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Contreras enjoys the looseness and fluidity of non-classical genres: “Jazz playing is a lot freer; you don’t have to stick to the song’s melody as much. When you’re doing classical, they want you to do it right by the book. Bluegrass and country, you can also play a lot more fluid runs, more smooth
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At the age of ten Billy joined Buddy
Spicher's Nashville Swing Band, with Contreras and Spicher becoming regulars at Wolfy's in Downtown Nashville. After playing with Spicher for six years, the pair perfected a harmonically dense twin fiddling style characterized by double-stops and triple-stops
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after having seen him perform "The Devil Went Down to
Georgia" on Country Music Television (the two would play together in 2017). He then studied for a year and a half with Nashville fiddler
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421:(2009), both of which showcase Contreras' technical virtuosity, twin fiddle showmanship, jazz improvisation, modern jazz string effects like "The Chop," and arranging skills.
208:. He also played the festival in 2000 and 2001. In the late 1990s Contreras also worked extensively with The Texas Playboys, performed with country star
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with his family at the age of five. When he was six years old, Contreras attended a local fiddle contest and was encouraged to study violin using the
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Jazz Ahead international residency program in 1999, 2000 and 2001, which helps in "discovering and presenting the next generation of jazz greats."
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Billy
Contreras: Inspired Insights from Country Fiddler Turned Modern Jazz Master, Creative Strings Podcast with Christian Howes, Episode 1, 2014
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Billy
Contreras: Inspired Insights from Country Fiddler Turned Modern Jazz Master, Creative Strings Podcast with Christian Howes, Episode 1, 2014
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Billy
Contreras: Inspired Insights from Country Fiddler Turned Modern Jazz Master, Creative Strings Podcast with Christian Howes, Episode 1, 2014
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Contreras then moved back to
Nashville, where he made a reputation as a freelance violinist and session player, appearing with such names as
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In 2005 and 2017 Contreras won third place in the
Nashville Grand Master Fiddler Championship; he placed fourth in the competition in 2018.
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nominated "Three
Romances" with the University of Miami's Concert Jazz Band, an extended work commissioned by the ensemble.
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observes: “He’s a natural musician, playing with ease the ideas he collects as he encounters new musical influences.”
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in Idaho in 1998 and 1999, the latter date including a performance with an all-star lineup including
Hampton, pianist
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on a full scholarship. During his time at Miami
Contreras recorded as a featured soloist on two electro-acoustic
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Born in St. Joseph, Michigan to parents of mixed American and Mexican ancestry, Billy Jarrett Contreras moved to
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Contreras' harmonic approach to the instrument has influenced several contemporary jazz violinists, including
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390:. The band, based in Knoxville, Tennessee, won the regional "Best Bluegrass Group" four years in a row.
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742:"Celebrities Next Door: Interview with Billy Contreras-Fiddle Player Extreme, Mode Nook, February 15, 2012
720:"Celebrities Next Door: Interview with Billy Contreras-Fiddle Player Extreme, Mode Nook, February 15, 2012
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906:"Tough, Contreras Nominated for Dove Award," Belmont University, by Paul Chenoweth, October 1, 2013
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After completing his sophomore year of high school in 2001, Contreras was accepted early into the
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When he was eight years old, Contreras began studying with legendary Nashville session violinist
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Nashville Grand Master Fiddler Championship, Belmont University and Mark O'Connor Fiddle Camps;
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Creative Strings Podcast #1 with Christian Howes, "Billy Contreras," September 13, 2014
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Covenant Award for Instrumental Song of the Year, Belmont University, February 3, 2017
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Fiddle Camp in Nashville, where he was a regular teacher at the camps until 2014.
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melodies, while in jazz you have more variations in styles, breaks, and tempo.”
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School of Music in Nashville, where he teaches jazz violin. He won a Canadian
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in Chicago, where he flew up for lessons from Tennessee every other weekend.
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Live From Here with Chris Thile, April 21, 2018, Retrieved February 16, 2019.
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917:"The Formation of Mark O'Connor Fiddle Camps," markoconnorblog.blogspot.com
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From 1998-2000 Contreras studied with noted American classical violinist
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Columbia Records, Robinella and the CC String Band, The Black Lillies
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with his brother, mandolinist Cruz Contreras and his sister-in-law
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and familiarized the precocious young fiddler with jazz standards.
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jazz, bluegrass, country, blues, Western swing, rock, jam, nu jazz
950:"Major Minor: Young Local Violinist Racks Up Impressive Resume,"
775:"Major Minor: Young Local Violinist Racks Up Impressive Resume,"
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played on each instrument, creating four to six-voice chords.
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National Old-time Fiddlers' Contest, Weiser, Idaho, Past Winners
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with Robinella and the CC String Band (2001, Big Gulley Records)
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374:. Contreras subsequently toured with the band and performed on
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On April 21, 2018, Contreras was featured as a guest artist on
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Contreras is known primarily for playing in the styles of
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Billy Contreras is currently an Adjunct Faculty Member at
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Grand Master Fiddler Championship, Past Winners, online
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In the liner notes of Contreras' first LP as a leader,
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Billy was inspired early in his childhood by fiddler
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409:Billy has collaborated with fellow jazz violinist
177:First Fiddling Awards, Jazz Festivals, First Album
659:and the CC String Band (2002, Big Gulley Records)
447:At the age of 16 Contreras began teaching at the
393:As a recording member of his brother Cruz's band
790:Belmont University School of Music, Faculty Page
525:By Request: Buddy Spicher & Billy Contreras
8:
565:with Hank Williams III (2010, Curb Records)
557:with Honky Tonk Hustlas (2011, Independent)
287:He also performed the premiere of composer
181:When he was 12 years old Contreras won the
192:Contreras was a featured performer at the
168:Buddy Spicher and the Nashville Swing Band
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323:. Contreras has also performed with the
260:University of Miami Frost School of Music
928:D'Addario Orchestral Artist Page, online
840:D'Addario Orchestral Artist Page, online
549:with Hank Williams III (2011, Megaforce)
541:with Hank Williams III (2013, Megaforce)
533:with Hank Williams III (2013, Megaforce)
299:Freelancing and Nashville Session Player
104:(born December 17, 1984) is an American
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405:Jazz Violin Albums with Christian Howes
695:(1997, sophomore release as a leader)
67:Violin, mandolin, guitar, piano, bass
7:
458:Orchestral Independent Artist.
163:1994-2001: Early Career in Nashville
801:Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead, website
514:You Don't Know Me: Classic Country
275:albums produced by fellow student
183:National Oldtime Fiddlers' Contest
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362:In 2003 Billy recorded the album
223:jazz violinist and fiddle master
1021:People from St. Joseph, Michigan
829:, Personnel, scottroutenberg.com
815:, Personnel, scottroutenberg.com
629:Robinella and the CC String Band
440:in 2017 and was nominated for a
364:Robinella and the CC String Band
116:, session player and educator.
1026:People from Franklin, Tennessee
1016:American multi-instrumentalists
413:on two all-string band albums,
1:
380:Late Night with Conan O'Brien
231:Study with Rachel Barton Pine
546:Ghost to a Ghost/Gutter Town
521:(2019, The Orchard-Southpaw)
194:Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
1006:American bluegrass fiddlers
527:(2014, Fiddlehouse Records)
247:Billy was selected for the
59:Musician, composer, teacher
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635:and Cruz Contreras (2003,
243:Better Carter's Jazz Ahead
1011:American jazz violinists
595:(2006, DualTone Records)
189:for his age division.
384:Bonnaroo Music Festival
150:, who taught him about
619:Jazz Fiddle Revolution
615:(2005, Island Records)
415:Jazz Fiddle Revolution
589:Solace for the Lonely
579:Jazz Fiddle Evolution
509:(2021, Renew Records)
419:Jazz Fiddle Evolution
397:, Billy performed on
269:Frost School of Music
255:2001-2019: Mid Career
114:multi-instrumentalist
701:(debut LP as leader)
497:Selected discography
42:St. Joseph, Michigan
653:Blanket for My Soul
649:(2003, Independent)
605:(2006, Independent)
575:(2009, Independent)
538:Brothers of the 4X4
462:Style and influence
327:and has played the
266:University of Miami
126:Franklin, Tennessee
972:Belmont University
663:No Saint, No Prize
609:Burning in the Sun
554:South of Nashville
503:My Bluegrass Heart
434:Belmont University
337:The Kennedy Center
325:Nashville Symphony
237:Rachel Barton Pine
573:The Black Lillies
531:A Fiendish Threat
395:The Black Lillies
329:Bridgestone Arena
317:Hank Williams III
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36:December 17, 1984
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603:Scott Routenberg
368:Columbia Records
333:Ryman Auditorium
277:Scott Routenberg
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86:Columbia Records
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411:Christian Howes
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38:(age 39)
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813:Lots of Pulp
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699:Wild Fiddler
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643:Lots of Pulp
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562:Rebel Within
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444:in 2013.
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305:George Jones
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293:Grammy Award
284:
281:Lots of Pulp
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263:
249:Betty Carter
246:
234:
220:
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206:Roy Hargrove
200:, guitarist
191:
180:
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145:
134:
123:
101:
100:
77:1997–present
73:Years active
996:1984 births
417:(2004) and
348:Chris Thile
990:Categories
706:References
683:Real Thing
613:Blue Merle
507:Béla Fleck
202:Herb Ellis
198:Hank Jones
120:Early life
32:1984-12-17
669:Ying-Yang
657:Robinella
633:Robinella
593:Robinella
472:bluegrass
456:D'Addario
372:Robinella
112:fiddler,
110:bluegrass
981:AllMusic
386:and the
141:Jim Wood
92:, COJAZZ
675:(1999,
480:country
273:nu jazz
689:(1997)
382:, the
331:, the
82:Labels
48:Genres
685:with
671:with
655:with
645:with
631:with
621:with
611:with
601:with
591:with
581:with
571:with
517:with
505:with
346:with
478:and
468:jazz
335:and
319:and
283:and
106:jazz
26:Born
979:at
970:at
482:.
378:'s
376:NBC
366:on
354:.
350:in
291:'s
185:in
132:.
992::
474:,
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401:.
339:.
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679:)
639:)
279:—
30:(
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