CATALOGUE
RETURN
|
Brad
Shepik
The Well
(SGL 1531-2)
with Peter Epstein
(saxes), Skuli Sverrisson (electric bass), Michael Sarin
(drums & percussion), Seido Salifoski (dumbek &
percussion)
The follow-up to his critically
acclaimed The Loan (SGL 1518-2) finds guitarist/saz player Shepik (Tiny Bell Trio,
Pachora, BABKAS) deeper in the music of the Balkans, Middle
East, and North Africa and deeper in his own style — driving or
insinuating grooves and melodies in compound time signatures, with subtle
group interplay, effortless solos, and a downtown edge.
”Collectively they are making
some incredibly difficult and different music sound natural,
free, and purposeful.”
—Michael Nastos, All
Music Guide
”Based on the clean, impeccably
professional sound of this CD, The Well that Brad Shepik and
crew drink from must contain distilled water. Everything about the music
is refined and tasteful. The eight well-thought-out tunes here explore
a fashionable (for jazz players in the Downtown New York scene) Middle
Eastern sound and are given a further world-music cast by the addition
of Siedo Salifoski's dumbek and hand percussion. Brad Shepik's schooled,
articulate guitar playing has equal parts Pat Metheny and John McLaughlin,
whereas Peter Epstein's studied soprano sax style indicates he has fully
digested the Jan Garbarek sound. Together, they weave a sinuous path
through the polished drumming of Michael Sarin and the rounded electric
bass of Skuli Sverrisson. This is skillful music performed with taste,
precision, and a relaxed sophistication. The confident sound is beguiling,
making the CD an appropriate background for almost any occasion, as
well as rewarding close listening for its obvious musicianship.”
—Wally Shoup, amazon.com
”Taking a cue from his work
with the Paradox Trio, guitarist Brad Shepik continues to delve into
Balkan and Middle Eastern sounds on this follow-up to 1997's The
Loan (also on Songlines). Aiding Shepik are Peter Epstein on alto
and soprano saxes, Skuli Sverrisson on electric bass, Michael Sarin
on drums and percussion, and fellow Paradoxer Seido Salifoski on dumbek
and percussion. Tracks like "The Flood," "Zephyr," and "Vapor Oro" zip
along with head-spinning odd meters and fast unison melodies—very
similar to the Paradox Trio. The Well is a little calmer, giving
Shepik a chance to display his rich tone on the archtop acoustic. "Quiver
of Veils" is calmer still, beginning with a nimble bass intro by Sverrisson.
On several tracks Shepik employs the saz, a balkan stringed instrument
with a ghostly timbre. But in stark contrast to the unfamiliar sound
of the saz, Shepik offers up "Might Could," a multitracked acoustic
guitar etude with moments that could be classed as McCartney-esque.
Shepik's got 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. There's no telling where
he'll go next.”
—David R. Adler, allaboutjazz.com
|
The
Flood
Zepher
The Well
Quiver of Veils
Asilah
|