Shepik, Brad / Human Activity Suite
Album: Human Activity Suite   Collection:Jazz
Artist:Shepik, Brad   Added:Apr 2009
Label:Songlines Recordings  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2009-05-03 Pull Date: 2009-07-05 Charts: Jazz
Week Ending: Jul 5 Jun 28 Jun 21 Jun 14 May 31 May 24 May 10
Airplays: 1 1 1 1 2 2 1

Recent Airplay
1. Jun 30, 2009: No Cover, No Minimum: Tuesday Edition
Waves (Asia)
4. Jun 12, 2009: Memory Select
Lima (South America)
2. Jun 26, 2009: Memory Select
Blindspot (North America)
5. May 30, 2009: Music Casserole
Stir (Antarctica)
3. Jun 19, 2009: No Cover, No Minimum
Lima (South America)
6. May 29, 2009: Memory Select
Stir (Antarctica)

Album Review
Wedge
Reviewed 2009-04-24
Contemporary jazz with some "world" influence that tends to be subtle. Seven of the tracks are influenced by the music of different continents, some showing the influence more overtly (1,6.10) than others. Should appeal to mainstream jazz fans; there are lots of creative ideas here along with an overall atmosphere that reminds me of Pat Metheney (in a good way). Definitely recommended.

Brad Shepik -- guitars, tambura, electric "saz"
Ralph Alessi -- trumpet
Gary Versace -- piano, organ, accordion
Drew Gress -- bass
Tom Rainey -- drums

1- Upbeat, mildly Latin. Accordion and trumpet solos; fast blurry theme later
2- Floating, with mysterious buzz. Fast bubbling theme pops up underneath.
3- Mid/fast. Mystical dancing patter; nicely airy guitar/trumpet duo
4- Slow and careful. An unusual stringed instrument (tambura?) and steely metallic chiming – but it’s not that icy overall
5- Mellow piano, very Metheny-sounding. Picks up momentum, gets into a kind of blues/rocking guitar
6- Slinking, a bit sad. Lilting accordion, odd floating feel. Cool trumpet solo.
7- Upbeat popping contempo jazz, a tad mellow
8- Midtempo pulsing, a hint of Africa in the rhythm. The pulsing beat sounds more like it should be Native American, actually
9- Laid-back, slowish rhythm irregularly bumps along
10- Stern, pulsing line, some Indian(?) influence in the overall sound.

Track Listing
1. Lima (South America)   6. Current
2. Blindspot (North America)   7. Carbonic
3. Human Activity   8. Blue Marble (Africa)
4. Stir (Antarctica)   9. By A Foot (Europe)
5. Not So Far (Australia)   10. Waves (Asia)