“Of course the socio economic background of most of the current crop of young blues guys is still difficult. But for the original generations it must have been like living in an occupied land-no rights, no respect. The original blues guys had messages in the lyrics, a form of censorship to circumvent, messages and secret ‘in’ messages about the harsh repression that they were under.”

John Stedman: The Kingdom of The Blues

JSP Records is a British record label, founded in 1978 by John Stedman (John Stedman Promotions), releasing recordings by blues musicians such as Professor Longhair, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Witherspoon, Louisiana Red, Deitra Farr, Charlie Sayles, Phil Guy, U.P. Wilson, Jimmy Morello, Larry Garner, Sweet Betty, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Kansas City Red, Eddie Taylor, Philip Walker, Louisiana Red, Carey Bell, Lurie Bell, Big John Wrencher, Mojo Bruford, Byther Smith, Jackie Payne, and any many others. The label is based in London, England. JSP now predominantly releases remastered  CDs of public domain jazz and blues recordings. In the case of old Paramount recordings (including those by Charley Patton and Blind Blake), the original records were made from shellac which made them susceptible to damage. JSP's releases from this material are remastered versions. Their release of Louis Armstrong's Hot Fives and Sevens recordings is often considered to be one of the most essential jazz releases available. The label has an extensive catalog of original recordings, but their recording program continues to this day, with Lucky Peterson and other contemporary artists.

(John Stedman & Elmore James Jr. at Lucerne Blues Festival 2012 / Photo by Bob Corritore)

Concerts have also been promoted at concert halls such as The New London Theatre, The Collegiate Theatre and at the 100 Club. Several American musicians were brought to the UK for concerts and tours, including rhythm and blues artists such as Roy Brown, Jimmy McCracklin, Charles Brown and Professor Longhair. Some musicians 'discovered' by JSP and have since moved to larger labels, for example Larry Garner, Guitar Shorty, Chris Beard, Tutu Jones and Andrew "Jr. Boy" Jones.

Interview by Michael Limnios                 Archive: John Stedman, 2012 interview

How has the Blues influenced your views of the world? What music moment changed your life the most?

I would say that the Blues changed my life. I was born working class to a wonderful family but one which was not artistic or in any way ambitious in a cultural or intellectual sense. So this music amongst so other things like films and books brought a wider world to me in my younger age and a sense that there was an amazing culture and music that could be discovered. Later, professionally of course it led to meeting so many amazing people, having experiences that only the music world can bring and led to some truly amazing places. Well, some of the provincial towns of England with the touring, not such amazing places….

What do you miss most nowadays from the blues of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I miss the musicians I worked with, particularly the people I toured and presented live. Those car journeys, those hanging about backstage times. The recordings are there of course and are permanent reminders of those times but it was the personal interactions, the times together that I remember.

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

Just that we, and I mean all of us in what we can call the blues business, could sell a bit more product!! There’s never quite enough money to present the music, to promote. I wouldn’t change the music….

”I miss the musicians I worked with, particularly the people I toured and presented live. Those car journeys, those hanging about backstage times. The recordings are there of course and are permanent reminders of those times but it was the personal interactions, the times together that I remember.” (Photos: JSP Records logo & Louisiana Red and Sugar Blue, JSP 1001, the first LP of label, 1979

What were the reasons that made the UK -since 1960s- to be the center of Blues researches? How did the relationship UK & US blues come about?

That’s the most fascinating question of all. There are some roots, the trad jazz boom and skiffle that came a little before all those young English kids discovered the music. And I mean discover, even in the late sixties when I caught the blues bug it was hard to find so much of the music, particularly the rhythm & blues guys who had been critically neglected. Notwithstanding Mick Jagger going to the LSE and the Grammar school guys of Blues Unlimited I think this was mainly a working class English thing. Looking back we can now see how poor and depressed England was for most people in those days.

From the musical and feeling point of view is there any difference between the old cats great bluesmen and the young blues generation musicians?

Of course the socio economic background of most of the current crop of young blues guys is still difficult. But for the original generations it must have been like living in an occupied land-no rights, no respect. The original blues guys had messages in the lyrics, a form of censorship to circumvent, messages and secret ‘in’ messages about the harsh repression that they were under.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths, as label owner and producer?

To let the guys ‘speak’, be given as much artistic freedom as possible. But I add to that with ideas of my own if I’m personally producing-a little list of thoughts. And where someone else is producing in the U.S. likewise-for instance the Phil Guy Say What You Mean album as an example. I told Bruce Feiner to put the guitar amp out in the hall and let Phil crank it up-that’s Phil’s sound. I’m also willing to sacrifice some separation to get ‘the sound’   the groove, feel whatever one wants to call it.   I also rather love echo… I think most of my productions sound a bit different to the U.S. labels which is why almost of the U.S. recordings are mixed by me in London.  I’m looking for that ballsy powerful sound! Retro but also contemporary all at the same time is the best way I can describe it.

”The most satisfaction of course is finding a new artist and taking them somewhere…Larry Garner for instance. But I suppose what satisfies next to that is creating an album that just feels perfect. Hard to do and you need a mixture of great musical talent, talented engineer and superb musicians. I mustn’t forget also all those amazing gigs I promoted or handled. Money in the musicians pockets and wonderful nights of real music.” (Photo: John Stedman of JSP Records, a British record label, founded in 1978)

Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues? What is the role of blues music in today’s society?

It’s just too good to lose, what a music. And today, is it not a link to a time that should not be forgotten (or forgiven) when a whole segment of American society was treated as literally non human?  It’s a lesson from history…

Do you think there is an audience for blues music in its current state? or at least a potential for young people to become future audiences and fans?

I think there should be. I’m a bit out of touch but it seems that there is a younger audience out there. And once a  decade an artist comes along who might not be to my taste but who somehow creates new interest in the music, gets people exploring the old recordings and artists.

What do you personally consider to be the incisive moments and pieces in your work? With such an illustrious career, what has given you the most satisfaction musically?

The most satisfaction of course is finding a new artist and taking them somewhere…Larry Garner for instance. But I suppose what satisfies next to that is creating an album that just feels perfect. Hard to do and you need a mixture of great musical talent, talented engineer and superb musicians. I mustn’t forget also all those amazing gigs I promoted or handled. Money in the musicians pockets and wonderful nights of real music.

JSP Records - Home

(Photo: Various albums by JSP Records)