Jim Averitt & Friends featured on new episode of 11th & Grant
Bozeman local Jim Averitt will showcase his Montana-inspired folk and Americana music on the next episode of 11th & Grant with Eric Funk. He’ll be joined by well-known musicians Chelsea Hunt (fiddle) and Tom Murphy (mandolin).
Averitt performs on a regular basis throughout the region. He’s shared the stage and studio with many notable artists including Jackson Browne, Joe Cocker, Joe Walsh, Pat Benatar, Toto, Les McCann, Tom Rush, David Wilcox, Rambling Jack Elliott, Jim Messina, Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins. He’s also co-written several tunes with Jim Messina, Kostas, Jane Fonda and Ted Turner. Averitt’s music has been featured on HBO and 20/20, as well as many additional documentaries.
In anticipation of the upcoming broadcast, the Rolling Zone spoke with the trio to discuss fusing their talents, as well as Bozeman’s community of outstanding musicianship.
RZ: Hey guys. Tell me a little about each of your musical repertoires and what this trio hopes to showcase with its performances.
CH: I was classically trained, but I grew up playing all different types of music. Jim’s style uses a lot of jazzy chords and I like his style of songwriting, so I think I’ve grown a lot playing with him, exploring things, which I like doing. I get bored if I do one thing for too long. Then Tom is of course incredible — he can jump in on anything. I feel like we’re a good mix of knowing the songs really well, but also having enough spark in there that we can explore and play off of each other.
TM: This trio features Jim’s creative songwriting. Chelsea and I add rhythmic and melodic color to his compositions. We play off of Jim’s vocals and guitar and try to take the songs to new places.
JA: When Eric offered us this opportunity, I thought it would be great to get all three of us together because we have a lot of fun. Tom and I have been playing [together] for many years. He’s obviously awesome player, but also just a great guy. Chelsea and I have gone over three years playing quite a few gigs together, and now we’re writing an instrumental album. It’s pretty exciting. Bringing these two together to play on songs I’ve written expands the music and takes it to a new place. It adds a lot of flavor. I’m very boring by myself. [laughs]
CH: One thing about Jim is that you have to take everything he says really seriously…
RZ: I see that! The three of you recorded a batch of tunes for the latest edition of 11th & Grant, set to air on MontanaPBS Feb. 15th. How was that experience? What can folks expect to see when they tune into the episode?
JA: I think we had fun. And the whole crew is amazing. You’re working with Eric Funk, Scott Sterling, Jeremiah Slovarp — they’re such professionals. It was a fun, great experience just being around these people who are so dedicated in making this show. [The attention to] detail every take is why it’s won so many Emmys. After every take, Eric and Scott would come up and talk with us. They’d look at your clothes, look for dust on your sleeve, fix your hair. I’ve been a fan of the program for years, so I feel honored to be a part of it. It was just a really fun experience.
TM: The staff at 11th & Grant are consummate professionals and they take incredible care of the musicians. They work hard to provide an environment that allows us to relax and create. I think the audience will see three musicians having a great time doing what they love.
CH: You can go in there overwhelmed, like ahhh! But they make you feel at home and comfortable. I was a little nervous until I got there. They’re really good at what they do and know their field really, really well. It was a great experience. It was fun!
RZ: 11th & Grant includes an anecdotal portion to give viewers a closer look at the artists it features. How was opening up to tell your story different from just playing some music?
CH: I would rather play in front of people rather than talk, I think like a lot of musicians —
JA: — except Tom Murphy.
CH: Yeah, except for Tom. I was more nervous about that part more than anything else. But the interview started with them setting up the mics, testing [the equipment], and Eric was just chatting with us. Then all of a sudden, we realized that we were going, so we kind of eased into it. Eric said it was like having coffee with a friend, having a conversation. Then they edited and picked the parts they thought would make a good story. It turned out better than I thought.
JA: I prepared answers on the way to the interview, but Eric didn’t ask any of those questions. It was pretty improvised, but still fun.
RZ: Adding this MontanaPBS appearance to the list, Bozeman seems to have more than its share of resources for independent musicians looking to expose their artistry. Do you think the Gallatin Valley is a suitable place for singer/songwriters and instrumentalists to jump-start and/or maintain careers in music?
JA: Absolutely. A lot of venues and a lot of talented musicians. We’ve all had friends that’ve played gigs here and gone on the road. Amber Ikeman, who’s traveling all over the country, [recorded] her album here with Chris Cunningham. She’s been an example of a local independent artist who’s taken on the country. Amber’s making a great living with her art.
TM: The Gallatin Valley is an excellent place for musicians to hone their craft. There are many top-notch players with whom to collaborate. The resorts, ranches, and other local venues provide great destinations for weddings, private parties, and festivals. That translates to good opportunities for musicians to make a living by performing.
CH: Even compared to bigger cities, there might be a lot of traveling, big supergroups coming through, but they just don’t have the resources for local music. Bozeman has so many places that pay for musicians to play. Whether those are restaurants or bars or breweries, there’s a lot of opportunity. We’ve got a great music community [with] a lot of people working together. There’s a good scene for that here.
RZ: Jim, you’ve enjoyed quite the career, working with and among a medley of notable artists. Can you share a few of your most memorable experiences?
JA: You know, getting to work with Chelsea is obviously the highlight.
CH: Oh yes, because I’m sitting right here. [laughs]
JA: I’ve been lucky in years past, being at the right place at the right time, getting on stage with a lot of interesting people. Recording with Joe Cocker is certainly one of my highlights, also playing with Etta James. We were doing a benefit at a children’s camp in Santa Barbara [where] her kids were going. I was jamming, but when it came to the solo, Etta looked over at me and said, ‘Take it, Jimmy.’ I said, ‘Oh no, ma’am.’ She goes, ‘I said take it Jimmy!’ And I flew into a lead. I’m not really a lead guitar player, but she inspired me to play some riffs. That was a highlight, for sure.
RZ: Oh wow. There’s something to hold on to.
JA: There was another time when I got to play the ’84 Olympics with my band and a couple others, and I think that’s the biggest sea of people I’ve ever seen in my life. It was very rewarding. A lot of interesting people there. Like I told Eric in our interview, I’ve also played the bar where four drunk cowboys were shooting off fireworks in the middle of my song. I said, ‘Well I guess you got a bang out of that song,’ and they didn’t laugh or pay me any attention. So I’ve seen the spectrum.
RZ: That’s indeed quite the spread. So, Tom and Chelsea, you’ve both been active musicians throughout the years as well, playing with a number of groups. Do you feel a certain “nomadery” keeps artists like yourselves on their toes, bouncing from one lineup to the next?
TM: Absolutely. Playing with bands like Little Jane & the Pistol Whips, Lone Mountain Trio, Grassy Mountain, Hooligans, Thermal Grass, Two Bit Franks, as well as singer/songwriters like Chris Cunningham, John Lowell, and Jim Averitt really keeps me on my toes. The variety inspires me. I’m able to learn from each musician and then hopefully offer something unique to the next project.
CH: It’s good to play different styles of music, [to change up] the people you’re playing with. I’ve learned so much, from Jim and so many others. It’s important to keep growing that way. It’s a personal journey. Of course, there’s times you want to get really comfortable and stick with one group to grow and work, and that can be fun because you learn the nuances of playing with that person, but I like playing with an array of different people. I enjoy the process of figuring out something new.
RZ: What details can you give about the to-be-released album mentioned earlier? Will it include exclusively instrumentals?
JA: I have a new album of originals coming out next month, Secret Town Road, [with] songs that have come as I’ve traveled. Most were recorded in Santa Barbara County, but we overdubbed Chelsea on violin for, I think, three songs. Our duet instrumental album will come out after that. We have about twenty-some ideas right now. All my CDs have at least one instrumental track on it, but this’ll be all instrumentals. It’s guitar and violin right now, but when we start recording we might add other people. There’s a song Eric decided to record for 11th & Grant where Chels and I were basically just jamming on this tune. Scott came up after and asked what the name of the song was, but I didn’t have one for it. Eric ended up named it “Chelsea’s Song,” so hopefully that’ll make it onto the [final edit of] show. So there’s plenty of ideas for the album, and you never run out. That’s what keeps it fun.
RZ: What immediate plans do you each have for your respective futures in music?
TM: I’m looking forward to another busy season of music regionally and abroad. The John Lowell Band will be playing at the Vancouver Folk Fest in BC and will tour in Europe this fall. I’m teaching mandolin again at both the Grand Targhee Music Camp and the Montana Fiddle Camp, along with private and online guitar and mandolin lessons. I’m so honored to play music with good friends for a living.
CH: I’ve got a couple other projects going on, but I’m excited about this instrumental album and want to focus on that. Summer is usually busy for me and this time of year is almost like woodshedding season, so I’m really excited to see what happens.
JA: I just want to continue having fun and keep doing what I’m doing. I’m also really excited about this instrumental album and love playing gigs — they keep booking us, I don’t know why. And I’m excited for Chels. She’s in her twenties and has a big future with all kinds of different people as she moves up.
Experience Jim Averitt’s one of a kind music and lyrical stories inspired by his adventures and travels on this all-original episode of 11th & Grant with Eric Funk. Premiering on MontanaPBS, Thursday, February 15th at 7pm, Averitt will perform alongside Chelsea Hunt and Tom Murphy.
Didn’t catch the first airing? This episode will replay on Saturday, February 17th at 9:48pm and Monday, February 19th at 2am — set your DVRs!
11th & Grant with Eric Funk is the premier outlet for music performance in Montana, seeking out the state’s most acclaimed, accomplished, and pioneering talent. The Emmy-winning performance series also devotes significant time to each artist’s personal story, insights into their music and their approach to life, ultimately providing a deeper experience than a seat at a concert. Accomplished composer and musician Eric Funk serves as host and artistic director, hand selecting each performer from communities around the state to form a diverse series featuring genres from jazz to classical, country to zydeco, and rock to fusion.
11th & Grant with Eric Funk airs on Montana PBS. Visit www.montanapbs.org/11thGrantwithEricFunk for further information. •
