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{{short description|American jazz musician}} |
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{{Multiple issues| |
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{{Infobox musical artist |
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{{Orphan|date=August 2012}} |
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| name = Jack Grassel |
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{{BLP sources|date=December 2014}} |
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| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist |
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| image = Jack gibson.JPG |
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| caption = |
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| birth_name = |
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| birth_date =1948 |
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| birth_place = |
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| genre = [[Jazz]] |
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| occupation = Musician, teacher |
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| instrument = Guitar |
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| years_active = 1990s–present |
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| label = Frozen Sky |
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| associated_acts = |
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| website = |
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}} |
}} |
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[[File:Jack gibson.JPG|thumb|Jack Grassel]] |
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== Career == |
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His teachers included guitarists [[Tal Farlow]], [[George Van Eps]], [[Billy Bauer]], [[Jimmy Wyble]], George Pritchett, Don Momblow, saxophonist [[Joe Daley]], and pianist Ted Ashford. |
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== Early years == |
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The oldest of four boys, Grassel was born September 3, 1948 in Milwauke. Seeing him struggle as a child to stretch his fingers on the piano keys, his father gave him an accordion and lessons. By age four, he was touring as a solo act with the Bar o' Ranch variety show. He appeared on television talent shows. Starting in 1958, he won the Wisconsin State Music Festival three times. At age ten, he added a drummer and began playing weddings and dances with his duo. |
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He purchased a bass guitar to play professionally two nights per week in the rock band The Triumphs. Modern Music Center hired him at the age of thirteen to teach piano, bass, and accordion. At the end of the decade, he was performing seven nights a week in dance clubs with The Rivieras, a rhythm and blues band that performed songs by [[James Brown]] and [[Bobby Bland]]. |
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In 1966 at seventeen, exhausted from performing, he quit playing and enrolled in Pharmacy School at the University of Wisconsin. But his mind returned to music. He began to visit a record shop to learn jazz history from the clerk, Mitch Covic. A turning point came in 1968 when he attended his first jazz concert: [[Charles Lloyd (jazz musician)|Charles Lloyd]] with [[Keith Jarrett]] and [[Paul Motian]]. He spent his food allowance on jazz records, finding music more interesting than school. When he returned to playing music, he bought a guitar, practiced fifteen hours a day for six months, and fell asleep at night with the guitar in his hands. |
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== Professional career == |
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[[File:Billy and Jack.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Billy Bauer]] and Jack Grassel, Long Island, New York, 2001]] |
[[File:Billy and Jack.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Billy Bauer]] and Jack Grassel, Long Island, New York, 2001]] |
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Grassel's first employment as a guitarist came in 1970, playing the teen bar circuit with the rhythm and blues band The Chevrons. When he was twenty-one he formed the [[jazz rock]] band Matrix, which worked until 1974. With Matrix he recorded the first album of his compositions. His teaching accelerated in 1971 when he secured a job designing the jazz guitar degree program at the [[Wisconsin Conservatory of Music]]. He wrote his first two books to challenge his advanced students. |
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He was called to audition for the show ''[[Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris]]''. When the first-call guitarists were unable to play the challenging music, Grassel succeeded. Hearing of his music skills, musicians touring the area asked to hire him. Among them Anna Marie Albergetti, [[Carol Channing]], [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]], [[Trini Lopez]], and [[Al Martino]]. He also accompanied comedians such as [[Pete Barbutti]], [[Bob Hope]], [[Jay Leno]], [[Bob Newhart]], and [[Jerry Van Dyke]]. |
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He became a guitarist for the [[Barnum and Bailey Circus]] band and the Holiday on Ice Orchestra, in addition to performing with symphony orchestras conducted by [[Lukas Foss]] and [[Kenneth Schermerhorn]]. As a [[studio musician]] he performed jingles on radio and television. He played with a radio show band in the morning, taught at the conservatory or performed in elementary schools in the afternoon, played Broadway shows in the early evening and with his jazz trio in clubs at night. |
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| ⚫ | With a family to support, Grassel turned to teaching music and playing jazz locally. He worked with [[Rosemary Clooney]], [[Slide Hampton]], [[Stanley Jordan]], |
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During the 1990s Grassel played jazz seven nights per week in duos, trios, quartets, and with the twelve-piece Chuck Howard Superband. He played duets on classical guitar in concert with [[Luciano Pavarotti]]. From 1990–1993 he studied with [[George Van Eps]], working on solo guitar technique, and recorded his first album, ''Solo Burner''. From 1994–1998 he studied with [[Tal Farlow]], who recorded some of their sessions, which Grassel released on the album ''Two Guys with Guitars''. To facilitate studying with Farlow in New Jersey while living in Wisconsin, Grassel secured a teaching job at the National Guitar Workshop in nearby Connecticut. |
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[[File:Jimmy Jack Sid.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Jimmy Wyble]], Jack Grassel, and Sid Jacobs at the Musician's Institute in Hollywood, California, 2009]] |
[[File:Jimmy Jack Sid.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Jimmy Wyble]], Jack Grassel, and Sid Jacobs at the Musician's Institute in Hollywood, California, 2009]] |
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| ⚫ | With a family to support, Grassel turned to teaching music and playing jazz locally. He worked with [[Rosemary Clooney]], [[Slide Hampton]], [[Stanley Jordan]], [[Ed Thigpen]], and [[Nancy Wilson (jazz singer)|Nancy Wilson]]. He created the Occupational Music degree program at [[Milwaukee Area Technical College]] and wrote the books ''Big Ax'' and ''Super Ax''. He formed Frozen Sky Records. As a result of the first two records of his compositions "Magic Cereal" and "If You're Too Crazy", he was featured in the New Talent section of ''[[Guitar Player]]'' magazine and became a contributing writer.<ref name="Milkowski">{{cite web |last1=Milkowski |first1=Bill |title=Jill Jensen/Jack Grassel: It's About the Music |url=https://jazztimes.com/departments/guitartistry/jill-jensenjack-grassel-its-about-the-music/ |website=JazzTimes |accessdate=25 November 2018 |date=1 May 2007}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The [[Hofner]] guitar company hired Grassel to record a promotional album, ''Guitar Smoke'' |
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| ⚫ | In 2000, readers of ''Guitar One'' magazine voted Grassel "one of the 10 best guitarists in America." He married vocalist Jill Jensen, and they recorded |
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In 2004, Grassel became ill from a near-fatal staph infection. His body, heart, brain, and nervous system were damaged, and he stopped playing music for many years. After regaining his skill, he was too weak to continue teaching at Milwaukee Area Technical College, so he quit. |
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In September 2010, the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music presented a concert of Grassel's compositions, commemorating the fortieth anniversary of his first composition performed there. At the beginning of 2011, seldom leaving home, he began giving lessons with [[Skype]] to guitarists around the world. |
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He teaches at [[Musicians Institute]] in Los Angeles and plays concerts with Jensen. They released the album ''Live at the Carlton Grange'', commemorating three and a half years of employment. |
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== Technique and influence == |
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Grassel comes from a family of musicians. His grandfather played mandolin, his great-uncle the accordion. His aunt Adeline led the Star and Her Five Points band during the 1930s and '40s. His father played trumpet and his brother plays piano. |
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| ⚫ | He later invented an instrument he named the "SuperAx" which contained both guitar and [[bass guitar]] strings. His friend, guitarist Kirk Tatnall, built one, too, and they recorded the album ''Live at the Uptowner'' with their hybrid instruments.<ref name="Yanow">{{cite book|last1=Yanow|first1=Scott|title=The Great Jazz Guitarists |date= 2013 |publisher= Backbeat |location = San Francisco |isbn=978-1-61713-023-6 |page=220 }}</ref> |
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He developed his own techniques of playing melody, chords, bass, and percussion to sound like three guitarists simultaneously. He combines standard picking technique with classical finger techniques. To avoid sounding like other guitarists, he refrained from listening to any music produced with a guitar for ten years from 1971–1981. |
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== Equipment == |
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Grassel uses the Raezer's Edge Jack Grassel model JG-10 speaker cabinet. He plays the Jack Grassel Artist model JG-1 guitar marketed by Smocke Guitars |
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== Awards and honors == |
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* Showcase for new talent, ''Guitar Player'' magazine, 1986 |
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* Named one of ''Guitar One'' magazine's Best Guitarists, 2000 |
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* WAMI award: Jazz artist of the year 1992, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2008; Guitarist of the year, 1994, 2003, 2007 |
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== Discography == |
== Discography == |
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* '' |
* ''Magic Cereal'' (Frozen Sky, 1986) |
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* ''If You're Too Crazy for You Body'' (Frozen Sky, 1989) |
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* ''Christmas Presence'' (Frozensky, 1998) |
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* '' |
* ''Solo Burner'' (Frozen Sky, 1993) |
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* '' |
* ''Christmas Presence'' (Frozen Sky, 1998) |
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* '' |
* ''Guitar Smoke'' (Frozen Sky, 2001) |
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* '' |
* ''Live at the Uptowner'' (Frozen Sky, 2002) |
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* ''Thunderstones'' (Frozen Sky, 2002) |
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* ''Two Guys with Guitars'' with [[Tal Farlow]] (Frozensky, 2004) |
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* '' |
* ''Matrix'' (Frozen Sky, 2003) |
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* '' |
* ''Two Guys with Guitars'' (Frozen Sky, 2004) |
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* ''Ghost Ridge'' (Frozen Sky, 2002) |
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* ''Magic Cereal'' (Frozensky, 2007)<ref name="AM discog">{{cite web|title=Jack Grassel {{!}} Album Discography {{!}} AllMusic|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jack-grassel-mn0000129184|website=AllMusic|accessdate=1 August 2017}}</ref> |
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* ''10'' (Frozen Sky, 2006) |
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==Bibliography== |
==Bibliography== |
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* 1974 |
* 1974 ''Guitar Seeds'' |
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* 1976 |
* 1976 ''Monster Chops'' |
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* 1992 |
* 1992 ''Power Practicing'' |
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* 1994 |
* 1994 ''Big Ax'' |
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* 1996 |
* 1996 ''Super Ax'' |
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* 1998 |
* 1998 ''Jazz Guitar Favorites'' |
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* 1998 |
* 1998 ''Jazz Guitar Classics'' |
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* 1998 |
* 1998 ''Jazz Guitar Standards'' |
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* |
* 2002 ''Jazz Rhythm Guitar'' |
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* 2004 |
* 2004 ''Brain Training'' |
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* |
* 2004 ''131 Axercises'' |
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* 2008 |
* 2008 ''70 Jazz Compositions'' |
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* 2020 ''The Reharmonized Real Book''<ref name="Mueller">{{cite web |last1=Mueller |first1=Michael |title=Jack Grassel Reharmonizes The Real Book |url=https://jazztimes.com/reviews/books/jack-grassel-reharmonizes-the-real-book/ |website=JazzTimes |accessdate=6 April 2020 |date=12 February 2020}}</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:Milwaukee Area Technical College people]] |
[[Category:Milwaukee Area Technical College people]] |
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[[Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni]] |
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[[Category:American jazz guitarists]] |
[[Category:American jazz guitarists]] |
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[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]] |
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]] |
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Latest revision as of 16:56, 7 October 2023
Jack Grassel | |
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 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 1948 |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, teacher |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Labels | Frozen Sky |
Jack Grassel is an American jazz guitarist, teacher, and author from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Career
[edit]
With a family to support, Grassel turned to teaching music and playing jazz locally. He worked with Rosemary Clooney, Slide Hampton, Stanley Jordan, Ed Thigpen, and Nancy Wilson. He created the Occupational Music degree program at Milwaukee Area Technical College and wrote the books Big Ax and Super Ax. He formed Frozen Sky Records. As a result of the first two records of his compositions "Magic Cereal" and "If You're Too Crazy", he was featured in the New Talent section of Guitar Player magazine and became a contributing writer.[1]
He later invented an instrument he named the "SuperAx" which contained both guitar and bass guitar strings. His friend, guitarist Kirk Tatnall, built one, too, and they recorded the album Live at the Uptowner with their hybrid instruments.[2]
The Hofner guitar company hired Grassel to record a promotional album, Guitar Smoke.[3]
In 2000, readers of Guitar One magazine voted Grassel "one of the 10 best guitarists in America." He married vocalist Jill Jensen, and they recorded five albums: Seems Like Dreams, It's About the Music, Snow People. Live at the Carlton Grange and Jack and Jill Jazz. [1]
Discography
[edit]- Magic Cereal (Frozen Sky, 1986)
- If You're Too Crazy for You Body (Frozen Sky, 1989)
- Solo Burner (Frozen Sky, 1993)
- Christmas Presence (Frozen Sky, 1998)
- Guitar Smoke (Frozen Sky, 2001)
- Live at the Uptowner (Frozen Sky, 2002)
- Thunderstones (Frozen Sky, 2002)
- Matrix (Frozen Sky, 2003)
- Two Guys with Guitars (Frozen Sky, 2004)
- Ghost Ridge (Frozen Sky, 2002)
- 10 (Frozen Sky, 2006)
Bibliography
[edit]- 1974 Guitar Seeds
- 1976 Monster Chops
- 1992 Power Practicing
- 1994 Big Ax
- 1996 Super Ax
- 1998 Jazz Guitar Favorites
- 1998 Jazz Guitar Classics
- 1998 Jazz Guitar Standards
- 2002 Jazz Rhythm Guitar
- 2004 Brain Training
- 2004 131 Axercises
- 2008 70 Jazz Compositions
- 2020 The Reharmonized Real Book[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Milkowski, Bill (1 May 2007). "Jill Jensen/Jack Grassel: It's About the Music". JazzTimes. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
- ^ Yanow, Scott (2013). The Great Jazz Guitarists. San Francisco: Backbeat. p. 220. ISBN 978-1-61713-023-6.
- ^ Nathan, Dave. "Guitar Smoke". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
- ^ Mueller, Michael (12 February 2020). "Jack Grassel Reharmonizes The Real Book". JazzTimes. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
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