Jeff picker plays the bass.

As a youth, he gained national recognition as one of the most promising young jazz musicians of his generation. At age 18, he was named “Presidential Scholar for the Arts in Jazz” by the US Dept. of Education, and was awarded an artist grant by the National YoungArts Foundation, among other honors. He was also awarded a full tuition scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music, where he completed one year of coursework before matriculating at Columbia University. 

For the past decade, Jeff has been touring and recording with many of the biggest names in bluegrass and folk music, including a 5-year run with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder. He performs and records frequently with Sarah Jarosz, East Nash Grass, and others. In 2023, he began touring with legendary progressive bluegrass band Nickel Creek. 

Jeff’s solo material, including his debut record, “With the Bass in Mind,” and his sophomore release, “Liquid Architecture,” reimagines the contemporary string band, drawing on the harmonic, metric, and improvisational intrigue of his jazz background, while never straying too far from the front porch. 

When he’s not on the road, Jeff is Nashville based, where he works frequently on the Grand Ole Opry and as a session player. 

Gear

Upright Basses

  • Unmarked, late-1800s, fully carved, 3/4 size bass, Czech origin

  • New Standard fully carved Ruggieri copy bass

  • New Standard Cleveland Model Plywood Bass w/ removable neck

  • Early 1960s King Moretone Plywood bass

Bow

  • J.G. Bottoni pernambuco German bow

Pickup/Mic

  • Fishman Full Circle

  • Fishman BP-100

  • Audio Technica ATM-350

  • Underwood Bass Pickup

Strings

  • Thomastik Spirocore (Medium gauge)

  • Thomastik Spirocore (Light gauge)

Preamp/Pedals

  • Grace Design - Felix

  • Radial AC Driver

  • Rupert Neve DI

  • Strymon Flint Reverb

IEMs

  • JH Audio Roxanne Custom IEM

  • Ultimate Ears UE 18+

bass guitars

  • Fender Jazz Bass (MIJ)

  • Fender Fretless Jazz Bass (USA)

  • Fender P-Bass (MIJ)

  • 1950s Kay K-5915 (USA)

Guitars

  • 1958 Martin D-18

  • 1950s Kay plywood parlor

  • Gibson ES-125

  • Fender Telecaster