Jeff Decker received his bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas; Denton, Texas in 1987. He received a master's degree in United States History from the University of Virginia in 1991; his thesis was a study of race relations in the Jazz Community, 1933-1948. During his undergraduate studies, Mr. Decker was awarded a performance scholarship for classical saxophone from UNT, where he played for the wind ensemble and saxophone quartet. He has performed at UVA with the Charlottesville University Symphony Orchestra. Over the past decade, Mr. Decker has played and recorded with the University's own faculty jazz group, the Free Bridge Quintet, as well as Inner Rhythm, John D'earth, Blue Indigo, Greg Howard, etc. He has also performed and/or recorded with jazz artists Michael Brecker, Charlie Haden, Pat Metheny, and others.