Band

the ALBUM

Over the years of touring in the Rocky Mountain West, Jeff & Vida encountered a wellspring of stringband musicians living in Colorado. These chance encounters, jam sessions, and impromptu collaborations became the new Jeff & Vida Band, and the result is Selma Chalk featuring 13 new and original songs played by Jeff & Vida and some of their favorite musicians.

Inspired by the 50’s bluegrass and rockabilly sound the music is both old and new. The members of The Jeff & Vida Band have incredible fluency on their instruments, and their exciting approach to stringband music helped achieve Jeff & Vida's vision for this project. With original timeless ballads, raucous bluegrass barn-burners, and driving acoustic honky-tonk, the material is striking, the arrangements are electrifying, and the result is music that is real, true, and unforgettable.

Jeff Burke & Vida Wakeman:

Vida's powerful vocals and driving 1942 Gibson J-45 guitar with Jeff's rock-n-roll approach to mandolin and guitar gets crowds feet stomping, and "is about as perfect a combination as you're likely to find." Performing original songs spanning from Appalachian bluegrass to alternative country, New Orleans's well-known acoustic roots act Jeff & Vida have recently relocated to Nashville. After three studio recordings and years of rigorous touring nationally and internationally, Jeff & Vida have found a creative musical setting with their newest band. Jeff and Vida's past performances include the Ryman Auditorium, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and the Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival in Ireland, and they were featured in a New York Times article titled Nashville’s Band of Outsiders.

Jake Schepps (banjo):

Jake is a banjo renaissance man and is renowned for his intelligent touch on the banjo and imaginative variation on stringband music. Jake has released two solo recordings, and was featured on the cover of Banjo Newsletter in July 2008. Jake is a founding member of the Expedition Quartet. In addition to music, Jake teaches emergency wilderness medicine around the world. www.jakeschepps.com

Justin Hoffenberg (fiddle):

At 21 years old Justin has accomplished more in his musical career than many people three times his age. At the age of 14, Justin began playing professionally and quickly became one of the premiere fiddlers in the Rocky Mountain West. He has studied under Jason Carter (Del McCoury Band) and performs in Long Road Home (with Pete Wernick of Hot Rize and Gene Libbea of Nashville Bluegrass Band). www.justinhoffenberg.com

Greg Schochet (guitar/bazouki):

Greg is an integral part of Colorado's music community, in demand as a performer, producer, and educator. Equally adept on guitar and mandolin, Greg is fluent in bluegrass, swing, country, folk, and blues. He can be seen performing with the Expedition Quartet, Halden Wofford and the Hi-Beams, and many other ensembles. www.gregschochet.com

Will Downes (bass):

Will has been playing both upright and electric bass for over 15 years and is one of Colorado's premier bassists. He has studied with jazz legend Dale Bruning, and has toured extensively with Great American Taxi, Single Malt Band, and TAARKA.