Papa J Kicks the Blues Up a Notch

Diners caught the blues at last Sunday evening, where Papa J Blues Band & Friends played to a nearly packed house. Luckily, the infection resulted in benign symptoms, such as thunderous applause and spontaneous dancing around the stage.

Papa J, who also goes by his real name, Jeff Hudson, and his band mates displayed a true passion for the blues, with a soulful energy that generated an enthusiastic response in the crowd.

“I’ve been performing all my life, since I was 14,” said lead vocalist Papa J, who also plays harmonica.

Why was he attracted to the blues at such an early age?

“Like most teenage boys, I loved the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones," said Papa J. "But my raspy voice, as you can hear, made up my mind for me, when I decided to immerse myself in the blues, since I can sing in a very low range.”

Papa J has the energy of a guy half his years. His stage presence is colossal, with a contagious smile and a kinetic performance that would leave most of us gasping for air.

Papa J said he grew up poor, raised in South Central L.A., where he was the only white boy on his block. “So I grew up in an environment listening to Sam Cooke and Ray Charles, and that was before they were huge. I just fell in love with the blues. It became part of who I am, actually." 

He said he wants his audiences to have a lot of fun and know that his band is too. “When you leave one of our concerts, you should feel that you’ve had a damn good time,” he remarked. “And I think that’s what we’re known for.”

Papa J said he’s hoping more young people get into the blues, and is especially impressed by a young musician named Ray Goren, an 11-year-old guitar prodigy he heard playing on the radio a couple of years ago.

“What’s great about Ray is that he’s not just a guitar player, he’s a blues musician. I mean, he loves the blues.” Although he’s not in the band, Goren sometimes joins them on stage for a set or two.

“I’m happy that such a young boy loves the blues,” Papa J enthused. “After all, it’s an American art form and I’m really afraid that it’s dying. So his interest in the blues to me is freaking amazing.”

“I got into the blues by accident,” Goren explained. “I used to love playing jazz piano when I was really young, and I was on YouTube one day looking for a trombone player named J.J. Johnson, but punched in the wrong letters and up popped B.B. King. I don’t know why but I just clicked on it and I’ve been into the blues ever since.”

Goren said he loves the opportunity to be on stage with Papa J. “I really admire him and I learn things about the blues that make me a better musician.”

Stevie’s Creole Café, 16911 Ventura Blvd., Encino. For Papa J tour dates, contact Doug Deutsch at 213-924-4901, or click here to sample Papa J’s music.