2019 Battle of the Bands & Solo Duo Competition
Solo / Duo Competition Winner
Solo acoustic original piedmont and delta blues
A veteran of the DC music scene, J.P. has evolved from his early days as lead guitar for the psychedelic blues band The Next Step, to half of the acoustic blues/roots duo The Reali Brothers in the 90's, to his current solo career. While J.P.’s repertoire is steeped in the traditions of Piedmont and Delta blues, it also showcases his original blues compositions in a conscious effort to keep these traditional styles alive. With three solo releases under his belt, Cold Steel Blues in 2007, Bottle of Blooze in 2010, The Road to Mississippi in 2012, J.P. currently has a new studio release out in 2019, A Highway Cruise. J.P. won the DC 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. He also received Washington Area Music Association nominations for Best Blues Instrumentalist, and Best Traditional Blues Recording.
Battle of the Bands Winner
“An incendiary guitarist, even hotter than his homeland.” Stephen Foster – BBC UK
At 30 years old, Jose Ramirez is Costa Rica’s Premier Blues Artist and has played with some of the biggest names in the Blues industry, including Anson Funderburgh, Mark Hummel, Bryan Lee, Shawn Holt, and The Nighthawks, to name a few. Jose recently completed his second European Tour that included over 30 shows throughout Europe (Holland, Belgium, England, Spain, and The Basque Country). Now based out of Washington, DC, “The Costa Rican Blues Ambassador” is working hard on his new album and also booking shows for his upcoming U.S. Tour to begin in August 2019. That tour will include venues such as Buddy Guy’s Legends and The House of Blues in Chicago plus 15 more shows all over the Midwest and South. Band members include Charles Reds Adkins on bass, Rod Gross on drums, Bronson Hoover on keyboards, and Jose on guitar and vocals.