Todd Parks is an acoustic and electric bassist, currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee. He earned undergraduate and Master’s degrees in String Performance and Jazz Studies from the University of Tennessee (Knoxville) and studied with bassist Rusty Holloway, pianist Donald Brown, and drummer Keith Brown. In Knoxville, Todd performed with acts such as Gran Torino, Robinella, JT and Saltines, and the Superfly Soundtrip. He also taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Tennessee as well as at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. Todd moved to Nashville upon completion of his Master’s degree in 2003.
Since relocating to Nashville, Todd has become an in-demand sideman performing with artists covering the musical map including Jack Pearson, pianist Jody Nardone, James Matchack, the Nashville Jazz Orchestra, Justin Thompson, Bee Gee Adair, Steve Kovalcheck, and Shane Roberts, naming a few. Todd Parks's main gig is with dobro master Jerry Douglas. Playing with the Jerry Douglas Band has afforded Todd opportunities to perform with acoustic music luminaries such as Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, Russ Barenberg, Stuart Duncan, and Casey Driessen. Some highlight performances with Douglas include Bonnaroo, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Merlefest, Vancouver Island Folk Festival, A Prairie Home Companion, and a summer and fall tour supporting legendary singer/songwriter Paul Simon.
In the spring of 2007, Todd traveled to Scotland serving as house bassist and assistant to musical director Jerry Douglas for Pelicula Films' third installment of the acclaimed Transatlantic Sessions. The series, which aired on BBC Scotland and RTE Television (Ireland), has yet to come to television in the States. (Call your local PBS station with requests!) Featured artists on the program include Aly Bain, Phil Cunningham, Tim O’Brien, Darrell Scott, Bruce Molsky, Paul Brady, Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson, Donald Shaw, Mike McGoldrick, Julie Fowlis, Jenna Reid, Sharon Shannon, and Cara Dillon.
2008 saw the release of Jerry Douglas’s Glide which contains the Grammy nominated “Two Small Cars in Rome.” Todd also supported Douglas at his Artist-In-Residency at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum backing up artists such as Alison Krauss, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Maura O’Connell, John Cowan, Lloyd Green, and Travis Tritt. The Jerry Douglas Band also played New York’s famed Blue Note in October of 2008.
2009 has brought more touring and shall bring the anticipated release of the most recent Pelicula Films project. BBC Scotland and RTE will air the recently filmed Transatlantic Sessions 4 in the fall. Artists include James Taylor, Rosanne Cash, Dan Tyminski, Karan Casey, and many of the regulars that participated in Transatlantic Sessions 3.
Todd Parks endorses SWR Amplification www.swrsound.com/products/search.php, Fishman Electronics www.fishman.com/products/, Montgomery Guitars www.montgomery-guitars.com and Rick Reeve Bows. His favorite color is green.
Visit Todd on MySpace www.myspace.com/mtparksmusic
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