Author: Chris Jones

After a new recording project is mastered, photos have been taken, perhaps someone has been hired to write some liner notes, you’ve replaced the tracks of the guitar player who just quit, one of the last jobs still remains, and

You may recall that last week we started a discussion of band travel options, which are numerous, ranging from private jet (should I wait for the laughter to subside before continuing?) to private, near-dead burro. This week I thought we’d examine

One of the basic requirements of any professional band is to be able to get to the gig, wherever it might be. It’s one (sometimes the only) common bond we all share. Some bands carry a P.A. system, some do not.

Last week I was preoccupied with another side business I have, which is the raising of prize miniature llamas (one of the llamas had gone off her feed and would eat nothing but stir-fried alfalfa pellets, and the whole thing

Chris Jones, our dutiful chronicler of bluegrass whimsy, found himself low on time this week, so we are re-running this clever column, originally published in April 2012. People that are new to bluegrass music sometimes need some help in translating our jargon.

Well, it’s that time of year again (isn’t it always?). I really had no follow-up to that statement; it just seemed like a snappy way to begin this column. It’s at least safe to say that it’s a time of year

I hope it’s been a wonderful holiday season for you so far. The date of this column’s publication being January 2nd, let me be the first to wish you a very happy Ninth Day of Christmas. Yes, in spite of

This Chris Jones column is a repost from July 25, 2012. I’ve become very disillusioned with the zodiac, I have to admit. First there were the overly general daily horoscopes: “Make sound financial decisions today. Expect news from a friend, family

As of the date of this column’s publication I calculate (with the clever use of the fingers of both of my hands) that there are only six more shopping days until Christmas. As if that weren’t enough pressure, if you believe

Day jobs. For many musicians, these are the things that keep food (pizza) on the table and enable us to play a style of music that isn’t widely consumed by the mass market. Not everyone in the bluegrass music field