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William Peebles
About Me
My Jazz Story
William A Peebles III
Born in Norfolk, Va, William "Raki" Peebles started playing saxophone
at an early age. Although a proficient multi-
instrumentalist(soprano,alto,tenor,baritone saxes,percussion, and
keyboards), composition and improvisation have become his forte.
After enrolling at SC State as a music major in 1977, Raki developed
his skills as a musician while touring with the Henderson Davis
Theater Group and the SC State Jazz Ensemble. The direction of
composition really began to take shape when introduced to George
Russell's Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization as private
student in the New England Conservatory of music graduate program.
Raki has written for sting quartet, saxophone quartet and several
bands including the NEC big band and the George Russell Sextet(GRS).
Currently as Multiplexicon and with the duo II Funky, his compositions
are fusing Nu-Jazz, Funk and poetry. These efforts will be culminated
in the first solo release in the near future.
Raki is a recipient of the VH-1 save the music grant and has recorded
with Against the Grain and Noctis. He has performed at the Middle East
Cafe-Boston, Tunnel Club-NYC, Patras Jazz Festival-Greece, Au Chat
Nior-Geneva as well as debuted as a composer for the GRS at Sweet
Basil's-NYC