Jeffery Utter, is a versatile bassist and educator. Jeffery holds the degree of Doctorate of Musical Arts on Double Bass from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies from Western Michigan University and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia.
As a performer, Jeffery is active in the Topeka and Kansas City areas where he plays with various groups. Jeffery has had the fortune to perform with many great musicians including Darcy Hepner, Kurt Elling, Bob Mintzer, Jackie Allen, Clay Jenkins, Donny McCaslin and Lionel Loueke. Additionally, Jeffery has performed with the Lincoln Symphony, the Kalamazoo Symphony, and the West Michigan Symphony. Jeffery has also performed as a member of the internationally renowned Gold Company ensemble, Western Michigan University's Advanced Jazz Nonet and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Graduate Jazz Combo.
As an educator, Jeffery has taught Double Bass at Washburn University, Kansas State Universities, Doane College and Nebraska Wesleyan. He also served as a graduate teaching assistant at Western Michigan University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Jeffery draws from his mentors Hans Sturm and Tom Knific to be an effective and well-rounded teacher.