What do you do when you get an email inviting you to sit in with The Time Jumpers at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville, TN? Why you say, “YES” of course!
If you’re not familiar with The Time Jumpers, here’s a little bit about them…
The current edition of The Time Jumpers includes 10 members, each a master of his instrument. They are “Ranger Doug” Green (vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar), Paul Franklin (steel guitar), Brad Albin (upright bass), Billy Thomas (drums, vocals), Kenny Sears (vocals, fiddle), Larry Franklin (fiddle), Andy Reiss (electric guitar), Jeff Taylor (accordion, piano), Joe Spivey (fiddle, vocals) and Vince Gill (vocals, electric and acoustic guitars).
The Time Jumpers was established in Nashville in 1998 by an assemblage of high-dollar studio musicians who wanted to spend some spare time jamming with their sonically gifted buddies. The notion of building a rabidly devoted following was the last thing on their minds. But that’s what happened. Learning that Monday evenings were the slowest in the week for the Station Inn bluegrass club, the superpickers settled into that fabled venue at the start of each week and set up shop. Pretty soon Monday nights were sounding a lot like Saturday nights— and drawing commensurately lively crowds.
As word spread along Music Row that something special was happening at Station Inn, big stars began dropping by, some to sit in with the band, others just to enjoy the vast array of country, swing, jazz and pop standards The Time Jumpers rejoiced in playing. Among those drop-bys were Bonnie Raitt, Reba McEntire, Norah Jones, Robert Plant, The White Stripes, Kings Of Leon, Jimmy Buffet and Kelly Clarkson.
After more than 10 years together, the band re-located their Monday night shows to 3rd & Lindsley, a larger capacity club in Nashville. In 2013, the band’s self-titled release on Rounder Records was nominated for 2 Grammys – Best Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group–Country, and Best Country Album. The band is currently recording their next record for Rounder Records.
