Hometown: Nashville, TN
Website: www.justinmoses.com
Sounds Like: Béla Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Chris Thile, Sarah Jarosz, Ricky Skaggs
Genre: Folk
Justin Moses is an accomplished acoustic instrumentalist playing mandolin, guitar, banjo, fiddle, dobro and bass. He has appeared on stage with diverse artists such as Alison Krauss, Del McCoury, Emmylou Harris, Brad Paisley, Joe Diffie, Jerry Douglas, Bruce Hornsby, Bela Fleck, Ralph Stanley, Peter Frampton and Barry Gibb. He made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2008 and has become in-demand as a session player, appearing on such albums as the 2009 IBMA Album of the Year and Grammy nominated Wheels by Dan Tyminski and Music to My Ears by Ricky Skaggs among many others.
Justin began playing music at the age of six and soon started traveling with his family's gospel group after learning his first chords on the mandolin. He helped form the East Tennessee band Blue Moon Rising after high school and recorded two albums with them in the early 2000s. Justin released a solo instrumental album Dusty Roads in 2006 which received many
favorable reviews and significant radio airplay. He's spent time on the road with bands NewFound Road, The Dan Tyminski Band and Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder. While playing with Skaggs he made TV appearances including The Marty Stuart Show, and on Conan in October of 2013 with Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby. Justin has been collaborating with acclaimed
mandolin player and singer Sierra Hull the past few years joining her on band dates and for duo shows.
"But this Fall, Justin has launched two new endeavors that will put his name out front. First up is his new podcast, CosMoses, where he interviews bluegrass and acoustic music newsmakers, and ponders and discusses issues of concern to people who care about quality music. Two episodes are currently available with new ones promised every two weeks. Subscriptions are free, or you can select episodes for listening from iTunes, Stitcher, or Soundcloud.
Then on September 18, Justin will release Beyond Measure, a six-track EP of original bluegrass instrumentals, with him featured as the sole performer on multiple instruments. A solo album in the truest sense of the word."
John Lawless - Bluegrass Today
"From the opening notes of 'Old Federal' to the final phrase of 'Turning Point,' Moses demonstrates that if it has strings, he can pick it...This is an excellent first solo outing for a talented young man who appears to have a bright future in this music."
Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine
“OK… so it was only a metaphorical visit. But you certainly get the flavor of Brazil in this brilliant mandolin duet performed by Sierra Hull and Justin Moses at the Frankfort Bluegrass Festival in Frankfort, IL last weekend.
It’s a tune called Desuairada, which Sierra said she learned at a mandolin symposium in California. A well-respected choro player named Danilo Britto was also teaching at the workshop and she learned it from him, and taught it to Justin so they could do it as a duet.
The choro style is a Brazilian form of instrumental music that has many similarities to bluegrass, including the fact that it has spread worldwide and is studied and played by mandolinists everywhere. It’s based on a traditional dance form, and it requires tremendous technical facility, as you can see in the video.”
John Lawless - Bluegrass Today
“Justin Moses, who has been playing banjo and occasional reso-guitar with Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder since Spring of 2010, has announced that he is leaving the group.
But he won’t be moving away from bluegrass. Justin just wants more flexibility in his schedule, which will allow him to do more fill-in and studio work. Owing to his skills on fiddle, mandolin and guitar as well – and his strong vocals chops – he was a first call picker before he hooked up with Skaggs a few years ago.
He has also been a “regular” fill-in with Sierra Hull and Highway 111, which he expects to continue doing. While he won’t become an official member of her band, expect to see Justin with Sierra on a lot of 2014 shows. And just today, since word slipped around Nashville that he was a free agent, Moses says that he has had a number of offers for part time gigs.
Some recording for a solo project of his own in also on the docket. He won’t be sitting around with nothing to do.”
John Lawless - Bluegrass Today
“Justin Moses will be the new banjo player with Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, starting this Friday at the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel in Bettendorf, IA. He is taking over for Jim Mills, who recently announced his intention to leave the band after 14 years of service.
Moses had been a member of the vaunted Dan Tyminski Band, on fiddle, banjo and resonator guitar, and has been doing free lance work with a number of groups since Dan closed up shop last year.
As you might imagine, Justin is psyched to tackle this new gig.
“Ricky is definitely a musical hero to me and a big influence on my playing and singing, so I’m thrilled to have this opportunity, and excited to get started with the band!”
He also tells us that while he will primarily be playing banjo with Skaggs, he expects to supply some reso guitar, and maybe more once touring in support of Ricky’s new CD, Mosaic, begins in earnest.
”
John Lawless - The Bluegrass Blog
“We caught up with Justin Moses earlier this week, to find out what he has planned now that Dan Tyminski has folded up his band to focus on Alison Krauss & Union Station.”
John Lawless - The Bluegrass Blog