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Bio/Resume

Bio/Resume Ira Nepus was born in Los Angeles, California and was raised on the jazz heritage of his father, one of the key founders of the Hot Club of France in Paris during the late Thirties and was featured in his first jazz concert at the age of 15. Ira gives equal importance to all styles of jazz, from traditional on up through contemporary.

Ira currently performs with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, which he has been an original member of for over thirty-eight years, privately teaches, and performs in all major recording studios throughout the Los Angeles area. He also plays and tours periodically with his own quartet and continues to record in that format. He currently is artistic director for the Gardens of the World's Summer Jazz Series in Thousand Oaks, sponsored by the Hogan Family Foundation celebrating over 10 years of concerts in the Park.

He has performed/recorded with Paul McCartney, Elton John, Leon Russell, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Elvis Costello, BB King, (Grammy Winner) and/or also recorded with some of the following greats: Benny Carter, Woody Herman, Del Courtney, Quincy Jones, Gerald Wilson, Nelson Riddle, Lionel Hampton, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Aretha Franklin, Diana Krall, and Cab Calloway to name a few.

Education: Ira is a graduate of the University of Hawaii with a Bachelor's Degree in Music and Education; and has a Masters Degree in Music and Jazz Studies from USC . He studied privately from Harold Diner, Bob Edmondson, Dick Nash, Robert Marsteller, Roy Main, Doc Rheinhardt, Uan Racey, Jimmy Stamp, and Trummy Young.

Jazz Festivals - He helped initiate the first Santa Barbara Jazz Festival (1981), All Women's Jazz Festival in Tokyo, Japan (1991), the first Hawaii International Jazz Festival (1994), the first Salt Lake City International Jazz Festival (2001), the first Camarillo Arts and Jazz Festival (2003)

He has also appeared at the Playboy Jazz Festivals, Monterey Jazz Festivals, Red Sea Jazz Festival (Eilat, Israel), and numerous others throughout Europe and the world.

In 1983, Ira pioneered the Grand Opening of Tokyo Disneyland as Band Director, Conductor, and Music Consultant for all Grand Opening Ceremonies.

In 1991 his invention of the Softone Mute found its way to brass players throughout the globe, distributed by the Conn-Selmer Corp.

MOTION PICTURES

Standing on Shoulders of Giants, Star Trek's - Generations, X-Files, Addam's Family Values, City Slicker's 1&2, Dragon-The Bruce Lee Story, Beethoven 1&2, Rocketeer, Brewster's Millions, Kindergarden Cop, Movers and Shakers, Dr. Do-Little, Arachnophobia, After the Sunset, Fat Albert, The Honeymooners, Big Momma's House, Child's Play 1&2, Indecent Proposal, Fatal Instinct, Joy in the Morning, Higher Learning, Terms of Endearment, Remember the Titans, Step Into Liquid (Surf Documentary with Richard Gibbs), Ted 1&2, Twentieth Century Fox music logo, and many others.

TELEVISION

Featured soloist on American Idol, Seth MacFarlane's Family Guy, The Cleveland Show, American Dad, The Simpsons, Spongebob, The Muppets, Knot's Landing,

Game Shows: Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, The Grammy's with Alicia Keyes, Latin Grammy's, etc.

TELEVISION COMMERCIALS

Nintendo, EverReady Batteries, Pepsi, MCI, Sprint, Nike, Miller Brewing Co., Toyota, Mazda, Kodak, Disneyland, Dr. Pepper, etc.

RECORDS

Paul McCartney's Kisses On The Bottom, Elton John / Leon Russell (The Union), numerous Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, plus special albums with Diana Krall, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Gladys Knight, John Pizzarelli, Dr. John, Natalie Cole, Milt Jackson, Charles Aznavour.

Woody Herman- Brand New, Woody

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (soloist on all their CDs), Anthony Wilson, Gerald Wilson, Michael Buble, Hiroshima, Michael Bolton, Hawaii Artists, and more


Ira Nepus / Steve Moore : Together (2013)
Ira Nepus / Steve Moore Another Time, Another Place; the Music of Benny Carter (2006)

Ira Nepus "Trombone Feeling" (1979) to be re-issued in Japan, Sept. 2012.