JAKE SCHEPPS: Expedition

Jake Schepps

Expedition

© 2005 Jake Schepps (634479201561)

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"Expedition" features an exploration into the stringband, traveling the spectrum of bluegrass to newgrass, ragtime to jazz, and old-time to classical counterpoint. The album features something for everyone, especially if you dig the banjo.

notes

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. An outstanding corps of musicians helped shape this recording, which is nothing less than excellent music, in both form and function. Thoughtfully constructed arrangements provide depth and breadth, leaving no stone unturned, no player out in the cold. “Sorrento Waltz,” composed by Schepps, could become a wedding reception must-have-this-first-dance tune. He follows that cut with his fiery, quirkily named “Moo Old Cow,” and everyone simply lets loose with high-octane, clean-as-a-whistle picking. Acclaimed songwriter Benny Galloway lends his voice on his two compositions, “Master of the Ages” and “Beyond the Blues,” both excellent choices to add even more punch to the already pumped project. Galloway, who is perhaps best known for his collaboration with the Yonder Mountain String Band, has a gravelly, rough-hewed quality that gives an invitingly edgy sound to the CD. Multi-instrumentalist Greg Schochet learned his chops amid folk, bluegrass, honky-tonk and Western swing sounds. Here his mandolin picking stands out, particularly on “The Narrows,” another track written by Schepps. Expanding the already broad musical horizons of this album is the complex, orchestral-like “Samba de Orpheus,” by Brazilian composer Luís Bonfa. Reaching into the way-back archives, Schepps revives turn-of-the-twentieth century banjo composer Emile Grimshaw’s “A Footlight Favorite,” with its Sousa-style marching strut. This cut is the icing on this multi-layered cake repertoire. David Byrne’s brilliant piece “Civilization,” is a final fabulous choice, put over in a Broadway-esque voice by Jefferson Hamer, previously of the Wayfarers.

A remarkable freshman release. Highly recommended. — Sing Out Magazine


BIO:
Jake Schepps is known 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 and Tony Trischka, as well as composition, counterpoint, and jazz from trumpeter Dave Douglas and pianists Bill Douglas and Art Lande. Jake is a frequent contributor to Banjo Newsletter, the banjo community’s premier print journal. In addition to music, Jake teaches emergency wilderness medicine around the world.

Jakes primary musical project is The Expedition Quartet which plays engaging and dynamic material that reflects the Colorado aesthetic of roots music. Since their premier at the Durango Meltdown Festival, the combo has remained at heart a stringband, while drawing on certain jazz sensibilities, such as extensive musical interplay and more adventurous harmonies. Their engaging live set includes a mixture of original instrumentals and vocals, unique versions of swing and traditional standards, and a select combination of creatively arranged world music.


This record features:
Jake Schepps on banjo
Greg Schochet on mandolin and guitar (hibeams.com)
Ivan Rosenberg on Dobro (ivanrosenberg.com)
Eric Thorin on bass (ericthorin.com)
Ross Martin on guitar (rossmartinguitar.com)
Gabe Witcher (gabewitcher.com) and
Kailin Yong (boulderacousticsociety.net) on fiddles
Benny Galloway (Burle) singing two original songs (waywordsons.com)
Jeff Hamer (jeffersonhamer.com) singing a David Byrne song
James Hoskins on cello (cellohoskins.com)


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.
Steven Stone, Vintage Guitar Magazine

It is always refreshing, and pretty rare, to hear great new music written for the 5-string banjo. On "Expedition," Jake Schepps gives us some great new tunes, and establishes himself as a creative, original new voice in the Colorado music scene and the banjo world in general.
Matt Flinner, Compass Recording Artist

"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

"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."
Tony Furtado, Funzalo and Rounder Recording Artist

reviews

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  • author: Steven Stone Vintage Guitar Magazine

    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.

  • A very exhilarating ride
    author: Joe Ross

    Playing Time - 43:39 -- Ever since Earl Scruggs emerged on the scene, others’ able hands have taken the banjo on incredible musical journeys into new territory. To that effect, Jake Schepps is also a pioneer with his banjo tunes. Guys like him reinforce the great potential of the five-string, and they make it look too easy. “Expedition,” the title of his independent self-released album indicates that he knows where he’s headed with his music, but I believe that his purpose is also one of exploration. From Colorado, Schepps and his muscial friends demonstrate an affinity for new acoustic, swing, ragtime, jazz, Latin and bluegrass. Jake assembled some high powered string wizards from various musical walks of life to assist: Greg Schochet (mandolin, guitar), Ivan Rosenberg (dobro), Eric Thorin (bass), Ross Martin (guitar), Gabe Witcher (fiddle), Kailin Yong (fiddle), Benny Galloway (guitar, vocals), Jeff Hamer (guitar, vocals), and James Hoskins (cello). These artists have made significant marks on bluegrass, country, swing, honky tonk, salsa, Flamenco/Indian, classical, jazz and new acoustic scenes. Schochet, for example, has performed with Runaway Truck Ramp, All Night Honky Tonk All-Stars and Greenwich Gulch. Rosenberg has played with Steel String Theory, Hit & Run Bluegrass, Chris Stuart & Backcountry, Iron Lasso, and The Creek Jumpers. Thorin toured with the Tony Furtado Band for four years and currently plays with Open Road. For the past six years, Denver-based Ross Martin has worked with The Theory of Everything, Mollie O'Brien, Ron Miles, Tony Furtado Band, The Motet, Nina Storey, Matt Flinner Quartet, Three Twins, Greenwich Gulch and others. Jeff Hamer is with The Single Malt Band and Great American Taxi. This array of experience gives some idea of the talent that’s on-board Schepps’ Expedition that was originally inspired by a Strength in Numbers performance at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Schepps’ current project is the Strings of Tao, an ensemble with two violins, cello and banjo, playing original music, Brazilian choro tunes, fiddle tunes, and beyond. Prior to that, Jake spent 9 years leading trips for The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), and teaching emergency wilderness medicine courses around the world. During this intervening outdoor work, Jake has been a guest on stage with Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band, Runaway Truck Ramp, Hit and Run, Shanti Groove, Greenwich Gulch, Element 37, and Broke Mountain Bluegrass Band. Jake is a frequent contributor to Banjo Newsletter, and is currently working on an advanced instruction manual for the 5-string banjo. “Expedition” features six instrumental originals, and six other tracks unique to the string-band setting, including two previously unrecorded Benny Galloway songs. The instrumental work really shines, with “Lullaby Luck,” “When I'm 64,” and “Samba de Orfeus” being standouts. “Warbonnet” has a recurring theme that illuminates the tasty original composition. The three vocal numbers are the weakest cuts, mostly because they seem a bit out of place overall and Galloway’s singing is an acquired taste. While this is a banjo-centric album, it’s also full of many stellar guitar, mandolin, cello, resophonic guitar, and bass moments that sit nicely throughout the arrangements. The exploration covers a gamut of tonal discovery and textural artistic expression. With his Nechville banjo in hand, Jake Schepps takes us on a very exhilarating ride. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

  • author: Dominick Leslie

    This album rocks! As soon as I heard that Jake was making a CD, I knew it would be great and I couldn't wait to hear it. Sure enough, "Epedition" has become one of my favorite CDs to pop in the player. Jake's originals and interpretations represent a fresh, new style and at the same time sound familiar. Jake's playing on the album is superb and the amazing musicians that he chose to back him up flavor the album just right, making it one of the top CD's on the bluegrass scene.

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