Jake Schepps is a banjo player from Boulder, Colo., whose latest recording venture is an interesting amalgamation of instrumentals and vocals, ranging from John Lennon's "When I'm 64" to the original compositions "Bluff's Collar," Sorrento Waltz," and "Warbonnet." This bit of bluegrass is an exciting musical "Expedition" into the world of contemporary bluegrass music that should perk the attention of anyone who appreciates imaginative banjo picking.

Bluegrass Unlimited

4 out of 5

Inspired by a Strength in Numbers performance at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Jake Schepps began his journey into grassroots music. He began his travels the right way, by studying the basics of bluegrass banjo with the late-great Mark Vann of Leftover Salmon.

While much of the material on his debut album Expedition, is Schepps's own work, the album also covers The Beatles, David Byrne, and jazz samba-master Luis Bonfa.

For this Expedition, Schepps teamed up with Front Range staples Greg Schochet, Ross Martin, Jefferson Hamer and many more, resulting in a first-class album of classical bluegrass. With a folklore tinge, Schepps has surely arrived on the scene.

Monica Banks
Marquee Magazine

"Banjo players get a bad rap. Entire websites are dedicated to banjo jokes. Maybe if more people heard Jake Schepps they'd be less likely to cast aspersions on the lowly banjo. This guy is not only a first-class picker but has the kind of sophisticated musical sensibility usually associated with a jazz player. The musical fare on Expedition has more in common with David Grisman's explorations of acoustic jazz than a conventional bluegrass album. Joined by a crew of like-minded Colorado players, Jake Schepps' music proves that that acoustic jazz's boundaries are as limitless as the Rocky Mountain skies"

"This is a wonderfully musical and creative first album by Jake! I love that rather than being a BANJO album, this is more about the music and musicality of Jake and the fine group of musicians he's surrounded himself with. I was also impressed with Jake's great sense of playing to the tune rather than forcing the song around his banjo playing. While he obviously has the chops to render these tunes senseless, he instead supports the songs with ample quantities of creativity, taste, and precision... qualities most banjo players would give their left thumb for before embarking on such an expedition as recording this album."

"Jake's touch on the banjo, original material and arrangements deliver beautiful motion and texture from beginning to end... an inspiring album"

Abigail Washburn, Nettwerk Recording Artist