BATHURST, NEW BRUNSWICK Artist JP LeBlanc’s new album “All In My Blood” on the Acadian Connection label was produced by Grammy-winning Colin Linden, will be released nationally this summer.

The nine-song album, recorded in two sessions at a fairly fast clip in 2024 with A-list players at Linden’s 1,000 square-foot, standalone home studio Recorders Studios in Nashville, is the result of two years of intense woodshedding, and long-distance songwriting with Toronto-based music industry journalist Larry LeBlanc.

For the first session in April, backup was provided by multi-instrumentalist George Recile, one of New Orleans’ premier drummers, and Canadian bassist John Dymond. Colin himself played on all the tracks.

While the original musicians weren’t available for the second Nashville session the following December, Linden matched the quality of the earlier session by bringing in some equally heavy hitters, drummer Bryan Owings and bass player/educator/producer David Santos. Again Linden played guitar on all tracks.

It was Larry who recruited his friend, Cajun music legend Steve Riley from the Mamou Playboys, to play accordion on four tracks, and doublng fiddle on one of the tracks.

"Working with Colin, and these incredible musicians felt like the culmination of everything I’ve worked for," JP says. “I just let Colin do his job. He most certainly raised the bar for me. I came to realize what my musical vision really is.”

“All In My Blood” is shaped by years of push-and-pull between JP’s life on the road touring Canada, Louisiana, and Europe, and his role as a family man and father growing up in a tight-knit bilingual community in Atlantic Canada.

Check it out on YouTube here:

JP was born and raised in Bathurst, New Brunswick, a francophone speck of a place in New Bruwnwick, a region rich in Acadian culture. At 17, he recorded his first album, “Take Me Back,” which earned him an East Coast Music Award nomination.

A pivotal moment in his career came in early 2024 when he represented Atlantic Canada at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the world's top blues talents.

 For the album JP picked songs that went together. He wanted the recording to flow from beginning to end but—true to character--with some twists and turns.

“The French verses felt natural to me when telling stories from home. I live in a bilingual community in northern New Brunswick, so mixing French and English is just part of how we talk.

“Every song on the album tells a story that connects to both of us in some way—stories about our children, our travels, and our shared Acadian backgrounds.

“We pushed each other hard to write the best songs possible.There was certainly no apparent ego evident in our songwriting process or in the recording. Whatever was best for the song was what we went with.”

“When I first heard JP’s demos, I thought there was an honesty I was drawn to,” says Linden. “I also heard a very unique take on his influences and culture that was very compelling.

“JP had such a positive attitude,” continues Linden. “It was a pleasure working with him. He had faith in me and in the process and all the other players---none of whom he had previously known—really enjoyed him.”

Linden has played on over 500 albums, and produced 170 albums, including winning a Grammy in 2020 for producing Keb’ Mo’s 5th Grammy Best Americana Album for “Oklahoma” at the 62nd Grammy Awards.

He has accompanied Bob Dylan, Greg Allman, Lucinda Williams, Reba McEntire, Rihannon Giddens, Pistol Annies, Allen Toussaint, and John Prine, and overseeing production for T-Bone Burnett, Colin James, Ray Bonneville, Sue Foley and so many others.

He also fronts Blackie and the Rodeo Kings.

Asked the significance of dual French/English album title, JP says,“’All In My Blood’ translates to ‘Je l’ai dans le sang’ in French. I felt it was important to acknowledge where I come from in the album’s title. It’s a way of connecting directly to my roots and showing pride in my heritage.”

“All of these songs inform each other,” sums up Linden.” JP’s French singing tells you so much about his English singing. His sense of blues is heavily informed by  the French Acadian music of both Canada and Louisiana.  It’s a unique combination.”

Asked what JP’s strength as a guitarist is, Linden answers without hesitation, “JP knows how to go for the sweet notes.”

jpleblanc.ca/