A graduate of CornishCollege of the Arts in Seattle, Jakob Breitbach has been teaching and performing music in the greater Puget Sound region on Western Washington for the last nine years.A native of Eastern Iowa, Jakob's background ranges from symphony halls to street corners.
Born and raised in Dubuque County, Iowa, Jakob is the oldest of five fiddler/multi-instrumentalists who join their parents in The One Hat Band. He grew up busking on the streets of his hometown, with his sights set on the accomplished violin player he knew he would become. When he was eight years old, Jakob played one fiddle tune onstage with Bill Monroe, the grandfather of Bluegrass music. He has also shared the stage in an orchestra with Yo-Yo Ma.
The most recent addition to his list of accomplishments is The Blackberry Bushes Stringband, an up and coming Old-time and Americana group of songwriters who tour regionally in the Pacific Northwest.Dubbed “The Sirens of Indie-grass”, Jakob’s fiddling drives the Bushes’ energetic, youthful sound.
Jakob plays bluegrass fiddle with Cabin Kind, Jes Raymond and Her Famous Band, and the Bitterroots.He performs swing and Gypsy Jazz around Seattle with the Greg Ruby Trio, the Djangomatics, and the Hot Club of NowHere.
As a member of Austin’s famed Asylum Street Spankers, Jakob (aka Famous Jake) toured the United States during 2008.While in Texas, he helped formed the Band House House Band, and irreverent blues and jugband he led with fellow Spankers Charlie King and Nevada Newman.
An avid child music educator, Jakob currently resides as the Music and Arts Specialist at SeaburySchool in Brown’s Point, WA.There he teaches K-6th grade music classes utilizing Kodaly, Dalcroze, Orff, and Suzuki Methods along with traditional North American and African folk music.
Famous Jake
