Southwest Virginia banjo man Jody King has released a single with Larry Cordle’s Mighty Cord Records which combines vintage pop rock with a wicked five, and the distinctive voice of the Mighty Cord himself.
King has been a prominent banjo picker in Virginia and North Carolina for many years, and has toured with several well known artists, including a stint. with Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time He’s also been on the road with Ronnie Bowman and Melonie Cannon, plus an early gig with Lost and Found, and a band he helped found, After Five. He is currently filling in with Southern Legacy while their regular banjo player, Ron Blok, is touring with Alison Krauss & Union Station.
Jody shared a few words about why he figures that Steve Miller’s Jet Airliner is just aching for a bluegrass retrofit.
“During my college days, a buddy and I were hanging out in his parents’ basement listening to music. Jet Airliner was playing, and one of us picked up a guitar and started playing the opening repetitive riff. After a few minutes of messing around, it had morphed into bluegrass mode. The chorus section was perfect for improvisational soloing, and made for a smoking bluegrass tune, accented by the signature riff and those well-known, catchy lyrics.
‘’d always loved The Steve Miller Band and that song, but playing it this way really reinforced that love. I’ve wanted to record it ever since.
Fast forward a few decades, and after working with Larry Cordle for years, I knew he had a soft spot for this era and style of music. He also has the voice and instinct to pull it off. I was thrilled when he agreed to do it, and even more thrilled to hear his performance on the track. I hope that folks listening will appreciate the same love that Larry and I share for this music—and the same excitement that a couple of college buddies once felt in that basement years ago.”
Cord said that he loved this concept right away.
“When Jody King played me the track for Jet Airliner, I was absolutely knocked out. What a great idea to take this ’70s Steve Miller rock standard and reimagine it as a driving bluegrass number. I knew I was listening to something special.
What I didn’t know at the time was that he had played every instrument on the track except the mandolin. He left that detail out when he played the song for me. When I asked who the other musicians were, he said, ‘Well, I played the bass and guitar parts,’ as if to suggest anyone could do that. It’’ remarkable that this man could be this proficient on all these instruments.
Later, he got the great Kim Gardner, another longtime Lonesome Standard Timer, to add his ripping dobro as the ‘coup de grass.’
When he first asked if I would provide the lead vocal for the track, I was both honored and scared. I was thinking, I hope I’m able to do something worthy of this great track. Well, I did the best I could.
I hope you can tell how much I love this song and Jody’s rendition. Jody came aboard as the banjo player for Lonesome Standard Time when Kristin Benson left the band to take the gig with The Grascals. In fact, Kristin had suggested I use Jody to fill in for her on some dates while she was pregnant.
I knew some of his playing from his Lost and Found days, but I learned the true caliber of musician he is while working beside him for a decade and a half. I can say without reservation that Jody is one of the greatest musicians of this generation, and as great a musician as he is, he is an even better person. I love this guy. He is a humble genius, in my opinion, and I am so happy to have him as the latest addition to the Mighty Cord Records family of artists. This is his first single with more to come.
Oh, and did I mention he recorded this at his own studio, mixed it, mastered it, and handled all those little details, too?”
Chase Johner adds mandolin and Aubrey Haynie plays fiddle, with Chris Harris and Val Storey singing harmony.
What’s left but to give it a listen?
Jet Airliner is available now from popular download and streaming services online, and to radio programmers via AirPlay Direct.
