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Brad Shepik — Dossier:
• B.F.A from Cornish College of the Arts and a Masters in Jazz Performance/Composition from New York University
• Has appeared as a sideman on over 70 recordings
• Educator in theory, improvisation, Balkan Music, private guitar and more
• Website | Bandcamp | LinkedIn

Brad Shepik, the Seattle-born, New York-honed guitarist, will release Human Activity: Dream of the Possible on October 11, 2024, on Shifting Paradigm Records. This ten-movement work serves as Shepik's musical response to our ongoing climate crisis, building on his 2007 work, Human Activity Suite.

Shepik's latest features an ensemble that includes Layale Chaker on violin, Amino Belyamani on piano, Sam Minaie on bass, and John Hadfield on drums and percussion. Shepik contributes to guitar, tambura, and saz, showcasing his versatility and influences from world music. 


Each movement of Human Activity addresses a different aspect of climate change. "Code Red" opens the album, echoing the urgent warnings from climate scientists. "The Search" explores the plight of climate migrants, while "Dream of the Possible" contemplates cleaner alternatives to carbon-intensive lifestyles.

Shepik's composition "Symbioticity" suggests cooperation between humans and nature, while "Future Generations" looks ahead to those who'll inherit our environmental legacy. "Travel Back" evokes nostalgia for cleaner times, and "Still Heat" reflects on 2021's Pacific Northwest heat dome.

The album's final movements, "All Hands," "Naturitude," and "Orange Haze," call for collective action, express gratitude for nature, and capture the surreal effects of distant wildfires, respectively.

Shepik's extensive career, which includes collaborations with jazz luminaries like Paul Motian and Dave Douglas and world music artists such as Yuri Yunakov, informs what he brings to this album. At the same time, his global musical perspective adds depth to the universal theme of climate change.

Photo by Caroline Mardok

"I aimed to create a concert-length piece that reflects the state of the climate and the evolution of our attitudes toward climate change over the past 14 years," Shepik explains. His wife, photographer Caroline Mardok, contributes visuals to the CD booklet, adding another dimension to the project's environmental message.

Human Activity: Dream of the Possible is both a warning and a beacon of hope. Through his intricate compositions, Shepik reminds us of our power to effect positive change, urging listeners to consider their role in preserving our planet for future generations.

Human Activity: Dream of the Possible will be available on October 11, 2024.