Chris Jones And the Night Drivers: at The Station Inn (Nashville, TN) Wed. March 6, 2013

Chris Jones And the Night Drivers

Bluegrass

Nashville Scene Critic's Pick …

After nearly four decades in the business, you might expect Chris Jones to show some signs of wear, but the edges are still smooth on his rich baritone, and he never sounds like he’s in a hurry. Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Jones cut his teeth in bluegrass bands in college, moving on to play with Special Consensus, Dave Evans and Lynn Morris, before he and his bandmates in Weary Hearts made their own names. Jones’ style has strong ties to the traditions pioneered by Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers, but the flatpicking frontman’s deeper voice and moderated tempos have led to his music being identified as a “low lonesome sound.” In 2007, Jones was awarded the IBMA’s Songwriter of the Year for his co-write on The Infamous Stringdusters’ “Fork in the Road,” as well as Broadcaster of the Year in recognition of his hosting duties on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction, where he’s the most widely heard DJ in the genre. The Night Drivers include light-speed banjo picker Ned Luberecki, mando maestro Mark Stoffel and bass man and co-writer Jon Weisberger, who was IBMA’s Songwriter of the Year in 2012.

—STEPHEN TRAGESER