Mighty Dangerous Boogie" Now that is one badass Roadhouse Blues song".
Ben Vee - Ben Vee’s Roadhouse Blues - Blues Music Fan Radio www.benveeblues.com