Biography

A performer of all styles, a composer, and an educator…Josh is at home in the concert hall, recital hall, jazz club, and jazz festival.

Whether playing in orchestra, brass quintet, big band, or jazz quartet, Josh is constantly expanding his musical horizons, and is constantly seeking out new venues for musical expression.

Born in Akron, Ohio, Josh is a graduate of the esteemed Oberlin Conservatory of Music, with a degree in classical trumpet and jazz performance. His trumpet teachers at Oberlin were Roy Poper (classical) and Kenny Davis (jazz). He started playing the trumpet while in the 4th grade.

At 25, Josh has already played at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Severance Hall, Boston’s Symphony Hall, Cleveland Bop Stop, Night Town, Blossom Music Center, and the Knitting Factory. Additionally, he has performed with such jazz luminaries as Slide Hampton, Gary Bartz, Marcus Belgrave, John and Jeff Clayton and Christian McBride. In the classical world, Josh has performed as a soloist giving recitals in Akron, Oberlin, and Boston. He has also performed with the Oberlin Orchestra, Boston University Orchestra, and the Ashland Symphony.

While in High school Josh was invited to be a member of the Tri-C Jazz-fest High-school All-Star Big Band. Performing with the All-Star Band, Josh shared the stage with many jazz greats, and had the opportunity to open for the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Gregory Hines. Josh also performed at the IAJE mid-west conference, the Tri-C Jazz-Fest, as well as the Monterey Jazz Festival, as part of a High school invitational where only ten bands from the entire country were invited to perform.

Josh has appeared on Time Warner Cable's Arts Quest, Cleveland NBC affiliate WKYC's Good Company morning show, Cleveland’s FOX 8 Morning Show, 90.3 ideastream’s Around Noon, 104.9 WCLV, and other local radio stations. Additional past performances have been with Sammy DeLeon y Su Orquesta, Big Band Connection, Jazz Unit, Kenny Davis, Greg Bandy, Bob Frasier, Mike Petrone, and many others.

Active in many other genres as well, Josh has performed in the pits for over two dozen different musicals. Some of his recording credits include, "Temporary Romance, by Scott Stein" as well as "aural capacity vol. 3, Student Works 2005 Oberlin Conservatory of Music".

In 2008 Josh teamed up with pianist and singer Harry Bacharach and began playing all over NE Ohio, included a tour of NYC where they performed at the Knitting Factory to promote the upcoming release of the CD "Velvet Tango" and the release of a limited print EP. In August of 2008, "Velvet Tango" was officially released, and has since received national media attention and critical acclaim from Cleveland's leading arts and entertainment magazine, SCENE. Besides playing trumpet and flugelhorn on the album, Josh co-produced and co-engineered the album with Bacharach.

In the fall of 2008 Josh began a masters of music program at Boston University where he studies with acclaimed teacher and trumpet soloist Terry Everson. Currently Josh spends his time in Boston as well as NE Ohio.

This summer Josh returned to NE Ohio to record his debut jazz and classical CDs. Rzepka's jazz CD, Midwest Coast, was recorded on June 14th and 15th at historic Ohio recording studio, Suma, located in Painesville. He recorded his album of 9 original jazz compositions with some of Ohio's very finest jazz musicians. These musicians include Pianist Jackie Warren, Bassist Peter Dominguez, and Drummer Ron Godale. Click here to find out more about Midwest Coast.

Josh's will begin the recording process for his Classical CD just after new years, so stay tuned for more exciting information! The CD will be released in the spring time!