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Jacob Epstein
Sax Flute Clarinet Piano Arranger Composer Educator with over 50 years experience.
About Me
Jake Epstein (BS, MM) Music Bio
Arranger, Composer, Educator, Author, Sax, Flute, Clarinet, Piano
Jake Epstein is a retired founding member (partner) in RECOL, LLC, a Connecticut based Internet Services (ISP)
and Datacenter (Hosting) company but also composes and performs music. After a tour in 1969-1971 with the
113th Army band at Fort Knox, KY where he was chief Composer/Arranger and director of Jazz and Jazz Rock
ensembles, he served as the first University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Department of Music and Dance
graduate teaching assistant in African Music and Jazz working with Professors Frederick Tillis, Horace Boyer,
Max Roach, Reggie Workman and Archie Shep in the early 1970’s. From 1976 to 1980, Jake served as an
assistant Professor of Music at UMass. Jake serves as an adviser and instructor with the “Jazz in July Summer
Program at UMass, Amherst. He has also coached with the Fairfield (CT) Jazz Guild. He currently arranges and
performs on Flute, Clarinet and Sax with the 2nd Company CT Governor's Foot Guard Jazz and Concert
ensembles.
Jake is a graduate of Pittsfield High School (1964) and holds a Bachelor of Sciences degree (1969) in
Veterinary and Animal Sciences from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Master of Music Theory
(1976) from University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He also holds several certificates in the computer field
including Microsoft Certified System Engineer, MCSE, and Novel Certified Network Engineer. He is a member of
the Jazz Education Network (JEN).
Jake has taught, performed, recorded with and composed/arranged music for many ensembles and individuals.
A partial list of professional ensembles includes 113th Army Band, Sonny Costanzo Orchestra, Harold Zinno
Jazz Orchestra and small ensembles, Springfield Orchestra, Valley and Berkshire Big Bands, Cliff Jarvis Quartet,
PVR-Jazz Quartet, Bobby Buster Quartet, Amherst Jazz Orchestra, Oakdale Theater (CT), Schubert Theater (New
Haven) and Williamstown (MA) Theater Festival. He has toured with Steve Lawrence and Eddie Gormet,
Widespread Depression Orchestra, Herb Reed of the Platters and his Group.
In 2010, Jake produced the Pioneer Valley Reunion album with Jake Epstein – Alto Sax, Andy Jaffee - Piano,
Genevieve Rose - Bass and Tom Briggs - Drums. The album is available for download at CD Baby.
The Jake Epstein Jazz Quartet featuring Vocalist Amanda Bellitto” with Jake Epstein – Flute and Tenor Sax, Joe
McWilliams - Piano, Dave Daddario - Bass and Barry Ries - Drums recorded its But Beautiful Album in July
2014.
He currently regularly performs with The Harold Zinno Quintet featuring Nicole Pasternak, “Jake Epstein
Quartet” with Vocalist Amanda Bellitto, Good Life Jazz, “Hartigan Epstein Brown Trio”, Dr. G Jazz Combos
and Harold Zinno Jazz Orchestra.
Jake Epstein’s book, “Jazz Improvisation and Tonal Music” is available as a Kindle eBook at http://amazon.com