Find out all about - Midwest Coast - updated 12/17/09

This past 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 nine 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. 

Josh composed all of the songs on this CD, a process he began in the fall of 2008. Prior to this CD project, Josh had never seriously composed anything, and in preparation for this recording he composed nearly twenty songs! Of all of these songs, he decided on nine which were going to be recorded.

He was in the studio recording on June 14th and June 15th, the same historic studio that has seen recordings by - Wild Cherry, The James Gang, Grandfunk Railroad, and more recently the Black Keys. Suma owner and sound engineer Paul Hamann was the mastermind behind the recording console, and did a masterful job at recording, mixing, and mastering the CD.

There were many other people involved in this project, including Robert J. Saferstein, who took all the photos, and Mike Rzepka who did the graphic design. For the CD liner notes, long time Cleveland jazz personality Dan Polletta (jazz host of 90.3 WCPN ideastream's jazz show from 1987 - spring 2009) lent his ear end expertise to help out and fill the reader in on the session.

On August 18th, Josh was on 90.3 WCPN's Around Noon with Dee Perry where he was interviewed by Dan Polletta. They previewed the CD, and the CD release which was on 8/20/09! Link to podcast!

NEW! - Midwest Coast's first full CD review! 9/16/09 In Cleveland SCENE magazine, by Carlo Wolff.

"...an impressive display of chops and taste...Rzepka has crafted a winning, listenable recording debut. Mainstream, bop-based jazz at its most accessible, Midwest Coast is never bland or overly smooth." - Carlo Wolff - Cleveland SCENE

"Rzepka displays a refreshing grasp of melody and economy of phrase, and,  in the singularly lovely "Song for a New Year," he expresses emotional depth beyond his 25 years."  - Carlo Wolff - Cleveland SCENE

Stay tuned for information about Josh's debut Classical CD!

Josh is currently in the recording process for his classical CD!  This CD will be baroque and     classical concerti with a 13 piece string orchestra, and with organ.  Recording is taking place in Cleveland Heights and Oberlin.  Stay tuned for more information regarding this exciting project.  Tentative release will be in May of 2010.

http://www.ohio.com/entertainment/abram/48708617.html - Akron Beacon Journal Article

Photos by Robert J. Saferstein