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 [+]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 composi
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