Rising Stars: Meet Teddy Jones

Today we’d like to introduce you to Teddy Jones.

Hi Teddy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Since early childhood, I seemed to gravitate toward music, though unknowingly at first. My earliest memories were learning songs from my mom on piano and playing air guitar to Chuck Berry when I was 7. I started playing tenor saxophone when I was 11, and like most kids that age, went through the school band programs. I discovered a deep love of music and began playing around my hometown of Indianapolis with my high school jazz quartet.

After high school, while studying jazz performance at Indiana University, I met and began touring with my first band rock Shaggy Wonda, and spent the next 10 years writing and touring our music around the Midwest jam scene. Once I moved to Nashville in 2017, I began recording and playing with local bands, both original and cover bands, which has taught me so much more about music as a whole.

Today, I’m now playing with several local bands around the southeast, and have begun writing and producing my music as well, which I’ll be releasing later this summer. I look forward to continuing to grow with this amazing music scene we have in Nashville!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No road worth traveling is clear of any challenge. As a working musician, especially as a freelance musician, the adage “feast or famine” rings true.

There are times my phone rings off the hook with gig opportunities, and times it doesn’t ring at all. It’s easy to begin questioning yourself, your decisions, and most frighteningly, your playing. And in the hardest of times, you may find the only way to take the next step is through sheer grit. All the while you’re under pressure to perform at your best, whether that’s on stage, in a studio, or writing your next song, no matter how stressed you feel, or how tired when you’re doing other jobs to make your bills.

It became so overwhelming after a while that I retired from playing professionally for a couple of years; thankfully the universe guided me back, and after facing my issues with alcohol and playing in bars every night, I’ve now found a path that helps keep me physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy enough to tackle the challenges, and I try to encourage my friends and peers to try the same.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am most known as a saxophonist around Nashville. I’m currently playing in several rock, country, jazz, blues, and Americana bands. I regularly perform at venues such as Basement, Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie, Martin’s BBQ, and Papa Turney’s.

When I’m not on a stage or the road, I’m either recording sax tracks for groups, or writing, recording, and producing my music. My first ep will be coming out later this summer and is a collection of lofi jazz songs of mine. I am also currently producing of collection of video games and production music, and aspire to produce more music for media.

What people have told me sets me apart is my animated and passionate style of playing. Whether I’m playing a 15-minute round or a 4-hour set, I like to leave all my energy on the stage and focus on playing every note with intent and emotion to support the music. My teachers always hated how much I move around when I play, yet it’s proven to set me apart.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Lots of things make me happy! What I find most fulfilling in life, though, is, safe the assume, first and foremost playing saxophone. Playing sax is as much an emotional outlet as it is my living and my creative outlet.

It provides a level of fulfillment and acceptance of everything in the universe that is hard to truly explain. I think most musicians can say that about their respective primary instruments. Life without my sax is unfathomable. Through all the challenges in the music industry, the fact I even have the chance to try to do what I love most as a career is a true blessing.

I also love spending time outdoors. Experiencing and existing in nature has always made me happy and helped ground me in hard times. I love to hike and kayak, and visit hard-to-reach areas; they always have the best views!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: http://instagram.com/teddyjonessaxophone/
• SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/iu5ff 

Image Credits
Kate Talashek, Keith Griner, Phierce Photography, and Phierce Productions