Jonathan Susman rehearses with the band Glowing Bordis. Susman is again active in the local arts and entertainment scene after returning from Nashville.Jonathan Susman is nothing if not a champion of Chattanooga’s musicians. A real local Lancelot.
About a decade ago, he left the Scenic City to move to Nashville with his band mates in the Hopsing Project. During his seven years in the Music City, he also wrote for the Nashville Scene alt-weekly and toured briefly with Samantha Gibb, the daughter of Bee Gees member Maurice Gibb.
Flush with excitement over the prospects of the then-recently-announced music venue Track 29, however, he returned to Chattanooga in September 2010, joining the ranks of Chattanooga Presents, the organizers of such events as Nightfall and the 3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival.
Since then, he’s had his fingers in many, many musical pies. As Chattanooga Presents’ media coordinator, he masterminded the Road to Nightfall. He also co-founded the Chattanooga Music Council, a brain trust that sought ways to help local artists and promote the city’s music scene to the outside world.
Jonathan Susman accepts the first place award for his startup, Adagio, at Co.Lab’s 48Hour Public Demo Night on Sunday. Susman’s startup pushes to give teachers and students an innovative way to teach and learn music.As he kept those various plates spinning, however, he says he’s found his attention increasingly focused over the last several months on advising local musicians, who frequently approach him seeking help with where to record or rehearse and how to expand their reach to regional cities.