JJ APPLETON
“Oh yes, get him”.
Those were David Bowie’s words to his music director after watching videos of JJ Appleton performing with Jason Ricci and Tim Lefebvre. JJ was hired on the spot to fill the guitar chair for Bowie’s musical “Lazarus”.
While many in the Blues world are aware of JJ Appleton’s prowess as a songwriter and collaborator with Jason Ricci, it’s important to note his other roles as a sought after live performer, sideman and session musician. Some of JJ’s career highlights include live appearances with David Bowie’s Lazarus, Taj Mahal, Joe Walsh, Keb Mo, Don Henley, Jimmy Fallon, Jewel, Michael C Hall, Gail Ann Dorsey, Donny McCaslin, Hootie and The Blowfish, and Suzanne Vega, in addition to television appearances on the The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Good Morning America, & The Carson Daly Show.
2022 also brought Appleton a Blues Blast Magazine nomination for Acoustic Guitarist of the Year.
Having traveled over many musical territories as a songwriter, singer, guitarist and producer, JJ Appleton has always used one compass - the blues. After seeing a double bill with Sonny Terry& Brownie McGhee and John Hammond, Jr. at age 10, he was hooked.
JJ was born into the paternal influence of a musical genius who shared his love of the Folkways catalog on vinyl. Rebelling as teens do, JJ left the sweet smells and deep snows of Vermont for New York City - moving on to paying the rent singing on Diet Coke commercials, co-writing with pop-tarts & charlatan producers, and all the while playing looong guitar solos in smoke filled halls of ill repute.
In 2015, a what-the-hell series of phone calls to hire led to a joining of forces between JJ Appleton and Muli-Blues Award winning Jason Ricci, a world heavyweight champion harmonica player, bluesman, songwriter and personality. Their new recordings were a rebirth and deep breath of fresh air for both parties. Recording 100% unplugged (nary a guitar pick up or harp mic in sight), the album Dirty Memory mixes gutbucket-noir Blues, Roots with dirt still on them, and a sprinkle of cajun Americana. Original compositions, updated traditional arrangements and devotion to musicianship all blend to make a musical collection of real fire, fury, fortitude, & fun.
Appleton and Ricci’s next release “Beautiful Slop” was aptly described in Making A Scene: “It is impossible to describe how well Appleton and Ricci fit together musically. Some combinations are just meant to happen, like Jagger and Richards or Page and Plant. This is one of those. “Beautiful Slop” indeed. Turn it on, turn the volume up, and get ready to be blown away!”
JJ has expanded his touring and recording reach teaming up with Italian harmonica master Manlio Milazzi in 2022 for their release “North of the Sea”. 2022 also brought Appleton a Blues Blast Magazine nomination for Acoustic Guitarist of the Year. JJ tours Europe regularly as well as his US dates with Jason Ricci.