“We are happy to present Ralph Hepola (United States), semifinalist of the 8th edition of the 7vjc contest in the Pros & Amateurs category.”

– 7 Virtual Jazz Club Contest – Since 2016, we discover and promote outstanding jazz talents

“The jury has decided and we are happy to present the semifinalists of the 7 Virtual Jazz Club Contest’s 8th Edition: Pros and Amateurs Category – Ralph Hepola (USA)”

– 7 Virtual Jazz Club is dedicated to the support of jazz music in all its forms. Our goal is to promote top quality jazz performances and to discover new talents, through a virtual platform.

Ralph Hepola at December First Friday Art Walk

– Last Row Music – a website publishing news, auditions, events, and other info related to all styles of brass music

Ralph Hepola at Art in the Park in Highland, Illinois on Sunday, October 9, 2022

– Last Row Music & Illinois South Tourism Times

Ralph Hepola at Fresh Gallery for First Friday Art Walk

– Last Row Music – a website publishing news, auditions, events, and other info related to all styles of brass music

Ralph Hepola’s HepTones in Harrison, Arkansas

– Last Row Music – a website publishing news, auditions, events, and other info related to all styles of brass music

Bass Meets Tuba – Tubaist Ralph Hepola Records With Legendary Bassist Bob Bowman

– All About Jazz, the world’s biggest jazz website

Ralph Hepola’s Brass at the Iron District in North Kansas City

– Last Row Music – an online resource for brass musicians

Ralph Hepola at First Friday Art Walk

– Last Row Music – an online resource for brass musicians

Musician Ralph Hepola is the June Featured Artist at The Vineyard.

Ralph Hepola at the Springfield Artsfest

– Last Row Music – an online resource for brass musicians

Artsfest on Historic Walnut Street in Springfield is a celebration of springtime, visual and performing arts, food and fun. The event is the largest fine arts festival in Southwest Missouri and draws around 20,000 patrons annually. Known for featuring over 100 artists from all over the country, live entertainment, and delicious food, patrons make it a priority to come back year after year.

Ralph Hepola performing at First Friday Art Walk

– Last Row Music – an online resource for brass musicians

Downtown Springfield’s favorite monthly arts event featuring local artists, live music, art demonstrations, fun, food, and a few surprises the first Friday of every month.

Ralph Hepola at First Friday Art Walk

– Last Row Music – an online resource for brass musicians

Ralph Hepola’s “This Goes Like This” is the All About Jazz Video of the Day

– All About Jazz, the world’s biggest jazz website

“We were thrilled to have you…I heard terrific things about the show…We will definitely be sending you the invitation for 2022.”

– Kevin Lechler, Executive Director, Denton Arts and Jazz Festival, Denton, Texas

Ralph Hepola’s “Body And Soul” is the All About Jazz Video of the Day

– All About Jazz, the world’s biggest jazz website

“Great performance by you and your group. Thank you for coming.”

– Barb Baker, Manager of Downtown Springfield Community Improvement District,
Springfield, Missouri

“Artists are the backbone of our creative state. Get to know some of the best right here! Meet our April Featured Artists! Ralph Hepola musician | Springfield”

– Missouri Arts Council

“Way beyond oom–pah – the jazz tuba of Ralph Hepola!”

– Barbara MacRobie, Public Information Coordinator, Missouri Arts Council

Speaking of the Arts on KOPN-FM interviews Ralph Hepola

– Diana Moxon, Arts Journalist and Speaking of the Arts Host

“Tubist Ralph Hepola (and a Brass Profiles Member) was recently a Featured Artist for the Missouri Arts Council. Learn more in this brief article.”

– Last Row Music – an online resource for brass musicians

“Ralph makes a strong case for the tuba as a lead instrument in jazz”

by Scott Yanow

Scott Yanow is a jazz journalist, jazz historian, and the author of thirteen books: Trumpet Kings; All Music Guide to Jazz; The Jazz Singers; The Great Jazz Guitarists: The Ultimate Guide; Afro-Cuban Jazz; Jazz On Film; Jazz On Record – The First Sixty Years; Jazz: A Regional Exploration; Bebop; Swing; Classic Jazz; Duke Ellington; Jazz Lives – Till We Shall Meet And Never Part.

Mr. Yanow is a regular contributor to eight magazines: Downbeat, Jazziz, New York City Jazz Record, Los Angeles Jazz Scene, Jazz Artistry Now, Jazz Monthly and The Syncopated Times and The Jazz Rag (from England). He has written over 850 liner notes, and approximately 20,000 record reviews.

“Hey Jazz Fans – Ready for Some Hipster Heptones?”

“Veteran tuba master Ralph Hepola creates a dynamic, supremely soulful new lead voice for the idiom on his eclectic debut album Tuba”.

by Jonathan Widran

As a veteran music journalist, Jonathan Widran has been a regular contributor, reviewer, feature writer, columnist and/or editor for Music Connection, Wine and Jazz Magazine, Jazziz Magazine, All Music Guide, Singer/Songwriter Universe, SmoothJazz.com, Billboard.com, iTunes, Amazon.com and the Los Angeles Times.

“Ralph Hepola’s Tuba carves out a place for the much-maligned horn in modern jazz.”

“The virtuoso tuba player leads his quartet through a set of his freewheeling originals, playing with remarkable fluency as the lead instrument.”

– Jazz Promo Services

Based in New York and part of the Big Apple Jazz Scene for more than twenty five years.

“Ralph Hepola is a Scandinavian-American improvising tubaist. A musician who plays the language of contemporary jazz on the tuba. Today’s Song of the Day is “Roots and Wings”, a laid-back funk number from Hepola’s outstanding 2019 disc “Tuba”.”

– Brian Zimmerman, JAZZIZ jazziz.com

JAZZIZ magazine and jazziz.com – JAZZIZ has been called “the voice of a new jazz culture, a culture it helped create,” and over the past 35 years has earned the reputation for its undisputed authority on jazz and style.

“Tu like a tuba, fufu like a funker and gro like a groover. This tune has Herbie fusion magic all over it.” 4 stars

– Fiona Ord-Shrimpton, Editor/Curator of Track of the Day on All About Jazz, the world’s biggest jazz website, writing about Roots and Wings from the new recording Ralph Hepola – Tuba