For many of us, myself included, it’s not an easy thing to keep the brain focused when listening to instrumental music. But the musical notes picked and bowed by Nashville’s Hawktail have an engaging lyrical quality that glides you through each song. This acoustic string quartet is comprised of Brittany Haas on the fiddle, Paul Kowert (also a Punch Brother) on the bass, Dominick Leslie on the mandolin, and today’s 11 Questions volunteer, Jordon Tice on the guitar.

Hawktail’s second album “Formations” is out on Padiddle Records and carries on in the great tradition of last year’s “Unless.” While their musical chemistry is rooted in Country/Bluegrass, its just one quick turn away from breaking out into a Jazz fusion explosion!

You can taste the single and lead-off LP track “Annbjørg,” in this video. The band recently did a hometown gig at the Little Harpeth Brewery and have since taken their show on the road. Locals can make a road trip to see them on April 3 at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, GA (just outside Atlanta) where I’m sure they will play this song from the latest record.

Thanks, Jordan, for the answers and for being a part of another bright spot in the current Nashville music scene.   

Where are you from originally, when did you move to Nashville and why?

I hail from Annapolis, MD. I moved to Nashville five years ago because all the people I wanted to play music with were here.

What are the first and the last records you bought, and where did you buy them? Were they CD, vinyl or digital?

The first record I bought was The Wallflowers’ Bringing Down the Horse on CD when I was like 12. The last record I bought (not streamed) was Mr. Scrapper’s Blues by Scrapper Blackwell on vinyl because I wanted the liner notes.

First and last live concerts that you’ve seen?

The first was probably a terrible Christian Rock show I went to with my church. I can’t remember who exactly, but I’m sure it sucked. The last was Mandolin Orange this past weekend during the Folk Alliance Conference in New Orleans.

Whose star should be added to the Music City Walk of Fame?

Kid Rock for his groundbreaking experimental work combining Hip-hop and Country. Just kidding. DeFord Bailey all the way.

Where do you go in Nashville for coffee and pizza?

Crema for coffee and Five Points for pizza. I often argue that Five Points Pizza is exceptional on a national level.

What’s your favorite record to ever come out of Nashville?

John Hartford’s Morning Bugle

Where’s the best place to eat late night after a show? 

Dino’s Fried Chicken Sammiches

The Bluebird calls and asks you to host an “In the Round.” Pick three local songwriters to join you.

Anthony da Costa, Lauren Balthrop and Jonathan Childers

What are your favorite music venues to play in town?

The Station Inn and Little Harpeth Brewery

Name a musician who you’d like to see move here.

I’d like to see Shania Twain come back from Switzerland and maybe be a little more involved in the local music scene this time around.

Finally, what’s in your musical future?

Touring the new Hawktail record for the next few months. It’s called Formations, and it came out on January 10. After that, I’ll be touring my new solo record I just finished. Probably looking at a late summer/fall release for that.