William Peebles

William A Peebles III Born in Norfolk, Va, William "Raki" Peebles started playing saxophone at an early age. Although a proficient multi- instrumentalist(soprano,alto,tenor,baritone saxes,percussion, and keyboards), composition and improvisation have become his forte. After enrolling at SC State as a music major in 1977, Raki developed his skills as a musician while touring with the Henderson Davis Theater Group and the SC State Jazz Ensemble. The direction of composition really began to take shape when introduced to George Russell's Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization as private student in the New England Conservatory of music graduate program. Raki has written for sting quartet, saxophone quartet and several bands including the NEC big band and the George Russell Sextet(GRS). Currently as Multiplexicon and with the duo II Funky, his compositions are fusing Nu-Jazz, Funk and poetry. These efforts will be culminated in the first solo release in the near future. Raki is a recipient of the VH-1 save the music grant and has recorded with Against the Grain and Noctis. He has performed at the Middle East Cafe-Boston, Tunnel Club-NYC, Patras Jazz Festival-Greece, Au Chat Nior-Geneva as well as debuted as a composer for the GRS at Sweet Basil's-NYC