What happens when some of Nashville’s premier session musicians join together for a weekly Monday jam? They play Western swing and more, making for an engaging musical experience!
The Time Jumpers have become an international hub for fans of traditional country and Western swing music since forming at Station Inn (now 3rd and Lindsley). Their Grammy-nominated band includes industry veterans such as Vince Gill (vocals, electric and acoustic guitar), “Ranger Doug” Green, Paul Franklin (steel guitar), Brad Albin (upright bass), Kenny Sears and Jeff Taylor among many more.
Western Swing
Watching The Time Jumpers perform is similar to experiencing a jam band, except its members are experienced session musicians with an appreciation for old-time music – including singer and guitarist Vince Gill who joined specifically because he wanted to create original material in this genre.
Time Jumpers began as an informal gathering of Nashville session players looking for something fun to do on Monday nights at Station Inn – a bluegrass club near downtown – which provided the ideal venue. As word spread, both local music fans and international tourists incorporated this group into their travel plans in Nashville.
Time Jumpers band members pay tribute to Bob Wills and Spade Cooley with an eclectic blend of steel guitars and fiddles in their jazz/country sound, whether performing in a honky tonk or performing at Stone Mountain Arts Center – their music sounds both new and old at the same time!
Country
The Time Jumpers are an acclaimed Nashville ensemble that stands in stark contrast to today’s corporate country landscape and strives to recreate the lively, pleasant sounds associated with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. Comprised of studio pros including guitarists Brad Albin and Ranger Doug Green; pedal steel guitarist Paul Franklin; fiddlers Larry Moten and Wendy Moten as well as vocalist Andy Reiss, The Time Jumpers have played on numerous hit albums and award-winning productions over time.
Monday nights at 3rd and Lindsley are reserved for an old-school Western swing experience that’s as authentic as you can find. The band has become such a draw that many famous artists regularly stop by to join, with Reba McEntire, Bonnie Raitt, Delbert McClinton, Norah Jones and Joe Walsh being regular attendees. Their lively live shows continue where others have faltered – filling the air with that familiar, long-lasting sound.
Blues
The Time Jumpers were founded as an experiment in 1998 as a group of A-List Nashville session “superpickers.” Since then, their regular Monday night gig at 3rd and Lindsley in downtown Nashville has become an institution – a lively showcase for springy Western swing and Texas honky-tonk that inspired Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys.
The band, whose members make their living by working recording sessions and touring as backup musicians for A-list artists, performs to packed houses every Monday night. Their stringed sound epitomizes country fans’ longing to hear authentic country music.
Since 2014’s coronavirus pandemic, The Band has put their Monday night residency back on. On Oct 5th they will resume this commitment through Kid Sister. Their latest album not only pays a fitting tribute to Dawn Sears (deceased), who sang so beautifully but is a testimony of how musical joy can help mitigate suffering of any sort–even death itself.
R&B
The Time Jumpers band features some of Nashville’s finest musicians who specialize in recording sessions or touring with major artists. They regularly perform at 3rd and Lindsley, Music City; don’t miss them during your stay in Nashville!
The band comprises 11 talented musicians who each are experts at their instruments – Paul Franklin on steel guitar, Kenny Sears with fiddles and vocals, Joe Spivey with bass guitars and Ranger Doug Green with guitars and vocals are among them. Country legend Vince Gill was part of this lineup from 2010-20.
Their music blends Western swing with standards from artists such as Fats Waller and George and Ira Gershwin, giving a breath of fresh air. We all hope Western swing will remain vibrant.