Meet Rob Sheppard | Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rob Sheppard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rob, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I loved playing music from my first day of playing saxophone in the 5th grade. It was the first thing that I felt like I had a serious aptitude for, that sparked a deep curiosity within me and a drive to figure out how to play better today than I did yesterday. Getting to that “next level” became kind of an addictive feeling for me – with every new step, you only learn how much more there is to learn. When I was in high school and started thinking about career options, a life outside of music never really felt like a serious consideration. Of course, there were periods of serious self-doubt where I didn’t think I had the skills to “make it,” but I was fortunate to have a supportive family and some amazing teachers who helped me to recognize that the doubt was rooted in fear of failure, which can also be overcome through dedicated practice.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Compelling stories make me the most creatively excited and inspired – it’s part of why I went back to school for a Master’s in English and Creative Writing. I want my music to tell a compelling story and be an authentic representation of my voice. I strongly believe that a huge part of that authenticity is giving the musicians that I work with the freedom to contribute their unique voices, which can also result in widely varying interpretations of the music depending on who I’m playing with. That’s one of the things that excites me the most about playing improvisational music.

The thing that probably sets me apart the most as a jazz instrumentalist is my unique sound/technique on flute. Tenor saxophone is an integral part of my voice too, but there are hundreds of amazing saxophone players just in the Los Angeles area. Jazz flute is still kind of a niche, it’s not really considered a traditional “jazz instrument.” I like the idea of making listeners realize they actually enjoy flute as a lead “jazz instrument” outside of being the butt of an Anchorman joke.

One of the biggest creative lessons that I’ve learned is to trust my own instincts. I’ve been fortunate to study and work with very successful musicians who are undeniably masters of their craft. All of them have a different approach to their music, their careers, how they balance their personal lives. There’s something to be learned from everyone, but at a certain point you have to stop copying others and forge your own path forward.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The Blue Whale before it closed, or the new Blue Whale after it opens. Sam First is a great jazz club in not such a great location, but it’s worth the hassle. I love baseball, and I love the eternally disappointing Anaheim Angels – great vibes and way less crowded and expensive than a Dodgers game. Tacos Los Cholos in Anaheim, Sushi Nikkei in Long Beach. Crystal Cove state beach and the seared ahi sandwich from the Crystal Cove Shake Shack (not related to the chain.)

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are many people that supported me in key moments of my life, without whom I definitely wouldn’t be where I am right now:
-Greg McKelvey, my first jazz band director who fostered my initial curiosity and excitement about the music into a lifelong passion.
– My mom for pushing me in my early teen years to keep the consistent daily practice routine – in addition to just being a supportive mom, she helped to hold me accountable to my goals.
-The incredible jazz education network in the SF Bay Area – mentorship from Dann Zinn in particular, as well as the high school programs at SFJazz and the Jazzschool in Berkeley (now California Jazz Conservatory.) My high school band director, Jon Grantham also definitely deserves a shoutout here for key confidence-building creative support (and letting me take a few bonus band classes my last year of high school so I could have some extra practice time!)
-The faculty at USC that I was fortunate enough to study with – Aaron Serfaty (whose Afro-Latin band is where I really started diving into playing flute seriously,) Ambrose Akinmusire, Jason Goldman, Vince Mendoza, and Bob Mintzer.
-Katisse Buckingham, whose mentorship helped turn me from a “saxophonist who also plays flute” into an actual “flutist.”
-My wife, whose love and support has helped me to silence out the noise and bring me closer to my center as an artist and as a person.

Website: https://rsjazz.com

Instagram: @robobflute

Twitter: @robobflute

Facebook: @robobflute

Youtube: @robobflute

Image Credits
Richard Thompson