Brad Shepik - The Well (2000)

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.