Brick By Brick
Little Village, 2024
9/10
The blues and roots luminary JP Soars makes a large impression with this first album on the Little Village label, where contributions from Anne Harris, Terry Hanck, Rockin’ Jake, Annika Chambers and Paul DesLauries won’t go unnoticed.
The rugged and melodic title track starts the listen with Soars’ thick guitar and Raul D Hernandez’s lively percussion hitting hard and memorably, and “Jezebel” follows with plenty of rhythm that welcomes Chris Peet’s playful bass adding much to the infectious climate.
Closer the middle, Harris’ lively fiddle populates the dance floor delivery of “Can’t Keep Her Off My Mind”, while “The Good Lord Will Provide” benefits much from Soars’ gritty pipes and meticulous guitar playing amid much breeziness.
Near to the end, the swirling banjo and Rockin’ Jake Jacobs’ spirited harmonica make for an adventurous instrumental, and the upbeat exit, “Down By The Water”, will get your body moving thanks to Jeremy Staska’s colorful percussion and the rhythmic interplay.
Soars plays guitars, dobro, bass, lap steel, two string cigar box guitar, merlin stick dulcimer and jaw harp and sings with an inimitable delivery which embraces gypsy jazz, country, Latin rock and metal ideas. It makes every track unpredictable, memorable and some of today’s best blues-rock.
Travels well with: The Dig 3- Damn The Rent; Memphissippi Sounds- Welcome To The Land