Home » Jazz Musicians » Rex Shepherd

Rex Shepherd

Guitarist and composer Rex Shepherd has been writing and performing music for more than 30 years. Initially a rock and blues player, Shepherd became entranced by the playing of guitarist Jim Hall on the first listen. He began learning the jazz language on guitar, studying at the University of Akron in Ohio, growing toward becoming a known performer and composer in the Cleveland area. His musical journey began with an affinity for the more "outside" music of Wayne Shorter, Ornette Coleman, Sam Rivers, and Anthony Braxton. His current style, which is grown from the jazz tradition, employs a liberal application of melody and suggestive harmonies enabling free expression of musical ideas in a context he refers to as conceptual improvisation. He utilizes brief to moderate length melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic ideas to propel exploration of sonic space, blurring the boundary between written and free music. Some of his exploration includes alternative approaches to the guitar, using found objects, bowing, and effects and loops to give the instrument an extended voice. Some of the highlights of his career to date include recording and performing albums of his compositions with some of the players who worked with both Sam Rivers and Albert Ayler.

Tags

1

Recording

David Pate & Rex Shepherd, One Half Of The Oddyssey Quartet, To Release New Album Seeing Sound

David Pate & Rex Shepherd, One Half Of The Oddyssey Quartet, To Release New Album Seeing Sound

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

The first duet release from one half of the Oddyssey Quartet, with David Pate (Sam Rivers Rivbea Orchestra) and guitarist and composer Rex Shepherd (No End of Now). Seeing Sound features the two playing an improvised set, creating palpable musical textures using subtle harmonic and melodic ideas and developing them into intuitive conversations, “seeing” the sound of two like minds speaking with one another. “Playing duets with David Pate is like having a meaningful conversation with a good friend while ...

1

Recording

Experimental Guitarist Rex Shepherd Releases Three Albums Digitally

Experimental Guitarist Rex Shepherd Releases Three Albums Digitally

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

Guitarist Rex Shepherd has released three albums digitally: Ohio, Sonority and Duets. Combining elements of jazz improvisation and harmony with an approach to guitar playing heavily influenced by diverse players such as Jim Hall, Robin Trower, Fred Frith, and sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar, Rex Shepherd has forged a niche for himself with original music that typically lies somewhere just outside the usual genre labels but is still music that is approachable. Says Rex, “This new music was recorded in my ...

"A bit deranged but totally interesting." Bruce Von Stier
Albert Ayler
saxophone, tenor
Wayne Shorter
saxophone
Anthony Braxton
woodwinds
Ornette Coleman
saxophone, alto
John Coltrane
saxophone
Jim Hall
guitar
Charles Lloyd
saxophone
Sam Rivers
saxophone, tenor

Photos

Music

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.