7.6
Contact: dougdeutschpr1956@gmail.com
Web: jbkeepingthebluesalive.com
Seeking: Label, Booking
Style: Blues, Soul, Rock
Cleveland-born, Jersey-raised blues man James “JB” Barnes is keen to stress that he’s the real deal; a soulful, authentic blues man with real stories to tell. That certainly comes across on songs such as “My Mississippi Roots” (inspired by his father’s lineage) and “Southern Girl.” The musicianship is faultless, and Barnes’ voice is as smooth as silk. The polish on the production is a little heavy-handed—a little bit of grit and spit would have gone a long way. But Barnes pours himself into his music, and that’s ultimately an appealing trait.
