Banjo player Kyle Tuttle joined Kooter Jones for KGNU’s Morning Sound Alternative for a live in-studio session with bassist Jeff Saunders. They performed original songs including “Not Quite Spring,” “I Wonder,” and “Saddle Up,” as well as a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.”
Tuttle talked about his musical background, starting on guitar as a child and later becoming a banjo player influenced by Béla Fleck, Earl Scruggs, and the jam band scene. Saunders discussed growing up in a musical family and his interest in collaboration. (Air Date 1/8/2026)
Listen to the studio session here:
Transcript:
Kooter Jones: I think we’re all done with the sound check and ready to introduce Kyle Tuttle and his band. I’ll let you introduce yourselves before we get started. Thanks so much for being here—everyone’s really excited to have you.
Kyle Tuttle: Happy to be here. Thanks for having us. I’m Kyle Tuttle and I play the banjo.
Jeff Saunders: I’m Jeff Saunders and I play the bass.
Kooter Jones: How are you all doing today?
Kyle Tuttle: Doing well. We just came in from Nashville last night and we’re happy to be out here on the Front Range.
Kooter Jones: Great. Let’s hear some music and we’ll catch up after a tune or two.
Kyle Tuttle: Sounds good. This is a tune I wrote about getting yourself painted into a Bob Ross painting. It’s called “Not Quite Spring.”
(Song performance)
Kooter Jones: That sounded great. You’re in town for some shows—tonight at the Chautauqua Community House?
Kyle Tuttle: That’s right. That show is sold out, but we’re also playing the next two nights at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver with Yonder Mountain String Band.
Kooter Jones: Have you played there before?
Kyle Tuttle: Yes, I’ve played there many times over the years.
Kooter Jones: Any new music in the works?
Kyle Tuttle: I’m between recording projects right now, but we do have an album in the works that I’m hoping to release sometime this year.
Kooter Jones: Let’s hear another song.
Kyle Tuttle: This one is called “I Wonder.”
(Song performance)
Kooter Jones: How long have you both been playing?
Kyle Tuttle: I started on guitar at about five years old, then switched to banjo at 17. I’ve been playing banjo for over 20 years.
Jeff Saunders: I started on cello as a kid and later picked up bass in middle school. My parents were music teachers, so I grew up around music. I moved to Nashville about 10 years ago and met Kyle there, and we’ve been playing together since.
Kooter Jones: Do you remember what you dressed up as when you met at that Halloween party?
Kyle Tuttle: I don’t remember that year, but I’ve gone as Kermit the Frog and Ned Flanders before. One time the cops showed up and I had to greet them dressed as Ned Flanders.
Kooter Jones: If you’re ready, let’s hear another tune.
Kyle Tuttle: We’ll play something a little more familiar—this is a Bob Dylan song.
(“Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” performance)
Kooter Jones: That’s one of my favorite Dylan songs. Who were some of your biggest musical influences?
Kyle Tuttle: Béla Fleck and Earl Scruggs were huge influences. I also came from a punk rock background before getting into acoustic music and the jam band scene—bands like the Grateful Dead and the David Grisman Quintet. That mix of jam and acoustic music really shaped what I do.
Jeff Saunders: I grew up around music and found my way into it naturally. I’ve always loved collaborating and playing across different styles. That’s what keeps me inspired.
Kooter Jones: You both sound great together. We have tickets to give away for tomorrow’s show, so let’s hear one more song while listeners call in.
Kyle Tuttle: Sounds good. Thanks again for having us. This one is called “Saddle Up.”
(Song performance)
Kooter Jones: Thank you. We had a winner call in for the tickets right away. Thanks again for coming in today. Any final thoughts?
Kyle Tuttle: Thanks for having us. You can find more at kyletuttle.com, and check out my latest record, Labor of Lust.
Kooter Jones: For anyone just tuning in, Kyle Tuttle is playing tonight at Chautauqua Community House and the next two nights at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom with Yonder Mountain String Band. Thanks again for joining us.
Kyle Tuttle: Thanks so much.
