A versatile bass and guitar player, Jim Pipher has been performing in Nebraska and throughout the Midwest for more than 40 years, in bands covering musical styles from the jazz standards of the 1930s to 1970s country rock, Motown soul to traditional gospel and bluegrass.

September 2009 welcomes the arrival of “The Last Tall Tree,” the highly anticipated follow-up to Pipher’s debut solo album, “Tormented Genius.”  Featuring 16 original tracks and guest instrumentals and vocals by some of the region’s most celebrated musicians, “The Last Tall Tree” takes listeners to places of stark beauty, and creates a musical portrait of Great Plains life that is unparalleled in contemporary recordings. The storytelling, character development and emotional resonance in Pipher’s songs are reminiscent of John Prine, Loudon Wainwright and Greg Brown, yet his voice is completely unique.

Pipher is perhaps most in his element on stage, and can be seen performing regularly with The Fab-Tones (rock, soul, rhythm-and-blues,) The Lightning Bugs (a Mills Brothers-inspired jazz trio,) The Melody Wranglers (old-school country that would make Bob Wills proud,) and The Toasted Ponies (foot stompin’ bluegrass.) A complete schedule of upcoming concerts is available here.