RANDY KNACKERT           and 45 RPM

December 2005
Salamone's

Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin

   After 45 RPM opened the concert with a firey set of burning rock and roll, Jack and vocalist Jill Jensen sat in to open the second half.  Randy is a powerful presence on stage.  Jack and Randy had never played music together before this night even though they've been friends since second grade in elementary school. Notice they are both playing the same F chord in first position.                                                      www.45band.com

JAMES MOODY'S

     80th BIRTHDAY

May 2005

Jack - guitar

Hod O'Brien - piano

Stephanie Nakasian - voice      

"Jazz Cruise to Bermuda"

    ( somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean )

   Jack was working on getting his technique back while recovering from a Staph infection which almost killed him in March of 2004.  He sat in and played an aggresive set with jazz virtuosi Hod O'Brien and Stephanie Nakasian. Hod was playing incredible bass lines with his left hand during Jack's solos. Jack played the bass lines during Hod's solos. Stephanie & Jack traded lots of "fours" during a set of very fast bop tunes. She is the greatest of all jazz singers and has written the definitive jazz vocalist instruction book. Hod's fine piano trio recordings are readily available at amazon.com

  NATIONAL GUITAR SUMMER WORKSHOP

August 1997

Jack with Tal Farlow

"TAL FARLOW'S LAST CONCERT"

New Milford, Connecticut

 This concert was for 500 jazz guitarists on a hot August afternoon. It was to be Tal's last public concert.   The audience jumped to it's feet cheering after Jack and Tal played the last tune, "Stella By Starlight".   Jack studied with Tal from 1993 -1998.  Tal passed away in July of 1998. Mr. Farlow had possibly the most unique voice in the history of the guitar.  His recordings showed that he could make great music using the many techniques that he pioneered.  Click on "Hear Jack" to listen to a recording Tal made while the two were jamming together at his home in Sea Bright, New Jersey. It has been released on CD as "Two Guys with Guitars". 

FIRESIDE JAZZ SERIES

The University of Wisconsin
November 1983

Mel Rhyne - piano

Jack - guitar

  Keyboard virtuoso Melvin Rhyne lived in Milwaukee Wisconsin from 1980-2000 before moving back to his native Indianapolis.  Not only is he an incredible pianist, but Mel was a pioneer of the jazz organ, recording with Wes Montgomery in the 60's. Most recently he is breaking new ground with multiple keyboard perrformance. On his recent CD, "Tracks", produced by Andy LoDuca Mel plays numerous keyboards simultaneously.

TAKING A LESSON WITH  BILLY BAUER !!

Mr. Bauer's guitar studio

Long Island, New York

October 2001

  Billy performed on some of the most advanced jazz recordings including the first recording of "free jazz" with Lennie Tristano, Warne Marsh and Lee Konitz in 1948.   Here at 88 he's showing Jack his unique chord system.  The two jammed on "All the Things You Are".  Mr. Bauer sounded wonderful: a very musical and creative guitarist. It was great fun to spend the afternoon with him.

FIVE JAZZ GUITAR PARK CONCERT

 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

      L-R: Manty Ellis, Bob DeBlay,           Don Momblow, George Pritchett,   Skip Bey-bass, and Jack. 

(Dave Ruetz - drums) 

   July 1975

   This legendary concert was sponsored by the city and featured the five top guitarists there at the time. (Jack studied with Momblow and Pritchett as a teenager.

After the first tune, an audience member yelled out: "You guys sound like The Ventures on acid." 

MUSIC EVERYWHERE CONCERT

Chicago, Illinois
           Paul Wertico - drums            

   Marlene Rosenberg - bass

Jack Grassel - guitar

July 2002   

   For one awesome summer, the city of Chicago created a budget for hiring musicians to play hundreds of concerts all over the city. Paul came to the gig on the bus with his snare and cymbal. He and Marlene sounded wonderful sight reading the charts to Jack's compositions.

Ed Thigpen and Jack     

August 2002

  Jack and bassist John Price accompanied Mr. Thigpen at Caroline's Jazz Club and a concert at Wisconsin Lutheran College during which the trio played Ed's compositions exclusively.  Jill Jensen sang "Denise", Ed's musical tribute to his daughter. One of the highlights was Mr. Thigpen playing melodies with his elbow on his small tom while John and Jack played an "outside" funk vamp.

THE JAZZ SHOWCASE

Chicago, Illinois

during the Chicago jazz festival with Ira Sullivan and Marlene Rosenburg

September  2002

    Mr. Sulivan just keeps getting better, always on the cutting edge of musical accomplishment. The audience's collective jaws dropped as he played alto, tenor, trumpet, soprano and flute, as well as each instrument had ever been played by anyone.  He is truly a phenomenon.
photo credit: Bill Klewitz

KALT'S RESTAURANT

Milwaukee, Wisconsn
with bassist Rick Holmes

March 1994

This picture was taken after Jack's "Solo Burner" CD release concert . With them that afternoon was Ernie Adams -drums, Berkeley Fudge-saxophone, and Jeff Pietrangelo-trumpet.    Peter Baime-flamenco guitarist played for the pre-concert dinner.  Jack and Rick played there as a duo for two years.  Thank you Henry Kalt for being one of the best club owners we have ever worked with.

THE MIRAMAR THEATER

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Jack with Howard Levy

January 2000

   Harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy and Jack surprise the audience by playing a duet on mandolin and banjolele.  The rest of the concert was Howard on harmonica and Jack on guitar. One highpoint was the two playing "Take Five" in four and "Giant Steps" in five at the same time. Despite it being very cold in the auditorium (the shivering audience was wrapped in blankets), Jack and Howard provided plenty of heat.

THE PFISTER HOTEL

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Perry Petta - piano
John Price - bass

Jack - guitar

January 2000 - 2007

   This trio played in a wonderful room called "Blu" on the 23rd floor of the Hotel.   As you can see, the walls are glass. The view of the lakefront is incredible, especially when there are fireworks at the music festivals on the shore of Lake Michigan.

CAROLINE'S JAZZ CLUB

MIlwaukee, Wisconsin
with Jill Jensen,

October 2002

   Review: 

"What happens when you take one of the nation's top jazz guitarists, add one of Wisconsin's favorite vocalists and throw in the chemistry of two people in love?  This duo sizzles onstage. Jill's expressive voice sparkles with the sheer delight of singing as she wraps around the lyrics and their emotional implications, blended with Jack's stunning command of the guitar."

SUMMERFEST JAZZ STAGE

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Chuck Howard Superband

July 1, 2003

   Jack played with The Chuck Howard Superband for twenty five years. The band played custom written Walt Stuart charts exclusively and had the finest player in each position. It was essentially a guitar trio (there was no piano) with horns.  This was the personally sad but musically wonderful final concert.

CAROLINE'S JAZZ CLUB

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Jack with Bill Martin

March 2000

    During a duo concert with the great guitarist Bill Martin, the electricity went off. (That's a serious problem for electric guitarists and bars with electric cash registers ! )   Caroline lit lots of candles.  Jack and Bill left the stage, sat in the audience and continued to play unamplified. The audience listened quietly.  Scott the bartender, opps, mixologist, distributed free drinks.      Augie Ray, jazz photographer was there with his camera.   It turned out to be a very special evening.

THE UPTOWNER

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Jack - superguitar

Ernie Adams - drums

Kirk Tatnall - superguitar

March 2002

   This picture was taken on the night the "Live @ The Uptowner" CD was recorded. Jack with Hofner Verithin modified to be a superguitar, with Ernie Adams - drums, and  Kirk Tatnall - Seven string superguitar.  Kirk and Jack developed the technique of playing bass and guitar simultaneously.  Jack led the "superguitar trio" from January 2000 to October 2007. This was year 2 of exclusively playing his compositions there. Many thanks to owner Steve Johnson and "John the bartender" for encouraging us. The music and the audience continues to grow.  The group with drummer Dane Richeson released the CD "Ghost Ridge" in 2006.