Music City Pulse Podcast

Billy Contreras is a special kind of musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist whose primary instrument is the fiddle. When you hear Billy play you immediately realize that he knows exactly what he is doing and if you are a musician, you’ll be wondering what exactly is he doing. His playing is impossible to ignore with creative and interesting uses of harmony, melody, and rhythm at every turn. Billy has played with a long list of notable musicians, teaches at Belmont University, and performs regularly around Nashville as well as the all over the world. Find out what floats his musical boat in this episode of Music City Pulse.

Lorenzo Washington never imagined that he would one day be the curator of a museum, however that’s one of the many hats he wears today. This hat fits easily and comfortably as it came about naturally through a passion for his community. Lorenzo is the founder and creator of Jefferson Street Sound Museum. Nashville’s Jefferson Street has a deep musical history and was at one time an epicenter for R&B, blues, and jazz. Lorenzo witnessed this flourishing musical era firsthand. Many of the musicians and artists who called Jefferson Street home are his friends. Jefferson Street Sound Museum has exhibits, memorabilia, instruments, and autographed pictures that were mostly donated to him by these friends. A piano from Marion James and a guitar strap from Billy Cox are just two of the items one will discover at this museum that is also still Lorenzo's home. Lorenzo welcomes tours and hosts performances at Jefferson Street Sound. There is also a recording studio to capture the current sounds coming off Jefferson Street. Lorenzo was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule to reminisce and talk about that exciting era on Jefferson Street.

Hit songwriter, Jane Bach, is featured on this episode of Music City Pulse. Jane has been writing in Nashville for 37 years and has had her songs cut by Tammy Wynette, Reba McEntire, Jo Dee Messina, and many other well-known artists. Jane is no doubt a very successful songwriter and she guides others in her craft at various workshops around the country. At this point in her career she also spends time writing in Los Angeles and New York. In this episode she shares some of her experiences as a song writer in Nashville and talks about how the city and industry has changed.

Eamonn Dillon was born in Belfast, Ireland. His father introduced him to traditional Irish music as a child and it became a lifelong pursuit. He plays the Uilleann Pipes, the bagpipes of Ireland, as well as the tin whistle. Currently living in Nashville, he performs regularly around town and teaches at the Fiddle and Pick in Pegram Tennessee located just west of Nashville. Eamonn has done extensive touring in the US, Canada, and Europe. He has toured with John McDermott, The Irish Tenors, Celtic Bridge, and as a solo artist as well. Recorded on a cold November morning this episode features Eamonn talking about the unique instrument he plays as well as traditional Irish music – a style that he loves and one that connects him to his homeland.

Ever wondered what the most requested song on Broadway in Nashville Tennessee is? John England and Gene “Pappy” Merritts know and they happen to be featured on this episode of Music City Pulse. These two are truly staples of the Nashville music scene. They have been playing together in the band John England and the Western Swingers for close to 20 years – including a regular Monday night gig at Robert’s Western World on Broadway. Being 90 years old, Pappy’s roots go far back in Nashville time – playing fiddle with the likes of Benny Martin, Bill Monroe, and Patsy Cline. John is a versatile guitarist and vocalist who plays in a variety of ensembles and styles, but Western Swing….well…. that fits him like a glove. These two seasoned professional musicians are a ton of fun and highly entertaining everywhere they go. *Photo by Nathan Zucker

Musician, activist, and educator Ariel Bui has lived in Nashville since 2011. Prior to that she lived in many different places, earned a degree in Music Performance, and lived off grid while working for Earthship Biotecture – an eco-construction and self-sufficient living company based in Taos New Mexico. Ariel’s music sounds fresh and comes from the heart while accompanying lyrics that have you hanging on each word. She has a lot to say in this podcast and shares an excellent tip on how to motivate music students who may need to spend a little more time playing their instruments.

Arkan Doski and Sidqi Arizy are Kurdish musicians who call Nashville home. Arkan plays keyboard using samples of traditional Kurdish instruments. He acquires these samples with the help of his friends still in his homeland of Kurdistan. Sidqi is a singer who also plays the baglama, also referred to as the saz. Nashville Tennessee has the largest Kurdish community in the United States with around 15,000 residents. Arkan and Sidqi both spent time in a refugee camp in Turkey before arriving in Nashville. Once in Nashville their love for music connected them and they became friends who have been playing together for close to 20 years. They are in high demand as musicians in middle Tennessee, as well as across the US, staying busy playing weddings, birthdays, and Kurdish holiday celebrations. All music heard in this podcast was recorded immediately preceding the interview.

Rachel Baiman is a musican and songwriter with roots in fiddle tunes and old-time music. She has many musical irons in the fire and has worked with artists such as Molly Tuttle and Andrew Marlin. Rachel also performs in the fiddle duo 10 String Symphony with Christian Sedelmyer. Rachel is compelled to comment on current social and political issues in her songwriting. She is a co-founder of Folk Fights Back – a musician led national organization that puts together benefit concerts and awareness events in response to certain political trends. Do you think all the banjo jokes are warranted? Rachel does...

Joe Hunter brings the party. If you find your self stuck in traffic in the tunnel on Thompson Lane in Nashville you just might hear some tuba echoing around turning the tunnel into a “tubatorium”. So, for a moment your frustration will disappear, a smile will reach your face, and…. it’s party time! Joe plays tuba all over Nashville solo and with the likes of The Bullfrog Revue and Fritz Hester. Joe also plays stringed bass instruments making him an all around “Bass Man”. Joe also has the uncanny ability to sense and communicate with planes of reality usually obscured by the distractions of daily life. In this interview alone Joe’s hair “stands up” at least three times. Perhaps the tuba acts as some sort of antennae for unusual and hard to pick up cosmic frequencies. Tuba recorded live just before the interview. Photo Credit: FRITZ HESTER

Greg Bryant is a musician’s musician. His dedication and passion are evident in seeing him perform or simply talking to him. Based in Nashville he is a full-time bass player in a number of excellent ensembles including The Greg Bryant Expansion and Concurrence. In this episode Greg gives an articulate and honest take on music and Nashville.

Music has always been a part of John Hedgecoth’s life and in 1974 it brought him to Nashville. Upon arrival he immediately hooked up with some of the best acoustic music players in town and his banjo playing was at one time put into service by the father of Bluegrass music himself, Mr. Bill Monroe. Another interesting note is that he and his wife Lynn were the first performers on opening night at the now world-famous Station Inn. He played mandocello in the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble which was founded by Butch Baldassari. John also spent 28 years working in the repair shop of the famous Gruhn Guitars where he got to work on exceptional instruments played by their exceptional musicians. In this episode John provides a glimpse into a past era of Music City sharing stories and experiences. John is still a gigging musician. He currently plays mandolin in The Contrarian Ensemble.

Steve Marcantonio has spent the last four decades recording and mixing some of the biggest names in the music business. Who has he worked with? Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift, Deana Carter, Kacey Musgraves, J. Geils, and John Lennon just to name a few. He got started at the Record Plant in New York and then made his way to Nashville. In this episode a Grammy award winning engineer shares his experiences and perspectives on life in the studio.

Marcela Pinilla has made a connection with audiences all over the world. Born in Bogota Colombia she fell in love with music at a young age and was performing professionally by age 14. Before arriving in Nashville, she toured internationally and discovered a passion for jazz. Her original music is unique in that while it is certainly Latin, it also reflects her broad influences from around the world. She also has a big heart - big enough to get the attention of the leadership of one city she lived in.

The Big Band Dances are a staple of summertime in Nashville. These events are free and open to the public on Saturday nights 7-10PM June – August (except the Saturday closest to the 4th of July!). It takes place at the Centennial Park Event Shelter and features a live Big Band performing Big Band era music and a dance floor filled with dancers. There are also two free group dance lessons during the evening and an area for children (or adults) to draw with sidewalk chalk. Simply put, it’s fun. This event is produced by the Metro Nashville Parks Music Department. Sponsors and partners include Creative Parks Nashville, The Tennessee Arts Commission, Nashville Ballroom and Company, and the Music Performance Trust Fund. 2019 will be the 36th year of Big Band Dances in a Metro Nashville Park. This episode explores the history of this beloved event by talking with four different people who have unique history with the event. Paul Ross, Dave Eastman, Mimi Shimmin, and Gene Gibson share their thoughts and memories of Metro Nashville Parks and Recreation’s annual Big Band Dance concert series.

Lauren McClinton is an R&B and Soul artist creating her own fresh style. She has a knack for harmonies and background vocals resulting in unique and rich textures. While a student at Fisk University she sang in the world-renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers and now she has committed to doing music fulltime. She provides insight into how exactly Music City earned that name.

Being a musician is a way of life and Shannon Williford has it down pat. He is a bluesman whose approach to music is the same as his approach to life. He refined his harmonica chops playing the blues in Baton Rouge and then brought that sound to Nashville. He worked in Nashville as a musician as well as a staff member of Metro Parks Music for 22 years before deciding to head back home. Known to be at times a tad loquacious, Shannon can’t help but share nuggets of wisdom he has accumulated over the years. One in particular that seems to be incessantly applicable: “It goes that way too”.

Ngawang Losel was sent away from Tibet by his parents when he was 12 years old in order to escape the Chinese Communist rule. He has been in exile ever since. Growing up in India and Israel he became a musician, songwriter, sound healer and passionate peace activist with a drive to create a more peaceful and compassionate world for everyone. Ngawang is fluent in five languages (Tibetan, Hebrew, English, Hindi and Chinese) and these unique language skills landed him the extraordinary opportunity to interpret for His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2002. All of Ngawang’s music is a humble expression of an exiled Tibetan American heart longing to see home and see peace everywhere in the world.

Sharmistha Ganguly is a classical Hindustani vocalist. She is unique amongst singers of that style in that she is also an instrumentalist, playing the harmonium in the ensemble. Often what she plays on the harmonium follows the melody she is singing. In this episode we get a basic introduction into the classical Hindustani style of Northern India. The music heard in this episode was recorded live on March 16, 2019 at the Centennial Performing Arts Studios in Centennial Park Nashville Tennessee immediately before recording the interview. Sharmistha was accompanied by Anup Raychowdhury on tabla and Eric Fristch on sitar. Anup is an accomplished musician who learned tabla from his guru the late S. Ganguly in Calcutta India. He has dedicated his life to passing the torch to the next generation by teaching this remarkable art form. Eric currently studies sitar online with Pandit Mukesh Sharma in New Delhi. This music is always performed with a tanpura which does not play melody, but supports the melody of other instruments by providing a continuous drone.

Asher Horton is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter who is involved in multiple music projects. He tours throughout North America with his band Sun Seeker whose music has been released by Third Man Records. His album, Elkmont, from his solo project Rainsticks made Wilco’s list of their favorite ten albums of 2018. At 23 years old he provides a youthful perspective on music in Nashville. He also reveals his favorite guitar pedal....

The always insightful Kelly Corcoran talks about conducting, the contemporary music ensemble Intersection, and working within the arts community of Nashville. She also reveals one of her favorite pieces of music....on that particular day.

Jimmy Church started singing professionally in the 1950's and he is still singing today with the Jimmy Church Band. He has a lot to say about an exciting era in Nashville's musical history. He also tells of a former bandmate who thought a busted speaker sounded hip.

Nermin Begovic is from the former Yugoslavia and now calls Nashville home. He plays accordion and guitar and performs traditional Balkan music around Nashville with his band Natchez Thrace. He talks about the music he loves and shares some of his experiences here on the first episode of Music City Pulse. Note: The Natchez Trace is a historic trail of roughly 440 miles from Nashville TN to Natchez MS. It was created by Native Americans and used by early European explorers. Thrace is a geographical region in Southeast Europe which is home to the Balkan music that influenced Nermin growing up. Hence, the band name, Natchez Thrace!