Live Review: Music City Hitmakers – Nashville, TN – October 23, 2014

9 years ago Liv Carter Comments Off on Live Review: Music City Hitmakers – Nashville, TN – October 23, 2014
Songwriters Under the Stars: Music City Hitmakers performs at Cheekwood in Nashville, TN.
Songwriters Under the Stars: Music City Hitmakers performs at Cheekwood in Nashville, TN.

On a beautiful, if slightly chilly, evening in Nashville, there is nothing better than listening to world class songwriters. On October 23, Music City Hitmakers kicked off a new music series, titled Songwriters Under the Stars, at the gorgeous Cheekwood Mansion located in Cheekwood Botanical Gardens.

Under the artistic direction of Charles Dixon, and performing arrangements composed by Charlie Judge, the super talents of the Nashville Studio Symphony accompanied songwriters Jessi Alexander, Brett James, and Kyle Jacobs.

Brett James opened with his Josh Gracin hit ‘Brass Bed,’ and then dove into his seemingly endless supply of #1 hits. He delivered a great version of Dierks Bentley‘s ‘I Hold On,’ and it is always an honor to get to listen to a song that’s that good. Hearing Carrie Underwood‘s new single ‘Something in the Water’ in this setting was a very special moment indeed. James ended on a less serious note with his Kenny Chesney hit ‘Out Last Night,’ and brought the audience to their feet dancing to ‘When the Sun Goes Down.’

Jessi Alexander brought her Blake Shelton hits ‘Drink on It’ and ‘Mine Would Be You,’ the latter sounding spectacular with an orchestra. She impressed with ‘The Climb,’ and sang ‘See You Again,’ a song from her own album (here on iTunes!). And Jessi added perhaps the most emotional moment when she played ‘I Drive Your Truck,’ her Lee Brice masterpiece written with Connie Harrington and Jimmy Yeary.

Kyle Jacobs started with his first #1 as a producer, Lee Brice’s ‘Hard to Love.’ Watching him perform Garth Brooks’ ‘More than a Memory’ on piano probably qualifies as a spiritual experience. Jacobs also included his Eli Young Band song ‘Dust,’ and the Thompson Square single ‘I Can’t Outrun You.’ He also asked his lovely wife Kellie Pickler to perform a song, which was a surprise to her, and she delivered a flawless version of ‘The Woman I Am.’

Music City Hitmakers is a truly unique project, pairing top Nashville songwriters with orchestras all over the country. For future performances and more information, check out www.musiccityhitmakers.com.

 

Liv Carter

Liv Carter

Liv is a career coach for creatives, and the people who work with them.
She holds several certificates from Berklee College of Music, and a certificate in Positive Psychology from UC Berkeley.
Her main influences are coffee, cats, and Alexander Hamilton.
Liv Carter