We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jonathan Yudkin. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Jonathan , it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me,right now,is different than it was just last month. And that has become my secret to being a satisfyingly busy professional musician. Versatility and curiosity. Understanding the job description and then pushing the limits. Last month saw my completion for 10 years of world travel commitments with Ricardo Arjona from Guatemala and Alfredo Olivas in Mexico and I have now returned to full time Nashville music production. As a recording studio musician, composer, arranger, engineer, producer, session leader, publisher, union board member my days vary from routine to crazy but at least I’m home in my own bed at night.
So my day begins around 8am with coffee, black and fulfilling. That keeps me company during email, message returns and phone calls that need attention. If time permits I will stop at the Y for a swim.
Recording sessions in Nashville are live, top shelf union signatory events that begin at 10am, no excuses. When 5-8 world class musicians gather to make music there is never a second to be wasted. If I am doing overdub recording in my own studio by myself then my session also begins at 10am, no excuses. Although I dress more casual.
Sessions last for 3 hours and you either stay for the next session, move on to another studio or fulfill another work commitment. Then there might be a late session at 6 or a live music engagement in town.
At the end of the day I prefer to be cooking in my kitchen. Cooking is very much like composing and performing, and sometimes even more satisfying.
After wrapping up the details from today and then preparing for tomorrow it is time for a cultural infusion of either books,films or music, followed by blessed sleep.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jonathan Yudkin from Philadelphia PA.
I create music with violins and other stringed instruments and I grew up in an atmosphere of classical and Jewish religious music, books and films. My father was a music professional and early on I knew that music was my passion and career. While attending Temple and Rutgers I formed a country rock band and went full time pro at 18. That band, RD1, became the house band at the Lone Star Cafe in NYC on the corner of 5th and 13th. It was the perfect late 70’s eye opener for me to learn and take part in an ocean of music of which I was not yet aware. In 1981 I was offered a job with a touring artist and I moved to Nashville playing violin(fiddle) and mandolin. Now I was in the greatest hub of all time for touring, recording and the newly established TNN network. Within 4 months I was hired by the great Leon Russell and the real adventure began.
I quickly learned that the more you can do, the more you can work so I began to acquire and learn more instruments such as guitar, viola,cello, banjo, bass, dobro, harmonica, bouzouki and harp as well as engineering and recording skills. I seriously began writing songs and string arrangements and producing artists as well as taking part in the Musicians Union (executive board),Leadership Music, Soundexchange and local organizations. Be involved.
By 1990 I was able to assemble a recording studio and achieve the dream of creating an entire orchestra by myself, from composition and arranging to playing and recording the violins,violas,cello and bass, one track at a time. The labor of love.
The next 30 years resulted in touring with Russell, Dicky Betts, John Hartford, Doug Dillard, Ed Bruce, Robert Earl Keen and Kathy Mattea. Meanwhile, the recording sessions exploded with the touring acts and artists such as Bon Jovi, Taylor Swift, Pink, Cher, Neal Diamond,Jewel,Tom Waits, Shania Twain, Kieth Urban, Reba, Shel Silverstein, Megadeath,Jars Of Clay,Rascal Flatts,Steven Tyler and Ricardo Arjona, to name a few. I’ve received ACM awards for musician of the year, Grammys and CMA’s. I absolutely love to score music for films including 5 for Hallmark, 4 with William Shockley, 2 horror films with Brian Keene and dozens of Indies.
But it was the recording work with Arjona that prompted him to ask that I join his upcoming Circo Soledad world tour in 2017 as a multi instrumentalist and once again everything changed. A huge unknown. Crowds worldwide of 60,000.
What could I offer the Latin Music world, making it worthwhile on both sides, using my brand and styles? Clearly it was a rare opportunity and one not to be missed because of apprehension or uncertainty.
And besides,Ry Cooder did it so what the hell?
The new learning curve was huge and wonderfully challenging. Everything en Español, the Latin music styles, even where to buy mandolin strings in Patagonia, on a Sunday. But music is the universal language with no barrier.
It was also an opportunity to become a musical ambassador for my country and present,what I consider, the best side of who we are as Americans. I became the music director, arranger and eventually produced much of the Blanco Y Negro cd in 2022. When the ByN tour ended I received a call from the Mexican Norteño star Alfredo Olivas asking to bring my Nashville styles to his music. And although I had not intended to continue touring, I could not resist the opportunity to be the only Gringo, again, this time in a 25 piece Norteño band playing fiddle,banjo and cello with 4 hour shows starting at midnight, featuring another massive learning curve of Mexican traditional, regional and historical music alongside the best players in the business. Then there’s the food. So, Viva Mexico Cabrones! Recently I accepted that I had been away for much of 10 years and my clients in Nashville deserved more attention so I said gracias and adios and have now returned to Nashville studio production and the artists that I produce such as Marty Falle, Maxi Pardo, Wen Tilley and JD DeGroot.
Most recent geek moment, twice being called to Abbey Road Studio in London (Studio #2-the Beatles room) for recording sessions as composer and string section leader, and that is one of the great unexpected pleasures of my life as a musician.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
My father.
His work ethic, understanding of the job description, diversity and upward momentum influenced me from day one. After his service in the Navy he became a public school music teacher until he advanced to a vice principle and finally full elementary school principle. He also ran and conducted the synagogue choir for almost 40 years and taught private clarinet lessons in our basement three times a week.
And he never complained about any of it.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Hey younger self:
You really did look a lot better than you thought you did at the time. No one looks very good playing the violin, what with your head turned over your shoulder and clamping down the instrument under your chin. But you always stood tall and straight, shoulders back with a fencing stance. Not too shabby.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes. As a music creator I see no reason to try and use some other persona in public. My demeanor is my music,
and vice versa. Even if my job description were different and it was part of my task to socialize using a different visage, I still wouldn’t know who else to be. Floating between different musical versions is enough to keep up with as it is.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
What I hope is said about me in the future is pretty much what people tell me now. And I don’t mean this in any self centered or conceited way, only what I am told by those who hire me, those I work with and those I hire.
Through music and technique I raise the bar, and others feel compelled to join in and bring out their best.
And the studio, or the stage or the intimate setting lights up with a collective energy. And oh how I live for that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jonathanyudkin.com
- Instagram: jonathanyudkinofficial
- Facebook: jonathan yudkin
- Youtube: jonathan yudkin
