Recently, some of the best, if not the best, news about a local musician has been about trumpet player Josh Rzepka and his new CD Into the Night, which is currently making some noise on the national jazz charts (currently #14 on Jazzweek’s chart) and is being played on over seventy jazz stations across the country. It is quite unusual for a self produced and released album to get this much national attention in the jazz world.
Rzepka recorded the CD at Oberlin’s new jazz recording studio, and it features a solid group of musicians, all with Oberlin and/or Cleveland roots, including Jackie Warren on piano, Peter Dominguez on bass, Ron Godale on drums, Andy Hunter on Trombone, and Steve Kortyka on sax. The best thing about the album is that it not only shows off Rzepka’s talents, but also the talents of this band. Over the course of the disk they all do their part on numerous solos.
The CD has a real 60’s jazz feel to it, with a touch of Latin rhythms and features numbers with catchy titles like “Blues for C.T.,” “Sarah’s Samba,” and “When I’m with You.” I really like the title tune, which has a real Dave Bruebek feel to it, and “Salsa Queen,” which could have fit in nicely on an old Herb Albert record.
Rzepka has two shows coming up in the Akron area, February 25, he will be performing at Winter Dance Showcase at the Akron Civic Theater, with both Verb Ballets and the University of Akron Dance Company. On Saturday, March 3, along with fellow musician Scott Stein, will be doing a benefit show at the Tangiers to benefit both the Copley and Firestone high schools’ music programs. For more information on both of these shows go to www.joshrzepka.com.
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