Jason Eskridge
Not many people would abandon a lucrative job with NASA for the uncertain, unpredictable world of popular music. But that’s precisely what vocalist, songwriter and bandleader Jason Eskridge did in the late 1990s. After graduating from Tennessee Tech with an engineering degree, the Tennessee native decided he’d rather write and perform music than continue in a staff position as a mechanical engineer with the space agency in Huntsville, Ala.
Since relocating to Nashville in 1999, Eskridge has become an in-demand background vocalist and highly regarded singer-songwriter; a sample of his extensive CV includes work with Lyle Lovett, Gladys Knight, Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’, Jonny Lang and Robert Glasper. But he’s done far more than solidify his own career. He is a prime advocate and champion for soul and R&B musicians both in Nashville and across the South through Sunday Night Soul, the combination showcase and dance party he created and has hosted at East Nashville’s The 5 Spot since 2014. The event has drawn fans and guest performers from all over the U.S. and elsewhere. Now occurring on the fourth Sunday of each month, Sunday Night Soul celebrates its 10th anniversary on April 28.
“I think the biggest feeling I have is pride,” Eskridge tells the Scene. “I’m proud of the community that we’ve built. I’m proud that we’ve become a staple in the Nashville music scene. I’m proud that we’ve provided a consistent space for soul artists and soul music fans to find one another.”
While The 5 Spot already had a Monday night dance party, Eskridge wanted to establish something that was different and more reflective of contemporary trends and sounds across the world of Black music.
“I was at The 5 Spot for Motown Monday and thought to myself, ‘How cool would it be if folks were having this much fun dancing and enjoying live music?’” Eskridge recalls. “The main thing that attracted me to The 5 Spot was the fact that they consistently have a diverse roster of artists on their show calendar. I’ve literally seen every type of show you can imagine there.”
As the series has evolved, Eskridge has carefully monitored its growth and development. Few changes have occurred, save for the frequency of the shows.
“When we started in 2014, we were there every Sunday,” says Eskridge. “I quickly realized that this was more work than I had the time or energy for. We later moved to second and and fourth Sundays. We kept that schedule up [via live streams] through the pandemic. At the beginning of 2023, we decided to move to once a month.”
Eskridge is excited about developments related to his own music-making that have been in the works for a long time — over the past year, he’s put extensive time into setting up his recording and rehearsal space Rustic Soul Studios. But Sunday Night Soul remains close to his heart. Highlights he recalls among his many, many guests include multihyphenate talents like Mike Hicks, Joey Richey, Kyshona Armstrong, Clinton Babers and Kenny DeWitt, as well as “every one of the ladies who has participated in our yearly Ladies’ Night shows.” And he has a list of artists who haven’t appeared yet who he’d love to spotlight, including multitalented songsmith Wyn Starks, whose 2023 EP At the End of the River features collaborations with the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Whoever joins in for the next installment, Eskridge feels the series has had a notable positive impact for the development of Black music in Music City and around the region.
“If nothing else, we’ve put a few dollars in some artists’ pockets as well as connected them with new fans and supporters.”
