It’s a toss-up as to which is more impressive: the fact that TJ Wheeler was captivated by blues music as a lad on Bainbridge Island, or that he has put Portsmouth, N.H. on the blues-festival map. Or, that his award-winning blues education program is still going strong after 30 years.

“I first heard British blues disguised as rock ’n roll, said Wheeler, 53. “I fell in with a group of young island musicians who pointed me in the right direction.”

When “sitting around and listening to records” wasn’t enough, the then 20-year-old musician left Bainbridge for the South. For three years he met and listened to blues players in towns from New Orleans to the Carolinas, soaking up jazz, too.

“I’d come back for the summertime and play gigs around here and play with regional buddies that I grew up with,” he said.

In the fall and winter he played ski towns in Colorado until he just couldn’t face doing that any more.

He accepted an invitation from a harmonica player to go to New England in 1975 and eventually put down roots there.

Wheeler kept traveling, though, bringing his music and his teachings of black history, the importance of other cultures and breaking down barriers between people and generations to cities around the country and the world.

His home base remains New England, although he has been coming home more frequently and staying longer.

Wheeler is back on Bainbridge for three months of concerts and workshops. First up is a CD release party for his most recent project, “Solo 7-String Guitar Orchestra,” at 8 p.m. on Oct. 22 at Island Center Hall.

“This is a new departure for me. This is different sides of the same (blues and jazz) coin. Most of my CDs have jazzy influences. This is a jazz recording with bluesy influences,” Wheeler said. “Studying blues brought me back to the masters of solo jazz guitarists.”

Wheeler picked up the seven-string guitar about 18 months ago. His recent endorsement from the Eastman Guitar Company gave him an excellent guitar that he otherwise would be hard-pressed to afford.

The guitar is put to good use on Wheeler’s latest CD, where every other song is an instrumental. This solo work encompasses most of the elements of an orchestra, he said, in that it has lead, melody, counterpoint, chords and rhythm.

“So a lot of the key elements – harmony, rhythmic variations – are there, but it’s all one instrument,” said Wheeler, who employs a unique style that he has been developing for about six years.

“I’m real excited about it,” he said. “It will be the blues, nothing too high brow.”

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Wheelin’, dealin’

Tickets for TJ Wheeler’s 8 p.m. Oct. 22 performance at Island Center Hall are $12 for adults and $10 for ages 6-18 at the door.

Wheeler will perform a special concert for children from 7-8 p.m. Nov. 5 at Strawberry Hill Center mini-gym, as featured artist at the Bainbridge Park and Recreation Disrict’s Family Night Concert. All tickets are $5 at the door.

The show will feature members of his Bainbridge Island Young Peoples Jug Band and children will be invited to jam along on a few numbers.