Brad Shepik Organ Trio

Hi Everyone, 

Really excited to announce that my new album "Top Down" with Gary Versace and Mark Ferber is available for Pre-Order now!! Pre order the album and get the first track, "Friday" instantly. https://bradshepik.bandcamp.com/album/top-down - Brad

Following on the rich timbres of "Flower Starter" (2015), the intimate vibes/guitar duo set with Tom Beckham, Shepik makes a return to the organ trio lineup he explored on his 2006 Songlines release "Places You Go".  "Top Down" finds Shepik in the familiar company of two longtime collaborators - organist Gary Versace (John Abercrombie, Ralph Alessi) and drummer Mark Ferber (Mark Copeland, Gary Peacock). The comfort is apparent in the easy rapport as they wind and groove their way through full tilt improvisation (Friday), funk (Sweet Suzy), blues, (Top of the Middle), swing (Hall), South American (Vampa) and Balkan rhythms (Aeolian).

All of Shepik's influences and passions are on display and supported beautifully by Versace and Ferber, taking the organ trio to new territory. Shepik cites John Abercrombie's "Night", featuring Jan Hammer, as a favorite organ album for it's invention in composition and sonic pallet. 

"Top Down" release concert March 28 10pm at 55 Bar NYC. 

On "Top Down" Shepik writes: 
"These compositions (except Gary Peacock's Major Major) were written in the late spring/early summer of 2015.

Friday evokes a wide open elation I feel working in my studio in Brooklyn. Sweet Suzy, written just a few days before the recording recalls the Meter's and the blues and was a highlight of the recording for me. Vampa has South American feel though I didn't have a specific regional rhythm in mind. The tune's harmonic/rhythmic structure leaves a lot of room for melodic invention and suggested a conversation in the trading choruses.

Hall is dedicated to Jim Hall, the giant of the guitar whose influence is felt on every generation of guitarists that have come along since the the late 1950's. Something in the wide melodic intervals and fluid rhythm suggested his artistry. Top in the Middle is a bluesy AABC form however the chords deviate and suggest a somewhat difficult climb to the goal. Major Major has been a favorite tune from Gary Peacock's "Tales of Another" for many years, I had the privilege of playing a session with him when I was 19. Aeolia is a circular tune with a 7/8 Balkan rhythm that reminds me of a friend who lives on a windy island. I was playing with harmonic colors and phrasing on Stumma Cake. The tune's title could be a dessert but the final two chords reflect a mild discomfort experienced occaisionally by the very young." 

Brad Shepik Organ Trio 
Top Down - JLC Records 

Brad Shepik - guitar 
Gary Versace - organ 
Mark Ferber - drums 

1. Friday (Shepik) 
2. Sweet Suzy (Shepik) 
3. Vampa (Shepik) 
4. Hall (Shepik) 
5. Top in the Middle (Shepik) 
6. Major Major (Peacock) 
7. Aeolia (Shepik) 
8. Stumma Cake (Shepik) 

JLC Records 
www.bradshepik.bandcamp.com 
www.bradshepik.com 
430 Sterling Pl Brooklyn NY 11238 

Born in Walla Walla, Washington and raised in Seattle....

In addition to his own groups, Brad Shepik has performed and/or recorded with Paul Motian, Joey Baron, Carla Bley, Charlie Haden, Dave Douglas, oud/violin virtuoso Simon Shaheen, Yuri Yunakov’s Bulgarian Wedding Band and others.

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 and Dave Petersen. He earned a B.F.A from Cornish College of the Arts and a Masters in Jazz Performance/Composition from New York University. Photo by C. Mardok

Since arriving in New York in 1990, Shepik has been involved 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, Charlie Haden's Liberation Orchestra and toured and recorded with Paul Motian’s Electric Bebop Band for 5 years. Concurrently, the guitarist extended his interest in world music idioms by performing and recording in such groups as Yuri Yunakov's Bulgarian Wedding Band and Simon Shaheen’s Quantara. Shepik’s first two records as a leader, The Loan and The Well, were praised 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 Peter Epstein and Matt Kilmer. In 2000 Shepik began re-examining the traditional guitar/bass/drums 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.

Shepik's current working band is a trio with Gary Versace, organ and Rainey, drums. The band has performed at festivals across Europe and North America. Their latest release “Places You Go” received a 4 star review in Downbeat and appeared on several “Best CD’s of 2007” lists. Shepik also continues to tour with drummer Joey Baron’s Killer Joey, udist/violinist Simon Shaheen, George Schuller's Circle Wide, Matt Darriau’s Paradox Trio, Alexis Cuadrado Puzzles Quartet, Arthur Kell Quartet, Combo Nuvo, Bob Brookmeyer’s Quartet East and others.

His latest recording is "Human Activity Suite" a 10 movement piece about climate change for jazz quintet. It features Shepik on guitars, saz and tambura as well as Ralph Alessi (trumpet), Gary Versace (piano, organ, accordion), Drew Gress (bass) and Tom Rainey (drums). "Human Activity Suite" was released in February 2009 on Songlines Recordings.

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 and Ralph Towner. Currently teaching at The School for Improvisational Music, New York University, New England Conservatory, City College of New York. Former faculty of The New School, Long Island University.

Itinerary

Miles Cafe
November 20th, 2010 | 9:30
New York, NY, US
NYU World Ensemble

Cornelia St
December 1st, 2010 | 8pm
New York, NY, US
Brad Shepik Quartet w/ Tom Beckham, Jorge Roeder and Mark Guiliana -CD Pre release concert for "Across the Way"

St. Bonaventure University
December 4th, 2010 | 8pm
Buffalo, NY, Us