Get to Know Kevin Gastonguay
Kevin Gastonguay is a keyboardist, composer, producer, and internationally touring musician based in Nashville, Tennessee. He is best known as the keyboardist for acclaimed guitarist and bandleader Cory Wong.
Over the past two decades, Kevin has performed around the world across six continents and more than 30 countries. His appearances include renowned venues such as Red Rocks Amphitheatre, The Gorge Amphitheatre, and Hollywood Bowl, as well as major festivals including Montreux Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, and Telluride Jazz Festival.
Kevin brings an all-star band to play his original music in the Jazz Cave on Saturday, July 18th, at 7:30 PM. Learn more about Kevin here, then reserve your seats for the concert!
Q: What’s your relationship to Nashville? How long have you lived here?
A: I moved here with my wife just about 3 years ago from Minneapolis. We also just bought the house we’ve been renting so we are obviously sticking around!
Q: Is there anything unique about Nashville’s music scene that you particularly love?
I’ve really enjoyed the community here. So many circles of great musicians and always something cool and musical going on. I’ve also developed some great friendships with musicians off the stage too. I’ve found it to be a very friendly and inviting scene.
Q: As a sideman, who are some folks you’ve played with?
Some heroes of mine who I’ve been either on stage or in the studio with are Victor Wooten, Kenny Garrett, Joshua Redman, Chris Thile, John Batiste, Dave Koz, Nate Smith, Bernard Purdie…
Q: What are some of your favorite records? What do you love about them?
Largo - Brad Mehldau - One of my all time favorites. It has such a range of emotions from track to track.
My Spanish Heart - Chick Corea - This influenced me greatly in my teens when I first starting to get into electric keyboards and synthesizers.
Black Market - Weather Report- Same as above.
Q: What’s your relationship to songwriting/composition? Have you always done it, or is it recent? Is it easy or challenging?
I’ve always been writing since I first started playing piano as a child. Improvising has always been what attracted me to music. It’s always been about having fun. I find writing music to be easy, it’s the arranging and details that get hard. How do I want to present this song?
Q: What’s something that most people don’t know about you?
I won a state marimba competition in highschool and considered pursuing percussion instead of piano.
Q: What are you working on musically right now? What skills are you trying to grow?
Mainly production and recording. I’ve been getting into composing for commercials and sync the past few years and have been slowly getting better at creating full production songs and mixing.
Q: If you were sandwich, what kind would you be?
If I were a sandwich I’d be ice cream.
If you’ve read this far, you deserve a treat: use code KEVIN10 at checkout for $10 off your ticket to see Kevin Gastonguay live at the Nashville Jazz Workshop!
