Jake Schepps is renowned for his intelligent touch on the banjo and his imaginative variation on stringband music. He has studied traditional and progressive bluegrass with banjoists Mark Vann of Leftover Salmon and Tony Trischka, as well as composition and jazz from trumpeter Dave Douglas and pianists Bill Douglas and Art Lande.
2005 marked Jake's first recorded effort Expedition. Part of the impetus was to capture the superlative Colorado acoustic music scene. The record contains a combination of original material, with additional tunes by The Beatles, David Byrne, and jazz samba-master Luis Bonfa. After attending the Maryland Banjo Academy several years ago, Jake developed a passion for classic banjo, a ragtime-like style of music written for banjo and was popular over 100 years ago and Expedition includes a song in that style, arranged for banjo, guitar, and bass. Long-time friend and songwriter Benny (Burle) Galloway also offered up two new songs. Check out the Music page for more information.
In 2006, Jake was chosen to attend the Banff Centre's Jazz and Creative Music Workshop directed by trumpeter and composer Dave Douglas. The 3-week program included multiple collaborative opportunities with faculty and fellow students, which ranged from recording to performing to composing. Check out the Listen page for some downloadable tracks.
2007 marked the release of Ten Thousand Leaves. The album features the Expedition Quartet with special guests Matt Flinner and Adam Aijala. It was produced by Matt Flinner, and includes an Astor Piazzolla tango arranged for stringband, and a brand new Flinner tune composed specifically for this project. The centerpiece is a through-composed suite inspired by Richard Avedon’s series of portraits titled, “In the American West.”
Jake is a frequent contributor to Banjo Newsletter, the banjo community's premier print journal, having published several feature articles for the magazine. Additionally, Jake is at work on an advanced instruction manual called The Modern Banjo Toolbox: A Compendium of Advanced Banjo Techniques. It will feature contributions from over 20 of today's top progressive banjo players. See the Publications page for more info.
In addition to his musical path, Jake has spent the past 10 years leading trips for The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), and teaching emergency wilderness medicine for the Wilderness Medicine Institute (WMI) in locations around the world. In outdoor education, there is a constant necessity for improvisation, for boundless energy, and continuous dynamic engagement with the environment and with people. Jake believes the relationship between this style of teaching and being a musician are close-knit, and he draws heavily on this experience while playing music, in performing, composing, and collaborating.
Jake's primary musical project is the Expedition Quartet. rooted in the stringband tradition, the Expedition Quartet explores a wide array of styles and musical sensibilities. The roots music combo has focused on engaging original instrumental and vocal compositions, unique renditions of swing and traditional standards, and creatively arranged world music and Brazilian choro. The group includes Ryan Drickey on violin, Greg Schochet on guitar and mandolin, and Eric Thorin on bass. Jake also plays with the 'chamber-grass' ensemble called the Strings of Tao featuring an eclectic mix of original compositions, jazz, Brazilian choro and traditional fiddle tunes.
Sessions and Recordings:
Solo albums:
Expedition
Ten Thousand Leaves
Sessions:
Pete Kartsounes: Out of Nowhere
Scott Dale: Tiny Diamonds
Steve Altermatt:Velvet Pictures of Elvis
LearnRootsMusic.com Instructional DVD.
Over the years, Jake has performed on stage with Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band , Matt Flinner Trio, Runaway Truck Ramp, Abigail Washburn, Jangeun Bae, Brian Prunka, the Classical Mandolin Society's Orchestra with Don Stiernberg, Tony Furtado, Boulder Acoustic Society and many more.
