His performances combine the best elements of singer-songwriters, performing original compositions and re-interpreting, re-arranging, and energizing others' songs from the folk, country, rock, and primitive blues genres all blended into his own style of acoustic folk-rock-country-blues-jazz-classical roots  music (mixed with fun!) 

"Jeff Justman is one of the most exuberant and high-spirited musicians I know," says Austin-based cosmic cowboy and recording artist Bob Livingston (founder of the Lost Gonzo Band, Director of Texas Music International, and long-time member of Jerry Jeff Walker's band).   "He may be classified as a folkie, but he can rock the house with a variety of rhythms and colors borrowed from his extensive musical wanderings.  Jeff sings in an authentic voice and is one of the most prolific writers around, so if you have a chance, be sure to see one of his shows.  It's refreshing to see a musician with so much passion for what he does...it's infectious!"

"Jeff...has a true commitment to his art and the history of music," says Sue Demel of the progressive folk group, Sons of the Never Wrong.  "He delights his audience with a deep sense of the understanding that comes when tradition and talent meet.  He tends to his community by making sure that all kinds of musical genres connect us as neighbors."

"Jeff Justman is a versatile and talented musician," says regional touring folk performer, Amy Beth (founder of the Woodstock Folk Festival and host of Amy & Friends/The Corner Room.)  "He plays many instruments with infectious energy and a sense of fun.  Jeff's original compositions have a folk, country, classic rock and roots flavor with rhythm always setting the tone.  A performance by Jeff guarantees the audience an upbeat and enjoyable time."

    "Somewhere the nickname 'Jazzman' just stuck by the way." Jeff says. "But, in an abstract sense it is a form of pure jazz.  Plus it's a pretty cool alliteration of the J's in my name, and I use quite a lot of alliteration in my song writing besides the obvious musical play on words on my last name of Justman."

   The same music genre defying categories can be said of the essence of Jazzman Jeff Justman's array of departed musical influencing heroes, including:  John Stewart, Waylon Jennings,  Buddy Holly, Chet Atkins, John Lennon, George Harrison, Elvis "the Pelvis" Presley, J.S.. Bach, Charley Patton, Son House, Dave Guard, Chet Baker, Wes Montgomery, Amadeus Mozart, Bill Monroe, Earl Scruggs, Roy Orbison, Rick Nelson, Louis Armstrong, or Django Reinhart.  The same can be said of such living influencing musician heroes of Jeff's also which includes Bob Dylan, Guy Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker, Bob Livingston, Ravi Shankar, Scotty Moore, David Gray, Paul McCartney, and Lucinda Williams.

"Jeff Justman is a folk performer with a decidedly original style," says Kate Moretti, the Director and Co-founder of The Lake County Folk Festival.  "He is also a great friend to the folk community, lending his seemingly tireless energy to help with folk events in the Lake County area."

"Jeff is a leader in our music community, bringing together musicians from different genres.  He brings together people who share his passion of music." says award winning professional vocalist, recording artist, and Chicago Music Awards nominee for Pop Entertainer of the Year Joan Hammel.

     "I literally pulled my guitar teacher aside after class one day at the age of eleven and asked him why I had to learn all of the different strumming and picking styles he was trying to teach me when I already instinctively was playing a style of finger picking I felt comfortable with that I developed outside of the lessons he was giving me," Jeff explains. "He seemed a bit shocked at my comment to him, but was open-minded enough to hear me out, literally.  He then, with curious interest, asked me to demonstrate the style I described to him and I recall him staring at my fingers quizzically contemplating the sounds I was producing as an eleven year old.  I'll never forget the approving nod he gave me when he told me he thought I should just keep playing and developing the style of fingerpicking I had demonstrated for him and that from then on he wanted me to only develop that style of picking in our lessons.  What a fine teacher he was to let me develop my own natural instrumentation voicing rather than impose another's on me.  Needless to say, I've been developing that same fingerpicking style for over forty years now and have never stopped pushing the musical envelope with it."

    "Years later, I took this same naturally intuitive approach with my vocals and then with my song writing and blending of styles of others' music to develop my own style and voice," Jeff says. "It captures the creative essence of Austin music, the Delta, New Orleans, early rockabilly, and a whole lot of other vibrant music but yet it's still acoustically folk based.  Luckily, with music's infinite boundaries I am able to keep taking the music a little higher and then bring it back down to earth to the listener's ear and ability to feel all those musical energies."

  Jazzman Jeff Justman has performed solo and in collaborations on stage as far away from his home in northern Illinois as Austin, Texas and as near to his home as The Lake County Folk Festival "Music by the Lake" in Lake Zurich, Long Grove's Strawberry Festival, Waukegan's Dandelion Wine Festival, Woodstock's Harvest Festival, Round Lake's American Legion Hall, Trans-Art Café in Mundelein, Amy & Friends/The Corner Room in Woodstock, Woodstock's Stage Left Café, Park City's Greenleaf Grill, and Uncommon Ground in Chicago.

       Jazzman Jeff Justman has served as Bob Livingston's band mate guitarist while in Chicago and has played with many fine musicians when he stages and hosts the Acoustic Music Jam in Grayslake.  Additionally, Jeff is a Board member of The Lake County Folk Club and has co-organized The Lake County Folk Festival "Music by the Lake."