When we posted last week that audio samples from the upcoming Uncle Earl CD, Waterloo, Tennessee, were up on the Rounder site, we also mentioned that the new project had been produced by John Paul Jones, former bass player and keyboard man with ’70s mega-group Led Zeppelin.

Rounder has posted an interview with Jones on their site, where he talks about his own discovery of American bluegrass, how he first met Uncle Earl at Merlefest, and how he approached the production for the new CD.

“I met some friends in New York who gave me a Dillards album Backporch Bluegrass and was much taken by the energy and drive of the music. The harmonies, too, reminded me of all the Everly Brothers records I used to sing along to in my teenage years. Latterly I came across Alison Krauss and Union Station on British radio, which re-awakened my interest. I then caught concerts by Del McCoury, Nickel Creek, Tim O’Brien, and Gillian Welch and gradually sought out more and more traditional music. I have now just started on old-time fiddle!”

For some reason, Rounder has broken the brief interview into two parts, and you need to visit both here and here to read the entire thing.

Pre-orders for Waterloo, Tennessee are now available from the band, with shipping upon release on March 13, 2007.