JL Stiles, dazzling fingerstyle guitarist and singer-songwriter rooted in traditional American styles of ragtime, early jazz and blues but unconstrained by genre, takes after the songsters of yore. Through decades of touring and storytelling, including sharing the stage with Keb' Mo', Mary Chapin Carpenter and late legends JJ Cale, Etta James and BB King, Stiles has honed his classic sensibility and released a rich canon of original material.  

Back in the early 1990's, it was Mathematics that brought Stiles to New Orleans on a scholarship in Tulane Graduate School but after being struck like a lightning bolt by the music of Jimmy Reed and Blind Blake he left to embark on a worldwide journey of music.  Like the luminaries of  the American canon, Stiles brings a hypnotic groove, irresistable tone and lyrical poignancy where virtuosity serves the song.  Whether performing solo or in various ensemble formats, including his outrageously fun ragtime and early jazz project, Hobo Paradise, Stiles runs the gamut of emotions from deeply moving to the hilarious and wild.   

Stiles has performed extensively across the United States and internationally, appearing at venues such as Freight & Salvage, Bimbo’s 365 Club, Mystic Theatre, Uptown Theatre Napa, and Swallow Hill Music. Festival appearances include the Sausalito Art Festival, Vancouver Island Folk Festival, and the Zihua International Guitar Festival in Mexico.  And if one shouId happen to need a tutorial on deriving efficient influence functions, one might find JL's creative contribution, which eventually included in his recent Statistics PhD dissertation at UC Berkeley.    

“In a time where it seems rare to find a singer who sounds extraordinary, accompanied only by an acoustic guitar, Stiles is completely satisfying as a solo artist... Stiles seems to fully engage the room.” — Dani Bernard, Music Connection

“Stiles plays with such a quiet unassuming style that at first you don’t realize how good it is... Clearly he’s done something right; Solo is an unmitigated pleasure.” — Genevieve Williams, Blues Revue

“Simultaneously Classic and Original.” — Performing Songwriter Magazine

Internationally, he has performed in Brazil, Amsterdam, Mexico, Guatemala, and throughout the United States, building a reputation for engaging, emotionally grounded performances that translate across audiences and settings.

Recent highlights include a sold out performance at the San Francisco International Arts Festival as well as an evening with JL Stiles, including JL Stiles & Hobo Paradise, packing out the Lost Church in San Francisco.  

Stiles is currently developing a new album and preparing a West Coast tour scheduled for fall.  

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Freight & Salvage (Berkeley, CA)
• Bimbo’s 365 Club (San Francisco, CA)
• Mystic Theatre (Petaluma, CA)
• Hopmonk, (Sebastopol, CA)
• Uptown Theatre Napa (Napa, CA)
• Swallow Hill Music (Denver, CO)
• Biscuits & Blues residency (San Francisco, CA)
• Sausalito Art Festival
• Vancouver Island Folk Festival
• Zihua International Guitar Festival (Mexico)
• Opened for B.B. King, Keb’ Mo’, Etta James, JJ Cale, Tower of Power, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Charlie Musselwhite, Leon Russell, Leon Redbone, John Hammond, The California Honeydrops, Guy Davis
• Extensive touring across the United States
• International performances in Brazil, Mexico, Guatemala, and Amsterdam
• KPFA Hear and Now appearance
• KALX Radio appearance
• Featured multi-format performance at The Lost Church (SF)
• Collaboration with Lynn Perko (Imperial Teen)