Guitarist, composer, educator Brad Shepik has recorded 8 albums as a leader of 4 different ensembles, Brad Shepik Quartet, Brad Shepik Trio, Human Activity Quintet, and Brad Shepik and the Commuters. Since 1995 his ensembles have performed at major festivals and clubs across Europe and North America including The North Sea Jazz Festival, Garda Jazz Festival, Cologne Biennale Jazz Festival, Toulouse Jazz Festival, and others.
As a sideman Brad appears on more than 60 recordings and has performed and/or recorded with Paul Motian's Electric Bebop Band, Dave Douglas' Tiny Belll Trio, Combo Nuvo, Bob Brookmeyer, John Hollenbeck, Jamie Baum, Pachora, Paradox Trio, Joel Harrison, Kiran Ahluwalia, Yuri Yunakov's Bulgarian Wedding Band, BABKAS, Tridruga, Lingua Franca, Safari Trio, Jay Clayton, Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra, Carla Bley's Escalator Over the Hill, Simon Shaheen, and was a a member of Joey Baron's band Killer Joey from 2000-2009.
Born in Walla Walla, Washington and raised in Seattle, Brad Shepik began playing guitar at age 10, when he picked up his father's instrument. He played both guitar and saxophone in school bands and studied guitar with Al Galante, Dave Petersen, Ralph Towner, John Abercrombie and composition with Marc Consoli.
His teaching activities include private guitar and ensembles as well as classes in Theory, Improvisation, Balkan Music and Chicago Blues.
His current projects include solo guitar performances and the Tom Beckham/Brad Shepik Duo which released their debut recording Flower Starter in 2015. The Brad Shepik Organ Trio with Gary Versace and Mark Ferber has a release planned for early 2016.