The 2024 Evergreen Jazz Festival is in the books, and what a grand time it was! While being a early-American Jazz musician sometimes has its challenges, getting to perform in front of appreciative audiences in one of the most beautiful places in North America is not one of them.
This last weekend, I got to play with one of the most recent Holland/Coots incarnations, Swingin' West. Based in western swing and traditional jazz, with a hint of Nashville studio country thrown in, this band features the Groovus rhythm section - Brian Holland (piano), Danny Coots (drums), and Steve “Pickle” Pikal (bass) - backing three luminaries of the genre - Andy Reiss (guitar), Aaron Till (fiddle / vocals), and Jeremy Wakefield (steel guitar / vocals).
If you've followed Holland/Coots for any amount of time, you no doubt are already at least slightly familiar with the great Andy Reiss. Andy is the “A” in B.A.D. Rhythm (trio) and Big B.A.D. Rhythm (quintet), and a Nashville legend. He currently performs weekly on Monday nights with the world-famous Time Jumpers at 3rd and Lindsley, and has played and toured with everyone from Pig Robbins to Reba McEntire and Vince Gill.
Then there's the incredibly talented fiddler and vocalist, Aaron Till. Another Nashville superstar, Aaron has played with Mark Chestnutt, Asleep At The Wheel, Jerry Reed, Tanya Tucker, and a litany of others. We are so lucky to be able to feature Aaron's prodigious fiddling, melodious singing, and wonderfully affable personality as the traffic-directing frontman of the band in live performances.
Last, but in no way least, is the brilliant steel guitarist, Jeremy Wakefield. You'd almost certainly know Jeremy by hearing him before seeing him, as he has provided the musical sounds for Nickelodeon's Spongebob Squarepants for 25 years. If you're not familiar, I sincerely suggest checking out an episode (or 50) - it's worth it for the music alone!
Then, of course, were two of my favorite sets over the weekend - the Double 88's! Friday, I got to play a very quick hour with my older brother from another mother, Jeff Barnhart. Jeff and I have known each other for almost 30 years, and every time I get to share a stage with him, the time zips by entirely too quickly. On Sunday, it was my turn to play with the Hall of Fame Boogie legend, Carl Sonny Leyland. And what a set it was! I'm truly one of the luckiest guys in the world to get to spend time entertaining folks with the likes of these two amazing fellas.
On a related note, I've had the honor to record albums with Swingin' West ("When Planets Collide"), Jeff Barnhart ("Happy Feet," “Havin' A Ball,” and “Stompin' ‘Em Down") and Sonny Leyland ("Old Fashioned") - ALL of which are available here on my website! Sorry to turn this lovefest into a commercial, but web space doesn't pay for itself. :)
And, as if that wasn't enough, stay tuned for my next blog on Swingin' West's additional trip just outside the beautiful Tetons in Jackson, WY!