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Europe Jazz Network
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Since moving to Los Angeles a decade ago, Bob Sheppard has built up a sterling reputation as one of the west coast's most promising young men with a horn. Sheppard's fluid brilliance and tastefulness in a variety of settings, from R&B to jazz and stations between, have made him a player in demand for everything from studio work to an ongoing spot in Freddie Hubbard's Quintet. With the release of his debut album, Tell Tale Signs on Windham Hill Jazz, Sheppard unvells another, equally impressive side to his musical voice; that of composer-leader. For his first time out as a solo artist, Sheppard has written a collection of distinctive tunes, reflecting his broad interests in both traditional and modern modes of jazz. He has also assembled a stellar cast of musicians - some of whom have thus far been known mainly in the inner circles of the L.A. jazz scene. Topping off the project with a pristine clarity, the album was produced by inveterate jazz buff Walter Becker and his right-hand engineer Roger Nichols, two thirds of the creative team behind Steely Dan. As cool and collected as Tell Tale Signs sounds, it heeded to the jazz recording tradition in that it was cut in just two days. "The key is just hiring the right guys," Sheppard explains. Those right guys include keyboardist Billy Childs (on whose Windham Hill albums Sheppard plays) and John Beasley, drummer Peter Erskine and Tom Brechtlein and guitarist Larry Koonse. Given soloing space upfront is the fine bassist Tom Warrington. As Sheppard comments, "he's one of those talent-deserving-wider-recognition guys." On the swing blues of Echoes, Sheppard engages in a supple two-tenor dialogue with his friend and fellow tenor player Rob Lockart. "For that tune", says Sheppard, "Rob was the first one I thought of as the guy who would fit the bill. It worked well." Impressive as Sheppard's compositions are, he has spent most of his time and energy focusing on his playing technique rather than setting pen to paper. But the challenge of writing for Tell Tale Signs awoke the composer within. "The pressure of a deadline forced me into the writing habit. This gave me a great chance to explore my current harmonic and rhythmic interests. I'm real pleased with the way the tunes turned out." The title cut, Tell Tale Signs, is a composition full of harmonic intrigue. Here Sheppard admits the influence of keyboardist Don Grolnick's Hearts and Numbers album (on Hip Pocket/Windham Hill). Sheppard covers varied ground with his set of tunes, from the intricate lines and implied swing of "Hidden Agenda" to the slinky balladry of "Shifting Sands". He also displays his inventive arrangements skills with a creative rendition of the Irving Berlin chestnut "How Deep is the Ocean". Walter Becker became acquainted with Sheppard when he heard the saxist playing with trumpeter Randy Brecker at the L.A. Jazz club Catalina's. Soon after that, Becker called on Sheppard to cut some tracks for the Becker produced Rickle Lee Jones album, Flying Cowboys. Becker expressed his interest in producing jazz albums, and when it came time for Sheppard to work on his debut, the cards fell into place. How was it working with Becker, the producer? "For a jazz musician, I think Walter is the perfect producer. He does not try to manipulate or get in the way as far as the content goes. He was doing exactly what - as far as I'm concerned - a producer should do, which is to give you another set of ears in the studio and through his objectivity provide a fresh viewpoint when needed." A native of Trenton, New Jersey, Sheppard grew up in Levittown, Pennsylvania, and from an early age, was stepped in the east coast jazz saxophone tradition. After graduation from the esteemed Eastman School of Music, Sheppard took a university teaching job in New Orleans, but soon felt the urge to move to an urban environment with a fertile jazz scene and richer employment opportunities. A classmate from Eastman, John Serry, cooxed Sheppard to Los Angeles to work on Serry's album project. Once in L.A., Sheppard began his steady rise to acclaim. In addition to a long list of film on TV credits, his recording resume includes work for Michael Franks, Suzanne Dean, Brandon Fields, Akiyoshi/Tabakin big band, Madonna, Peter Cetera and Scott Henderson. Live, he plays with Freddie Hubbard and Billy Childs; he has been a regular member of the Late Show band and appears as a guest on both the Tonight Show band and the Arsenio Hall band. "I'm proud to think of myself as a jazz player. I owe an incredible debt to the greats - John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Michael Brecker, Steve Grossman and Jerry Bergonzi, to mention just a few. I hope their inspiration is evident on this record," comments Sheppard. With Tell Tale Signs, Sheppard adds a new voice to the multi-faceted world of jazz, one that will reflect his background as well as his desire to venture forth creatively. SELECTED PERFORMANCE AND RECORDING CREDITS
Films:
Live Performance:
Television: Biography courtesy of EMMECI. |