Buffi Jacobs is a cellist, composer, arranger and music contractor currently residing in Dallas, Texas.

Her current performance projects include The Polyphonic Spree, The Hip Van Winkles, Rockestra, and Anaphase in addition to music contracting, session performance, arranging and composing.

Jacobs began studying classical cello at the age of 11 in Columbia, South Carolina.  Throughout the years, Jacobs has studied cello with Dr. Robert Jesselson, Martha Gerschefski, Walter Gray, Tony Cooke, Roger Lebow, Debbie Brooks, and Eugene Osadchy.  She earned a BM cello performance degree at The University of South Carolina and a MM cello performance degree at The University of North Texas.  During her undergrad, she began jazz and improvisation studies with Bert Ligon which later led to her selecting a jazz related field during her studies at The University of North Texas.

Since 2005, Jacobs has been recording with indie rock notables such as The Polyphonic Spree, Robert Gomez, Daniel Hart, Nicole Atkins, Sarah Jaffe, Bill Callahan, John Grant, Maggie Koerner, The Baptist Generals, Anna Calvi, Swans, Explosions in the Sky, and Need to Breathe.  Jacobs’  love of recording sessions led to string arranging and session contracting for John Congleton (Elmwood Studios), Matt Pence (The Echo Lab), McKenzie Smith (Redwood Studio), Niles City Sound, Casey Di Lorio (Valve Studios), and Eric Delegard (Reeltime Audio).

In 2007, Jacobs joined The Polyphonic Spree and began touring the US, Europe, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Canada, and Mexico.  While touring with The Polyphonic Spree, Jacobs has performed at many music festivals such as Splendor in The Grass, Lollapalooza, and Bonnaroo and has also had several tv appearances on “TheTonight Show w/ Jay Leno” and “The Jonathan Ross Show”.  Aside from The Polyphonic Spree, Jacobs has toured with Sarah Jaffe and Sara Lov.

After years of enjoyment working with rock and pop groups, Rockestra was born.  Rockestra began in 2013 as a string instrumental cover band that performs rock, hip hop, and pop music for special and corporate events.  Rockestra has been featured on the David Tutera “Dream Big Tour”  and as an opener for Jay Leno and Patti Labelle.  They have also been regular performers at the Dallas Museum of Art on their Friday late night events.

Throughout the journey of becoming a session player, arranger and touring musician, a growing love and interest of music composition began to develop.  In 2014, she composed her several compositions for Anaphase (a cinematic rock-orchestral fusion project in Dallas) and ensemble which she co-founded.  She released her first composition CD recorded by Anaphase called “Evolution”.  That same year, she also received a chance to score a film short written and directed by Josh Jordan entitled “Sam and Gus” .  A year later, she received her first opportunity to score her first full length feature film.

Her latest project, The Hip Van Winkles was founded by Jacobs, Bach Norwood and David Pierce.  Norwood and Pierce have been constant collaborators with Jacobs on many different projects since 2005, so it seemed a very natural progression that the three become business partners.  The Hip Van Winkles boasts and an amazing cast of Dallas heavy hitters that share a love of a musical experience that has been lost in the digital age.  The group aspires to reinvent today’s music with analog authenticity and the exuberance of the jazz age.  Today, she continues to record, arrange, score and compose for various projects, maintains a heavy performance schedule with Rockestra, The Hip Van Winkles, The Polyphonic Spree and is an active freelancer / music contractor in the DFW community.