J.P. Reali's Roots & Blues Music

JP Reali is a blues guitarist and songwriter currently living and performing in northern Delaware. After more than 35 years as a staple of the Washington, D.C. music scene, JP relocated to Delaware during the pandemic.

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. J.P. has several blues solo releases under his belt, The Road to Mississippi in 2012, A Highway Cruise in 2019, and his 2024 studio release, Blues Since Birth, which reached number 1 on the Roots Music Report: Top 50 Blues Rock Album Chart (Oct 19, 2024)



On his current 2026 release, J.P. has embarked on a new adventure with "Grateful Blues," a tribute to and expression of his passion for the Grateful Dead. The culmination of dozens upon dozens of Dead shows in the 1980s Reali consumed (along with some psychedelic companionship) while pulling double duty as an aspiring musician and audio engineering student at American University in Washington, DC. Now, over forty years later, the veteran guitarist and singer-songwriter’s trip on the bus arrives here, as Reali offers a six-song valentine to the iconic and enduring ensemble and a showcase for Reali’s luminous guitar work.

J.P. won the D.C. Blues Society’s Battle of the Bands in the solo category in 2010 and 2011, and 2019. He went on to compete in The International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee. J.P. also received Washington Area Music Association nominations for Best Blues Instrumentalist, and Best Traditional Blues Recording.

J.P. is a member of The D.C. Blues Society, The Piedmont Blues Preservation Society, The Washington Area Music Association, and The Baltimore Blues Society.

 music
  • JP <br> Reali Grateful Blues
  • New Release
    Grateful Blues
    For J.P. Reali, it all began when he spotted a bumper sticker in a Long Island record store. To his teenage mind, on that fateful day nearly five decades ago, that gleaming, glossy, rectangular vessel of rock-and-roll promotion spoke like a muse: On the Eighth Day God Created The Grateful Dead. Reali was hooked.

    The half-dozen Dead nuggets in the set run the range - from early, blues-laden rarities to deeper album cuts to fan favorites - each reimagined in Reali’s own vernacular. Just like the notoriously adventurous group that sparked the project, Reali welcomes the risk. “On all these songs, I saw a gem of a blues song within a Grateful Dead song,” Reali says.

    For a deeper dive, tracks and more visit the MUSIC PAGE


  • JP <br> Reali Blues Since Birth
  • Blues Since Birth
    This project started with songs written during the pandemic and later evolved into a CD of nine blues tunes, including eight new original songs. Listen to some song samples on the music page

    TRACKS:
    1. A Devil's Take
    2. The Virus Blues
    3. It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
    4. Drunk And In The Way
    5. Blues In A Minefield
    6. The Bad Dog Blues
    7. Eileen Left
    8. Cold Steel Blues
    9. Blues Since Birth

    AVAILABLE ON THE MUSIC PAGE



J.P. Reali

JP Reali photo photos by Michael G. Stewart
band photo by Duke Levine

Reviews Etc.

J.P. REALI - Blues Since Birth: "For me he is at his best when playing electric guitar, the song emphasising this is Blues In A Minefield where JP draws inspiration from the greats like Albert King and Robert Cray to create a very smooth “floating” guitar sound alongside his menacing vocal, this is a standout classic blues song which deserves to be heard by a wider audience, hopefully this review will start the progression. This is a standout release full of excellent playing and meaningful lyrics, you can understand from this why JP is such a sought after “Blues Teacher,” a role which enables him to pass on his passion and skills to the next generation.
-Adrian Blacklee

2020 WAMMIE AWARD NOMINATIONS
JP was thrilled to be nominated in 2 categories for the Wammie Awards, Best Blues Artist or Group for JP Reali, and Best Blues Album for A Highway Cruise.

J.P. REALI - A Highway Cruise: "The comfy feel of some old pals finally making music together at long last powers this folkie/Americana ep by the DC pro and his New England pal. Back porch music for when the sun is going down and you still feel like hooting and hollering, this set is just a jumping, good old time."
–Midwest Record

Another great review!
donandsherylsbluesblog

A Highway Cruise #2 on RMR!!JP Reali photo
"Reali's acoustic guitar picking is crystal clear and at times mesmerizing. In a city where real blues can be hard to find, Reali is a solid purveyor of the form."
–'On Tap' magazine

Booking & Info

FOR BOOKINGS AND INFORMATION CONTACT:
jpreali@yahoo.com

To join the EMAIL LIST for JP Reali news and updates please send your email address with EMAIL LIST in the subject line to: jpreali@yahoo.com

Thanks for your support!

Follow J.P. on FACEBOOK
Follow J.P. on YOUTUBE