Meet JP LeBlanc, is a 18 year old Blues Artist from Bathurst, New Brunswick. JP began singing and dancing at an early age and the age of 11 he began to learn to play the guitar with his father. In the beginning he wasn’t quite sure which type of music to play with the guitar, but with direction from his father, it was decided to start with the roots of music, The Blues. And what a fine choice it was! He began to listen to the great music artists, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, B.B. King and Robert Johnson. With their influence, he decided this is the type of music he wanted to play. When he was 13 years old, he was performing at local outdoor concerts, and by age 14, he was jamming with bands like Joe Murphy and The Water Street Blues Band and Andy Cottle and Double Cross. By age 15 he was jamming at the Carleton Maximum Blues Festival and at the Harvest Jazz Blues Festival in Fredericton with the Georgette Frye Band.

In April 2001, he joined other musicians in playing tribute to the late Bill McCauley, who played with Red Rye.

In January 2001, just weeks shy of his 16th birthday, he cut his first demo CD, Just The Beginning. JP wrote the music and lyrics to these songs, and sings and plays the lead guitar. He has written many more songs and plans are in the works for a full length CD.

On July 14/01, JP placed 2nd at a Provincial guitar competition, called Guitar Warz, held in Moncton, N.B. He used his father’s 1972 Stratacaster guitar. This was quite remarkable for someone his age.

In Aug ’01 he was invited back to the Carleton Blues Festival performing in front of 4000 people as part of the main act. On Sept. 15th he opened for The Carson Downey Band and Sugar Ray and The Bluetones from New York.

CBC Halifax recorded JP’s live performance with his new band, the Xpress Blues Band. The band is made up of members, Jason Frenette, on drums, Gilles Boucher on bas, Mario Lavigne on rhythm guitar and Sylvain Arseneau on sax and harmonica. It is anticipated that a CD titles, JP LeBlanc Live at The Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival, may be in the works.

At ECMA 2002 in St John, N.B., JP had a showcase at the 72 hour jam. JP had the audience and music people spellbound with his performance, and many in attendance couldn’t believe what they were hearing from this young man. The whole ECMA was in buzz about his outstanding performance, and he & his band was awarded another time slot on the schedule at the jam.

For more information about JP and his music and for bookings, contact the above e-mail address.

Note:

J P has just been nominated to ECMA 2004 for The Blues Recording of The Year, called Take Me Back.

Pictures of JP LeBlanc and his band, Xpress Blues Band taken at ECMA 2002 in Saint John, N.B. at the 72 hour Jam

JP

At 16

In

The Studio Recording His first Demo CD

Just The Beginning