Jazz Artists Fahn and Sheppard Make All the Right Moves : * Music: The trombonist and saxophonist, playing at El Matador tonight, have seen upswings in careers of late.

By BILL KOHLHAASE

May 7, 1992 12 AM PT

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Let’s call tonight’s appearance of trombonist Mike Fahn and saxophonist Bob Sheppard at El Matador the “On-the-Move Tour,” even though it is the first and only stop for the two as a team. But the name’s still appropriate. Both men have seen major advances in their respective careers recently.

Sheppard’s big move came late last year with the release of his first album as a front man. The saxophonist, who just turned 40, has been called on to record with everyone from Michael Franks to Rickie Lee Jones. He’s added his assured style to discs by such contemporaries as pianists Billy Childs, Andy Laverne and former Miles Davis sideman John Beasley, as well as guitarist Scott Henderson’s Tribal Tech band.

He leads his own groups in Los Angeles on occasion at clubs such as Le Cafe in Sherman Oaks, and has been tabbed to appear with such notables as pianist Horace Silver and trumpeter Randy Brecker. His may be best known for his eight-year association with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard.

With such credentials, you would expect Sheppard’s new disc to deliver the goods, and it does. “Tell Tale Signs,” which includes both Childs and Beasley on keys, as well as former Weather Report drummer Peter Erskine, is a decidedly modern extension of the straight-ahead tradition, full of twists and turns and formidable improvisations from electric and acoustic instruments. But Sheppard is concerned that the album, released by Windham Hill Jazz, will be overlooked because of Windham Hill’s reputation as a new-age label.

“There’s a stigma attached to it,” he says from his home in North Hollywood. “People cut off the ‘Jazz’ part of the name and they’re left with Windham Hill. My theory is that jazz fans are real snobs, and I’m proud to say I’m one of them. But with the label’s past reputation, it’s taking the jazz purists a long time to realize that they’re doing other things. It’s a little frustrating. But the company I have on the jazz label is great--Billy Childs’ albums, John Beasley’s ‘Cauldron.’ They let people do exactly what they want.”

Part of the album’s attraction is the streamlined, modern atmosphere of its material, most of which was written by Sheppard. “I’m working on being a better composer all the time,” he said, “but it’s so time-consuming just keeping up on the horn that I don’t have much time left to write. But when I have a deadline, I can get it together.”

For the 31-year-old Fahn, the move was literal. After 13 years, he quit his day job selling clothing at Nordstrom last July to join trumpeter Maynard Ferguson’s band for a six-month tour (he spent a similar amount of time with Ferguson in 1989). After the stint with Ferguson, he moved from Huntington Beach to Los Angeles looking for opportunity. “There’s more of a chance to be heard in big bands and rehearsal bands here,” he explained by phone from his new home in West Los Angeles, “more of a chance to play in high-visibility clubs.

“It was very tough to live a dual lifestyle, to get up and go to work in the morning and do promotion and find time to practice and go out and play. And then, to get up and go back to work each morning; it was hard on me physically and mentally. I can always come back to the day job if necessary. But so far so good.”

Since the move, he’s been seen locally with trumpeter Jack Sheldon’s big band and has sat in with drummer Lew Mallin’s 21-piece orchestra at the Moonlight Tango Cafe in Sherman Oaks. And the move hasn’t made him any less visible in Orange County. He returns regularly to work with trumpeter Joe Nappa at the Cafe Lido, and pianist Rags Martinson at the Old Dana Point Cafe. He’s also been the featured soloist with bassist Jim DeJulio’s trio at Maxwell’s in Huntington Beach.

The big-band gigs have signaled another change for Fahn. Best known as one of a handful of competent valve trombonists, he’s now playing the slide version of the instrument as well.

“I’ve been playing slide for about two years,” he explains. “It’s a viable way to make a living and a good way to learn about the music. Since I’ve had no formal training on the slide, I wanted to go back and learn the instrument that everyone else around me is playing.”

Fahn also makes a splash on drummer Dick Berk’s new album, “Bouncing With Berk,” along with keyboardist Tad Weed, who will be with them at El Matador tonight. He leads his own combo at the Bel Age Hotel in West Hollywood later this month and will travel to Zurich, Switzerland this June with guitarist Frank Gambale’s group to record a jazz special for Swiss television.

* Mike Fahn and Bob Sheppard appear tonight at 8:30 with pianist Tad Weed, bassist Tom Warrington, and drummer Ray Brinker at El Matador, 16903 Algonquin St., Huntington Beach. No cover. (714) 846-5337.