Blues-rock faded from the mainstream around 1974, enjoyed a brief revival in the nineties thanks to Black Crowes, then receded again, and since then has been kept alive by musicians who remember all too well what it was like—when the Hammond B3 sounded fresh. JD Kucharik is one of them. A multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer who has been working with this sound for fifty years—first in bands, now solo.

His style is rooted in late sixties and early seventies blues-rock: Hammond B3, powerful guitars, energetic bass lines, drums. Classic set of instruments, classic approach. Kucharik has accumulated an impressive catalog—the THE ANTHOLOGY series collects early tracks and new recordings, EPs PASSAGES and INCEPTION present studio material, plus a constant stream of singles. Dozens of releases are in the queue. The musician works productively and methodically.

The new EP “Ease On Thru” features four tracks that showcase Kucharik in relaxed mode. It’s a soft release, allowing one to enjoy light blues-rock jazz with a sixties and seventies atmosphere. Slow sound, warm, soft—a cozy release demonstrating the mastery of a musician who creates music close to the classics of rock-blues musicians.

Retro-stylized blues-rock is overcrowded territory. Some engage in irony and deconstruction, others in museum reconstruction. Kucharik chooses a third path—he simply continues to play this music because he always has.

There’s no attempt here to rethink the genre, to prove that blues-rock is still relevant. Kucharik ignores these questions entirely. He works within a paradigm that was relevant fifty years ago, and does so professionally, with mastery accumulated over decades. The problem is that this might not be enough. Mastery is good, but what does it give the listener in 2026? Why listen to Kucharik when you can listen to the originals—Allman Brothers, Johnny Winter, Foghat?

The answer that “Ease On Thru” offers is simple: because Kucharik plays well. Because the sound is warm and analog. Because the arrangements are thoughtful. Because the vocals are honest. Is this answer sufficient? Depends on the listener. For some, Kucharik is a musician who preserves tradition, who plays the music he loves with respect and professionalism. For others, he’s someone who’s stuck in the past and creates music that adds nothing to a conversation that ended forty years ago.

I lean toward the second option, though I acknowledge the quality of Kucharik’s work. “Ease On Thru” is a professional release made by a musician who knows his craft. The tracks are competently written, the arrangements work, the sound is pleasant.

“Are You Leaving This Time” opens the release with tranquil sound, cozy vocals, and a soft guitar part. The track emotionally captures and lulls with warm bluesy rock. The dynamics are excellent, promising a compelling continuation. Kucharik keeps the tempo slow, lets the sound breathe. The vocals sit comfortably in the mix, the guitar envelops.

“Don’t Be That Face in the Crowd” acquires melancholic and gloomy energy, filled with stylish commercial vocal hooks. Dark bass lines, low dense sound, JD Kucharik’s vocals framed by backing vocals. Perfect track to lose yourself and discover music from a new angle. Cool synthesizers add a new dimension—a reference to that moment when keyboards began to penetrate blues-rock and blur its boundaries.

“Scene of the Crime” allows you to catch your breath. The track reimagines sixties blues-rock in a commercial vein—ringing guitars, stylish blues vocals hook immediately. It’s the perfect track to allow yourself a little more—even what always seemed unattainable.

The final “I Don’t Want to Know Why” is a ballad with dramatic sound and dense mix. Kucharik returns the sound to classic territory, allows the melody to be catchy, again creates an atmosphere that’s festive and energetic. Something happens with time while listening to “I Don’t Want to Know Why”—it stretches, forming an endless flow, and then the melody breaks near the end, returning you to reality. Concluding the EP with the track “I Don’t Want to Know Why”, the musician puts an ellipsis and makes a promise—in the future, even more releases await us, playing with form and sound.

Blues-rock in 2026 is a ghost genre that exists mainly in memories and vinyl collections. Kucharik continues a conversation he’s been having with himself for fifty years. He does it consistently, persistently, methodically. The question of relevance apparently concerns him least of all. He records the music he wants to record, and does it well. “Ease On Thru” is music for those who already know they love blues-rock and who are ready to listen to it in pure, undiluted form. Judging by the promised dozens of future releases, Kucharik definitely doesn’t plan to stop yet. For him, music has become existence and an integral part of life—and that’s the only justification he needs. Listeners will have to decide for themselves whether that’s enough.

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