Saxophonist/composer, Ray Zepeda, differentiates himself not only by his diverse musical background but also by his life story – a sojourn that began in the shadows of oil wells and derricks in Taft, California, followed by his formative musical development in Los Angeles’s beach cities which led to a 5-year stint in Boston where he broadened his musical perspective and started composing, only to return to establish himself in the Los Angeles jazz and contemporary scene. In addition to his electronic and musique concrete works, Zepeda has written for all combinations of chamber ensembles and for full orchestra. HIs jazz oeuvre includes pieces for trios, quartet, sextet, Latin ensembles, and big band. When combining the two genres, Zepeda has a penchant for both the Babbitt/Boulez school of pitch class organization and free atonality.
His album, “Step By Step” (Soundsketch Records), enjoyed significant radio airplay nationwide and abroad resulting in marked chart movement. It features Bill Evans Trio drummer, Joe La Barbera, and Zepeda’s compositions and arrangements ranging from the contemplative to the aggressive. His second album, this time as Artistic Director of the Bakersfield New Music Collective, “Re-Imagining Milton Babbitt…”, features many of his own large ensemble and electronic compositions in the vein of American serialist, Milton Babbitt.
Zepeda has performed/recorded with Lou Rawls, Carl Carlton, Pete Escovedo, Russ Ferrante, John Patitucci, Joe La Barbera, Barbara Morrison, and Thelma Jones. Since beginning his professional career playing lead alto in various big bands at age 15, his musical palette has expanded to serious composition and avant-garde jazz. Mr. Zepeda holds the Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Southern California where he studied with saxophonist, Bob Sheppard, and the Bachelor of Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he studied Composition with Pulitzer Prize and MacArthur Grant-winning composer, John Harbison.
