"If you love what you do, it's not work". If this saying is true, then Jim Hoke is out of work. He is very busy, however, being Nashville's premier "go to" guy on sax/woodwinds, harmonica, pedal steel, a plethora of other color instruments, plus horn and string arrangements for a virtual who's who of artists of every musical category.
Top artists in pop, country, Americana and many other styles respect Jim for the amazing level of artistry he brings to everything he does. Nashville is a town of musical specialists and Jim is a rarity - a specialist on a baffling number of instruments, and he plays each one as if it's the only thing he does. On sax, you hear the whole history of the saxophone coming through; warm luxuriant Lester Young, soulful tough King Curtis, suave and smart Stan Getz and much more, melding into Jim's own style. When he plays blues/country harp, you hear plaintive Sonny Terry blues, raw Paul Butterfield urban energy, and so much more. On chromatic harmonica, there's Stevie Wonder lyricism and Toots Thielemans innovation. Drawing so deeply from the well enables Jim to be the perfect stylist for any musical situation and this is the main reason for his success in the studio.
Jim's dynamic performances and versatility keep him in demand for live playing with a wide array of established performers such as Toby Keith, NRBQ, Emmylou Harris and The Americana Awards Shows as well as emerging, newer artists.
He also enjoys getting out and sitting in with musical pals in Nashville's nightspots just for the music, the beer and the friends.
Jim's Discography page lists some of the people he's recorded with on various instruments. His Bands page is about the live music he's currently involved with.
Top artists in pop, country, Americana and many other styles respect Jim for the amazing level of artistry he brings to everything he does. Nashville is a town of musical specialists and Jim is a rarity - a specialist on a baffling number of instruments, and he plays each one as if it's the only thing he does. On sax, you hear the whole history of the saxophone coming through; warm luxuriant Lester Young, soulful tough King Curtis, suave and smart Stan Getz and much more, melding into Jim's own style. When he plays blues/country harp, you hear plaintive Sonny Terry blues, raw Paul Butterfield urban energy, and so much more. On chromatic harmonica, there's Stevie Wonder lyricism and Toots Thielemans innovation. Drawing so deeply from the well enables Jim to be the perfect stylist for any musical situation and this is the main reason for his success in the studio.
Jim's dynamic performances and versatility keep him in demand for live playing with a wide array of established performers such as Toby Keith, NRBQ, Emmylou Harris and The Americana Awards Shows as well as emerging, newer artists.
He also enjoys getting out and sitting in with musical pals in Nashville's nightspots just for the music, the beer and the friends.
Jim's Discography page lists some of the people he's recorded with on various instruments. His Bands page is about the live music he's currently involved with.
