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Brad Shepik

Guitarist, composer, educator Brad Shepik has recorded 9 albums with his groups Brad Shepik Organ Trio, Brad Shepik Quartet, Brad Shepik Trio, Human Activity Quintet, Brad Shepik and the Commuters. Since 1995 his ensembles have performed at major festivals and clubs across Europe and North America including The North Sea Jazz Festival, Garda Jazz Festival, Cologne Biennale Jazz Festival, Toulouse Jazz Festival, Bell Atlantic Festival, Verizon, Earshot, Caramoor Jazz Festival, Langnau Jazz Festival, Groningen, Salzburg, Jerez, Cadiz, Sevilla, American Guitar Festival, Leeds, Rochester Jazz Festival, Cork, Brussels, Edgefest and others.

He currently performs solo concerts and with Brad Shepik Organ Trio, The Brad Shepik Quartet, Rambler, Combo Nuvo, Tom Beckham/Brad Shepik Duo, Balkan Peppers, Jamie Baum Septet, Matt Darriau's Paradox Trio, George Schuller's Circle Wide, Arthur Kell and others.

He teaches Theory, Improvisation, World Ensemble, Jazz Combo, Chicago Blues, Balkan Music and private guitar at New York University and private guitar at New England Conservatory and City College of New York.

As a sideman Brad appears on more than 70 recordings and has performed and recorded with Paul Motian's Electric Bebop Band, Dave Douglas' Tiny Belll Trio, Combo Nuvo, Yuri Yunakov's Bulgarian Wedding Band, Pachora, Paradox Trio, Jay Clayton and others. He has also performed with Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra, Carla Bley's Escalator Over the Hill, Bob Brookmeyer, Simon Shaheen, and was a a member of Joey Baron's Killer Joey from 2000-2009.

Born in Walla Walla, Washington and raised in Seattle, Brad Shepik began playing guitar at age 10, when he picked up his father's instrument. He continued to play both guitar and saxophone in school bands and studied guitar with Al Galante, Dave Petersen, Ralph Towner and John Abercrombie. He earned a B.F.A from Cornish College of the Arts and a Masters in Jazz Performance/Composition from New York University.

Shepik moved to New York in 1990, subsequently joining several bands including Dave Douglas' Tiny Bell Trio, Matt Darriau's Paradox Trio, Pachora w/Chris Speed, Jim Black and Skuli Sverrisson, and BABKAS. He has also performed with Carla Bley's Escalator Over the Hill and Charlie Haden's Liberation Orchestra in the US and Europe. Shepik toured Europe and recorded two albums with Paul Motian’s Electric Bebop Band over 5 years. Concurrently, the guitarist deepened his interest in world music, performing and recording with Yuri Yunakov's Bulgarian Wedding Band and Simon Shaheen’s Quantara. Shepik’s first two records as a leader, The Loan and The Well, explored music of the Balkans and featured Shepik on Turkish saz and Bulgarian tambura as well as electric and acoustic guitars. “The Loan" and “The Well" received critical praise for their marriage of world music styles and jazz.

Shepik also co-led two world music tinged trios; Triduga with accordionist Yuri Lemeshev and Tony Scherr on bass balalaika and Lingua Franca with alto saxophonist Peter Epstein and percussionist Matt Kilmer. In 2000 Shepik began re-examining the guitar trio format with drummer Tom Rainey and bassist Scott Colley. They recorded two cd’s,"Drip" and "Short Trip", both of which were critically acclaimed and featured on NPR. He also began touring with Joey Baron's two guitar group "Killer Joey" which performed extensively in Europe and the US for 9 years.

His next group was an organ trio featuring Gary Versace and Tom Rainey. The trio performed at festivals across Europe and North America. Their CD “Places You Go" received a 4 star review in Downbeat and appeared on several “Best CD’s of 2007" lists.

From 2004-9 Shepik continued to tour with drummer Joey Baron’s Killer Joey, udist/violinist Simon Shaheen, George Schuller's Circle Wide, Matt Darriau’s Paradox Trio, Pachora, Alexis Cuadrado Puzzles Quartet, Arthur Kell Quartet, Combo Nuvo, Bob Brookmeyer’s Quartet East and others.

In 2007 Shepik received a New Works Commission from Chamber Music America to write a suite of music on the subject of climate change for jazz quintet. The resulting CD "Human Activity Suite" was a 10 movement- work on the subject of climate change. The CD was released in February 2009 on Songlines Recordings. It features Shepik on electric and acoustic guitars, electric sax and Bulgarian tamboura. Ralph Alessi (trumpet), Gary Versace (piano, organ, accordion), Drew Gress (bass) and Tom Rainey (drums).

In February 2011 Brad Shepik Quartet with Tom Beckham (vibes), Jorge Roeder (bass) and Mark Guiliana (drums) released it's acclaimed recording "Across the Way" on Songlines records. All About Jazz noted that the recording "..pushes Shepik into the fast lane of musicians communicating something both universally vital and intensely personal."

In 2013 Shepik began performing solo concerts in the US and Europe. The UK's Jazzwise Magazine called his solo performances "exemplary in their fluidity and lyricism. He delights in showcasing his guitar mastery before an audience". A solo recording is planned for 2016.

In 2014 he traveled to Mongolia with Combo Nuvo where he participated in a residency with the Morinn Khurr Ensemble, performing in the historic State Opera and Ballet Theater of Ulan Bataar which was documented in the video "Combo Nuvo in Mongolia".

In 2015 his composition “Aquarians’" was recorded by the prog rock/jam band “Consider the Source" on their album “World War Trio Pt. ll &lll.

2015 saw the release of "Flower Starter", the debut recording by the Tom Beckham/Brad Shepik Duo which highlights the rich sonorities inherent in the pairing of vibraphone and electric guitar.

In March 2016 the Brad Shepik Organ Trio with Gary Versace (organ) and Mark Ferber (drums) will release their debut recording "Top Down" on JLC Records.

Shepik also leads Rambler- a quartet with Chris Cheek (saxophones), Ben Monder Fender Bass VI and Diego Voglino (drums).

Shepik's newest project is the Balkan Peppers, a group that he co-leads with Macedonian drummer Seido Salifoski, a longtime collaborator in the Paradox Trio and The Commuters.

B.F.A, Cornish College of the Arts. Masters in Jazz Performance/Composition, New York University; Studies with Gil Goldstein, George Garzone, Marc Consoli, Jerry Granelli, Julian Priester, Dave Petersen, Dave Peck, James Knapp, Ralph Towner, John Abercrombie. Currently teaching at The School for Improvisational Music, New York University, New England Conservatory, City College of New York, also previously taught at The New School and Long Island University.

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Brad Shepik, Elsa Nilsson, Layale Chaker, Elephant9, Terje Rypdal

by Ludovico Granvassu
November 11, 2024

The love of nature is at the heart of the three albums by Elsa Nilsson, Brad Shepik and Layale Chaker that open today's set, which is then wrapped-up by the slow but unstoppable crescendo of Norwegian prog icons, Elephant9 and their very special guest, Terje Rypdal. Happy listening! Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Elsa Nilsson, Santiago Leibson “Chin Chin/Puelche" Quila Quina (ears&eyes) 0:16 Host talks 4:54 Brad ...

Album Review

Brad Shepik: Human Activity: Dream of the Possible

Read "Human Activity: Dream of the Possible" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci

by Richard J Salvucci
October 19, 2024

All About Jazz is not an academic journal, but once in a while, a little academic insight may not hurt. Two psychologists from McGill University have published an interesting piece in Impact: The Journal of the Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching & Learning produced by the College of General Studies at Boston University. In “Waking Up to No Sound: Music Psychology and Climate Action," Lindsey Fleming and Daniel Levitin write: “Music is a cultural universal and for ...

Album Review

Brad Shepik: Human Activity: Dream of the Possible

Read "Human Activity: Dream of the Possible" reviewed by Katchie Cartwright

by Katchie Cartwright
October 12, 2024

Brad Shepik's Human Activity: Dream of the Possible, featuring Layale Chaker (violin), Amino Belyamani (piano), Sam Minaie (bass) and John Hadfield (drums), is the guitarist and multi-instrumentalist's second album to respond to climate change. Composed as a single 10-movement work, a “narrative of hope," it follows his Human Activity Suite: Sounding a Response to Climate Change (Songlines Recordings, 2007). Shepik's aim is broad: “to inspire people to take any action they can to preserve and adapt in a sustainable way ...

Album Review

The Jamie Baum Septet+: What Times Are These

Read "What Times Are These" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi

by Angelo Leonardi
September 9, 2024

Nella sua nuova incisione Jamie Baum coniuga impegno civile e ricercata varietà di soluzioni musicali con voci e suoni di particolare freschezza. A distanza di sei anni dal precedente Bridges la flautista e compositrice firma l'album più riuscito del suo ensemble, in gran parte rinnovato con l'ingresso del trombettista Jonathan Finlayson, del pianista Luis Perdomo, del bassista Ricky Rodriguez e del percussionista Keita Ogawa accanto ai fidi Jeff Hirshfield alla batteria, Brad Shepik alla chitarra, Chris Komer al ...

Interview

My Conversation with Brad Shepik

by Lazaro Vega
August 19, 2024

This article was first published on All About Jazz in February 2001. It was conducted from Lazaro Vega's home in New York for Blue Lake Public Radio, a broadcast service of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, the international summer school for the arts in western Michigan. All About Jazz: Is this band that you're touring with The Commuters? Brad Shepik It's the same concept but different guys. It's mostly guys from The Well (Songlines, 2000) with ...

Album Review

Jamie Baum Septet+: What Times Are These

Read "What Times Are These" reviewed by Katchie Cartwright

by Katchie Cartwright
April 5, 2024

Reading Marge Piercy's poem “To Be of Use" (track two onWhat Times Are These), Jamie Baum could be speaking of herself, one of those “who jump into work head first without dallying in the shadows, who swim off with sure strokes," knowing that “the thing worth doing has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident." What Times Are These is a satisfying form of this sort. Confined to her New York apartment during the Covid-19 lockdown, Baum responded ...

Play This!

Brad Shepik: Vapor Oro

by Mike Jacobs
January 11, 2024

From The Well (Songlines, 1999), guitarist Brad Shepik's incendiary “Vapor Oro" is emblematic of the ethno-jazz wave he was an integral part of in the downtown scene of late-'90s NYC. Burning performances from his band that includes drummer Michael Sarin, saxophonist Peter Epstein, bassist Skuli Sverrisson and percussionist Seido Salifosky. ...

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Recording

Brad Shepik Quartet - Across the Way (Songlines, 2011)

Source: Music and More by Tim Niland
February 17, 2011

Guitarist Brad Shepik takes an intimate, chamberish approach on his new album, in collaboration with Tom Beckham on vibraphone, Jorge Roeder on bass and Mark Guiliana on drums. The sound of the vibraphone and subtly amplified guitar is compelling and mysterious (remember the great tracks Grant Green recorded with Bobby Hutcherson?) and blends well with the bass and drums on this album, making for a tasteful and mysterious sound. The title track “Across the Way" opens with a beguiling medium ...
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Performance / Tour

Brad Shepik's February 9 Show at the 55 Bar To Coincide With Release of "Across The Way"

Source: GoMedia PR
January 17, 2011

New Songlines CD Introduces Guitarist's First Jazz Quartet Guitarist Brad Shepik, whose 2009 Songlines release, Human Activity Suite, was lauded as “absorbingly eclectic" by the New York Times, and ..."as beautiful and architecturally impressive as the continental movements..." by Jazz Times, will celebrate the release of a new CD, Across the Way, with a show at the 55 Bar on February 9. Across the Way is the guitarist's sixth release for Songlines and, for the first time, features Shepik performing ...
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245

Contest

Announcing the Winners of the "Brad Shepik - Human Activity Suite" Giveaway!

Source: All About Jazz
March 30, 2009

402

Contest

Enter the Songlines Recordings "Brad Shepik - Human Activity Suite" Giveaway Contest

Source: All About Jazz
February 27, 2009

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the Songlines Recordings “Brad Shepik - Human Activity Suite“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on March 29th. Click here to enter the contest

(Following Brad Shepik at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.)

Good luck! Your Friends at Songlines Recordings

“The well-traveled Shepik has drawn on his knowledge of various indigenous musics to construct the stages on which ...
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273

Interview

Guitarist Brad Shepik Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz
December 8, 2008

Guitarist Brad Shepik is an artist with a conscience that extends to major global issues. A recently completed 12-part commission, Human Activity, addresses, in musical terms, the issue of global climate change. As diverse and multifaceted as both Shepik and the problem at hand are, it's a sweeping musical statement from an artist whose name continues to gain cachet.

AAJ Contributor Franz Matzner spoke with Shepik about the suite, the definition of World Music, and more.

Check out Brad Shepik: ...
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238

Performance / Tour

Julie Hardy at Bar Next Door with Brad Shepik, Monday, August 21st

Source: All About Jazz
August 19, 2006

JULIE HARDY @ Bar Next Door with Brad Shepik, guitar; Matt Clohesy, bass On Monday, August 21st (8:00-11:30pm) at Bar Next Door, vocalist and composer Julie Hardy will perform with guitarist Brad Shepik and bassist Matt Clohesy. Hardy is preparing to record her second CD with record label Fresh Sound New Talent and is currently the only American singer on this label. This evening she will present new pieces including original music and covers of old standards and pop songs. ...
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138

Education

Brad Shepik Joins NEC Faculty

Source: All About Jazz
June 27, 2005

Jazz guitarist and composer Brad Shepik will join the New England Conservatory jazz guitar faculty at the beginning of the 2005-06 school year. The eclectic musical creator has been described by allaboutjazz.com as having the “mind of a pioneer. The rhythmic complexity of his compositions has few parallels in jazz—or any other genre, for that matter. With all his exotic influences, and all his different axes, he makes us rethink what it means to be a guitarist and a musician. ...
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Primary Instrument

Guitar

Credentials/Background

Brad Shepik has taught at New England University, New York University, City College, The New School, Long Island University, The School for Improvised Music. He has also taught master classes at North Texas State University, Cornish College of the Arts, Fontys University and others.