Heralded by the Boston Globe as "a pianist of chameleon abilities" pianist Jeffrey Payne has performed on WGBH National Public Radio in Boston, KING radio in Seattle, and KBPS radio in Portland, at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Norton Gallery in Palm Beach, at the Seattle Spring Festival, at Eugene's Music Today Festival, the Ernest Bloch Festival, the Oregon Bach Festival, the Yellow Barn and Sandpoint Chamber Music Festivals. The Palm Beach Post praised his performance of Messiaen:   "The best part of the evening came with the Messiaen pieces chosen from Vingt Regards.   Payne loves this music and has the fingers for it.   Let Payne return for a full evening of the modern music which he plays with such enthusiasm and conviction."   He has also performed with the Vancouver Symphony, the Yaquina Chamber Symphony, the Willamette Falls Symphony, Portland Opera Chorus, and the Oregon Repertory Singers.   In praising his playing, the Oregonian opined "Payne did a terrific impersonation of an orchestra," and the Boston Globe singled out his performance with fellow pianist Yukiko Takagi of Ligeti's Three Pieces for Two Pianos as "a performance of special distinction."

Jeffrey Payne founded the Fear No Music ensemble with percussionist Joel Bluestone in 1992.   As a member of the ensemble he has appeared in performance with the group across the United States, including performances in New York City, California, Colorado as well as throughout the Pacific Northwest.   During his tenure as Artistic Director for the group he was responsible for presentation of twenty World Premiere or American Premiere performances of works by Pacific Northwest composers. In 1997 he founded the Young Composers Workshop, as part of the mission of Fear No Music, and continues as its Director, overseeing the development of aspiring young creative minds around the region.

Payne studied with Fern Davidson while he was in high school and from 1979-81 while he attended ACI.   He was graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music by Boston University where he studied with Bela Nagy and Luis Batlle. He holds a Master of Music in Piano from the New England Conservatory where he studied with Stephen Drury.   He has taught at Willamette University, Portland State University and Reed College.   He can be heard on CD performing with the FEAR NO MUSIC 20th Century Ensemble and the Oregon Repertory Singers.