"Blues music is a universal truth, everyone gets the blues. I would like to see ALL the stereotypes associated with the blues disappear."

J.P. Reali: All About... Blues Since Birth

A veteran of the D.C. music scene for almost thirty years, J.P. Reali has played in numerous venues throughout the city. From his days as the lead guitar player in the psychedelic blues band The Next Step in the 1980’s, to his days as half of the acoustic blues/roots duo The Reali Brothers in the 1990’s, through his current solo career, J.P.’s playing has electrified listeners. He has performed extensively throughout the East Coast and spent 16 weeks in residence in Japan thrilling listeners with his musical prowess. In April 2007, J.P. released his long-awaited solo acoustic blues debut recording “Cold Steel Blues.” The album, which features nine originals and six cover songs by such blues greats as Robert Johnson and Reverend Gary Davis, showcases J.P.’s proficiency in both the Delta and Piedmont styles. While J.P.’s repertoire is steeped in the traditions of Piedmont and Delta blues and includes such classics songs as Statesboro Blues, and Walkin’ Blues, it also showcases his original blues compositions in a conscious effort to keep these traditional styles alive in the 21st century. In July of 2010 J.P. released his second album, “Bottle of Blooze.” In 2012 Reali released an album of all original music “The Road To Mississippi.”J.P. won the D.C. Blues Society’s Battle of the Bands in the solo category in 2010 and 2011 and went on to compete in The International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee both years.

(J.P. Reali / Photo © by Carolyn Brady)

He also received Washington Area Music Association nominations for Best Blues Instrumentalist, and Best Traditional Blues Recording for 2010 and 2011. He is a member of The D.C. Blues Society, The Piedmont Blues Preservation Society, The Washington Area Music Association, and The Baltimore Blues Society. In 2019, J.P. Reali recorded a session that became a musical road trip across genres of blues, country and good old rock ‘n’ roll for EP “A Highway Cruise”. There is a school of thought that blues and roots music should be presented in a pure and unadulterated fashion with emphasis on the melody, storyline, and emotional platform. In keeping with that philosophy music veterans J.P. Reali and Jim Larson reconnected in the spring of 2024 after twenty-some-odd years apart to complete a selection of songs Reali had been working on since the beginning of the pandemic resulting in the new opus, "Blues Since Birth" (Release Day: October 11, 2024). The collection of eight new songs and a heartfelt cover of a deep cut from the Dylan catalog shows off the cross section of influences the pair still share since launching the psychedelic blues jam band, The Next Step, in the 1980s.

Interview by Michael Limnios          Special Thanks: Betsie Brown (Blind Raccoon)

When was your first desire to become involved in and from whom have you have learned the secrets about the blues? 

I had the desire to make music from a very young age, 5 or 6 years old. Coming of age before the advent of the Internet, I would go see as many live blues musicians as possible and try to figure out what they were doing. 

What do you learn about yourself from the blues and what does the blues mean to you? 

I have learned that all people are the same and everyone gets the blues.

How do you describe J.P Reali sound and progress, what characterize J.P’s music philosophy?

I have simplified my approach and technique to capture a more authentic feel.

What experiences in life make a GOOD BLUESMAN and STORRYTELLER?

Hard travelling, hard drinking, and hard headed women!!!

"I think that the older guys from the early and mid-20 century had more life experience and that translates into more feeling. You gotta live the blues to play them well! That is one universal truth, everyone gets the blues!" (J.P. Reali, a veteran musician of the D.C. scene / Photo © by Carolyn Brady)

How has the Blues Roots music influenced your views of the world and the journeys you’ve taken?

Blues and roots music connects people and keeps them grounded.

How do you think that you have grown as an artist since you first started making music? What has remained the same about your music-making process? 

I have focused more on crafting songs as opposed to just playing guitar. While a play multiple instruments, I always write songs using a guitar.

Currently you’ve one more Blues release. How did your relationship with the Blues come about? What moment changed your music life the most?

As best as I can remember, I heard the barrel house piano introduction to Jim Croce's Bad, Bad Leroy Brown and was mesmerized. I didn't know what the style of music was, but I knew that I loved it. My parents gave me music lessons when I was very young, starting with the piano, then saxophone. When I was in 8th grade in public school, we had music class and they taught some basic guitar stuff and the music teacher sent a note home to my parents saying "J.P. does excellent work on guitar, you should give him private lessons."

Do you have any interesting stories about the making of the new album “Blues Since Birth” (2024)? Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues?

The song "Eileen Left" came out of a conversation where I over heard someone talking about their political persuasion, and they said " I lean left", and I thought that statement was about a woman named Eileen leaving, so I turned it into a song based on actual events that happened to me when I was 25 years old. All 20th century American music is based in blues, and we must always remember that so future generations know where our music came from.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

It is very important to remain humble!                        (J.P. Reali / Photo © by Carolyn Brady)

"I have been trying to focus more on emoting in my guitar playing as opposed to sheer technique. You need a little of both soul and skill to make it work. I like to tell stories with my music, and occasionally there might be a message in there.  Much of what I write is fiction. Having spent so much time in Washington, D.C., a political theme seeps in to my songs every now and then." 

What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?

I consciously try to write songs about modern topics, while using traditional forms of blues to keep it alive. 

From the musical and feeling point of view is there any difference between an old and great bluesman and young blues musicians?

I think that the older guys from the early and mid-20 century had more life experience and that translates into more feeling. You gotta live the blues to play them well! That is one universal truth, everyone gets the blues!

What's the balance in music between technique/skills and soul/emotions? Is there a message you are trying to convey with your music/lyrics?

I have been trying to focus more on emoting in my guitar playing as opposed to sheer technique. You need a little of both soul and skill to make it work. I like to tell stories with my music, and occasionally there might be a message in there.  Much of what I write is fiction. Having spent so much time in Washington, D.C., a political theme seeps in to my songs every now and then. 

Life is more than just music, is there any other field that has influence on your life and music?

Oddly enough, the game of golf had a big influence on me. I grew up on Long Island, surrounded by country clubs and golf courses. You could get a job as a caddy before you turned 16 because you did not have to get a work permit, and I bought my first really good guitar with money I made a caddy when I was 15.  Almost 50 years later, I'm still playing golf, badly!

How do you describe your contact to people when you are on stage?  

I love to entertain people, so I like to include the audience as much as possible in the moment of performance. 

What would you say characterizes 'A Highway Cruise' (2019) in comparison to previous albums?                                        (J.P. Reali / Photo © by Michael G Stewart)

This album uses full band instead of just me solo. A musical road trip across genres of blues, country and good old rock n' roll.

"I have simplified my approach and technique to capture a more authentic feel."

Are there any memories from 'A Highway Cruise' studio sessions which you’d like to share with us?

There was a whole lot of laughter over the 4 days. The idea from the start was to get the right personalities together and have fun, then have fun with the music. I think it worked.

What touched (emotionally) you from the traditional styles? What are your hopes and fears for the future of music?

The emotion and feeling conveyed in traditional styles are unmatched, be it blues, folk, jazz or gospel music. I hope more people play traditional styles of music, and get away from the reality TV show pop culture type of music.

If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

Increase the royalties for streaming music services to a more realistic level.

What do you miss most nowadays from "The Next Step era"? What are the lines that connect: Blues & Psychedelic?

The comradery of playing in a group. The original members, including myself, were all Grateful Dead fans, but we loved the blues too. It was not popular to play the music of The Dead in the early 1980's so we played blues to get gigs in clubs. Once The Dead became popular a few years later we started adding their music to our live shows, mostly their bluesier songs and not the jam tunes.

What is the impact of Blues & Roots music and culture to the racial, political, and socio-cultural implications?

I think the greatest contribution America has made to humanity is the music of the early 20th century. It was created by black people and out of great oppression. We must never forget that.

Which was the best moment of your career and which was the worst? 

Best; Getting nominated for Best Blues Instrumentalist by WAMA. Worst; Playing to an empty club.

What do you miss most nowadays from the Blues of the past?

Much of modern blues has abandoned the original acoustic format that blues was created with.

"The emotion and feeling conveyed in traditional styles are unmatched, be it blues, folk, jazz or gospel music.  I hope more people play traditional styles of music, and get away from the reality TV show pop culture type of music."  (J.P. Reali / Photo © by Michael G Stewart)

Which is the most interesting period in your life and why?

Playing in The Next Step when I was in my early 20’s was a very interesting time in my life because I was living the dream of playing music in a blues-rock band and we were getting good local attention. 

Do you remember anything funny or interesting from your experience in Japan?

On the third day there we survived the biggest typhoon in 50 years.

Why did you think that the Piedmont and Delta blues continues to generate such a devoted following in Europe?

Europeans seem to realize more than Americans that blues music is a truly unique American art form.

Are there any memories from The Next Step and The Reali Brothers, which you’d like to share with us?

20 years ago when my brother and I both had long hair we would often get asked if we were twins even though we are 5 years apart in age.

What is the best advice a bluesman ever gave you?

The late great Ben Andrews told me to “pick harder”.

Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really want to go for a whole day?

March 12-13, 1971, The Fillmore East. The two days The Allman Brothers Band recorded their seminol album "At Fillmore East". I hears that album when I was 14 years old and said to myself; "I want to do that!"

Do you know why the sound of acoustic and resophonic guitar and fingerpicking is connected to the pure blue?

Resonator guitars were used to make the instrument louder. Fingerpicking is a result of guitar players trying to sound like piano players.

What are the secrets of resophonic guitar and fingerpicking?

Use a heavy thumb pick and metal finger picks.

"Europeans seem to realize more than Americans that blues music is a truly unique American art form."

(J.P. Reali / Photo © by Michael G Stewart)

From the musical feeling point of view, what are the difference and similarity between the modern blues and old era?

They are similar only in the format of the music, the 1,4,5, chord progression.

What’s the best jam you ever played in? What are some of the most memorable gigs you've had? 

I had a great experience around 1990 at the home town of a friend one Thanksgiving holiday in southern Virginia when I sat in at the country general store and played blues and bluegrass with some local musicians all night. Playing in Japan for 4 months with my brother was incredible!!

Some music styles can be fads but the blues is always with us. Why do think that is? Give one wish for the BLUES. 

Blues music is a universal truth, everyone gets the blues. I would like to see ALL the stereotypes associated with the blues disappear.

Which memory from recording time with Mark Wenner, Previtti, and Ragusa makes you smile? 

When we recorded “Bloozin’ In NYC”, which we did in 2 takes, I suddenly thought while we were in the middle of a take, “I am playing with the best rhythm section in DC!!”

Make an account for current realities of the case of the blues in D.C. What characterize the local scene and sound?

The local blues scene here in DC is mostly an electric one, despite the fact the people like John Cephas, Archie Edwards and even Mississippi John Hurt all called DC home at some point in their lives and all played acoustic blues. Acoustic blues in DC is all but ignored by most club owners and fans.

How Washington, D.C. scene - and general the Blues - has changed over the years since you first started in music? 

The DC music scene has gotten worse in the nearly 30 I have been a part of it. Clubs pay the same amount, or less than they did in the 1980’s. Reality competition shows like American Idol have increased the number of people who think they are talented enough to go out and perform. Subsequently, club owners have more options when booking bands, and can get cheaper artist much more readily today than in the past. It is really very sad, because Washington D.C., is filled with incredible musicians!!!

J.P. Reali's Official Website

(J.P. Reali / Photos © by Carolyn Brady)