"Jake Schepps is helping redefine the banjo as an instrument that can set colorful moods and take listeners to interesting places they've never been. Well-crafted music that's easy on the ears."

Pete "Dr. Banjo" Wernick

The Expedition Quartet is the prime example of what is happening in modern acoustic music in the state of Colorado. The band that performed on the Meltdown stage was compromised of talented, energetic, and down right friendly musicians that were a pleasure to work with. They brought an edge to the 2006 Durango Bluegrass Meltdown that stood out in our lineup – playing original instrumental music that was at the same time technical and melodically beautiful. With Jake’s newest project, “Ten Thousand Leaves” this same warmth, technicality, and beauty are brought to higher grounds and the sounds are ringing through the valleys.

-David Smith
Durango Bluegrass Meltdown

Featured artist with the International Acoustic Music Awards:

The Expedition Quartet features Banjo picker Jake Schepps. Slick productions, arrangements, composition and good chops puts him above a lot of instrumentalist out there. His instrumental "Origami" started out sounding a lot like Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were here" but gradually evolve away from there. His arrangement of "Todo Buenos Aires", composition by Astor Piazzolla shows that he can be in the same league as Bela Fleck, in a modern Bluegrass style. His minimalist composition "Chimayo" shows that he is also a fine composer. This is an artist to watch out for.
RATING: ***** (5 out of 5 Stars)

Jake Schepps is not your typical, or should we say "stereo-typical" banjo player. Admittedly, we were initially intrigued to review his latest CD, Ten Thousand Leaves, not so much because of his banjo competence, but because of his association and the production skills of mandolin virtuoso Matt Flinner. Digging deeper into Schepps project and his banjo playing, the allure of this first-class instrumentalist and gifted writer has been satisfying in itself.

Innovative, genre-fearless horizon pickers are a-plenty it seems, and aren’t we the lucky listeners who can partake of the fruits of their efforts? Five-string banjo picker Jake Schepps comes out of the richly eclectic Colorado acoustic music scene whose diversified influences are in evidence throughout this primarily instrumental recording. Half of the dozen cuts are Schepps originals.