It's amazing what can happen when some of Nashville's top session musicians and singers get together backstage to jam in the dressing rooms at the Grand Ole Opry. They give birth to a garage band that became one of Music City's best kept secrets. But the word is now out about the incredible Western Swing band known as the Time Jumpers.

      Although they are a loving tribute to the legendary Bob Wills, the Time Jumpers are no retro band. Instead, they have reinvented Western Swing, bringing it into the 21st century with more power, energy, and downright fun than you've ever seen and heard. Armed with their infectious arrangements, amazing musicianship, and engaging personalities, they have become the darling of Nashville's recording artists, musicians, industry executives, and country music fans alike here in Music City.

       This is decidedly apparent when they take the stage like clockwork every Monday night to a packed house at The Station Inn on 12th Avenue.

        THEIR FIRST JUMP INTO TIME.

        Back in 1998, the Time Jumpers were a loose gathering of friends in the music business that consisted of a handful of members in a lineup that was subject to frequent change. To this day there has never been a band leader, but in the early days Hoot Hester seemed to be head of the pack along with Michael Blaustone, Dennis Crouch, and Danny Parks. Then they were joined by Andy Reiss, Aubrey Haynie, Kenny Malone, Johnny Cox, and Robert Bowlin.

       When the group's Station Inn sessions increased to weekly, Rick Vanaugh stepped in to take Malone's place while Kenny Sears took over for Bowlin. Sears tends to act as spokesman for the Time Jumpers and acts as host for their shows. The band also features singers Carolyn Martin and Dawn Sears, Kenny's wife, and part-time members like Vince Gill.

       Today there are eleven members in the group who are all in it for the fun and love of the music. In fact, they all refer to their performances as "therapy sessions." Together they make it all seem so easy and unrehearsed. But the reverse is true. The members of Time Jumpers are true professionals and work hard to make their performances so tight and seemingly effortless.

       A GATHERING OF TIME JUMPERS.

    If you're into country music at all, you've heard the members of the group many times before on many of the albums you own. Their resumes read like the Who's Who of country music. The Time Jumpers line-up today includes Dennis Crouch (bass), "Ranger" Doug Green (acoustic rhythm guitar and lead vocals), Aubrey Haynie (fiddle), "Papa" John Hughey (pedal steel guitar), Carolyn Martin (lead and harmony vocals), Andy Reiss (electric lead guitar), Dawn Sears (lead and harmony vocals), Kenny Sears (fiddle and lead vocals), Joe Spivey (fiddle and harmony vocals), Jeff Taylor (accordion) and Rick Vanaugh (drums). The musical artists these talented singers and musicians have recorded and performed with in the genres of country and bluegrass music include such legends as Mel Tillis,  Vince Gill,  Hank Thompson, Faron Young, Ray Price and many, many more. In a lot of cases,  they not only played on stage and were in the studio with these stars,  but also contributed to their musical styles.

 

              DISCOVER JUMPIN' TIME.

 

       The best way to discover the Time Jumpers is to catch their show at The Station Inn every Monday night from 9:00 p.m. But you might find it more timely to purchase their JUMPIN' TIME two-hour plus live concert DVD or their double-disc JUMPIN' TIME CD at your favorite record store or at www.thetimejumpers.com on the web.

       Either way, you're guaranteed a swingin' good time. So jump to it!