Josh Shpak
Josh Shpak, the 19 year old Berklee College of Music student, recently posted a youtube video dedicated to one of his mentor’s, the one and only Clark Terry. We first caught Josh at a Tower Of Power concert a few years ago, when he sat in with Tower for a couple of songs,and have been following him since. Over the years, Josh has had several mentors including horn legends Clark Terry, Mic Gillette, and Bobby Shew.
Here is a brief bio about Josh:
“I love connecting with people,” says young trumpeter, Josh Shpak. “Whether they be teenagers or your grandma, if I can see that they’re feeling the music, I’m happy.” This breaking of generational gaps has become somewhat of a habit for the 19 year old Berklee College of Music student. With a rich style evident of influences from classic jazz to electronica, Shpak has made himself a wanted commodity in the music world. This cross-generational quality has launched a career playing with jazz heavy-weights, such as Cedar Walton and Jimmy Heath, soul legends Tower of Power, and young cross-over innovators like Esperanza Spalding and Christian Scott.
Clark Terry With Josh
A protégé of jazz icon Clark Terry, Josh Shpak is dually driven by a great respect for the past, and a drive to put his own mark on the future. “Every great musician in history has been completely present in his or her own time period, while using their knowledge of the tradition to drive their creative forces.”
Among his numerous awards and accolades are being named the 2012 Yamaha Young Performing Artists jazz trumpet winner, the 2012 NFAA YoungArts jazz trumpet winner, one of 3 finalists in the 2012 International Trumpet Guild Jazz Competition, one of 4 trumpet finalists for the 2012 Monk Institute, a semifinalist in the 2013 National Trumpet Competition, a resident of the 2013 Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program at the Kennedy Center, a resident in the 2013 Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music, and a recipient of the 2013 Downbeat Magazine Outstanding Jazz Trumpet Award.
Below is the youtube video/song titled “For CT”:
Special thanks to Michael Miller for providing bio, pictures, and video.
