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 Guitarist Jack
Wilkins has been a part of the New York jazz scene for more than four decades.
His flawless technique and imaginative chordal approach have inspired
collaborations with Chet Baker, Sara Vaughan, Bob Brookmeyer, Buddy Rich and
many others. A native of Brooklyn, Jack began playing guitar at age thirteen.
His mentors included Johnny Smith, Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, Wes
Montgomery, Joe Pass, Bill Evans, Clifford Brown and Freddie Hubbard. Windows,
his first album as a leader (Mainstream, 1973) also available in transcription
published by Hal Leonard Corporation, has been critically acclaimed as a
dazzling seminal guitar trio work.
Later
recordings, Merge, Mexico, Call him Reckless, Alien Army, Keep in Touch, and
Trioart, feature the Brecker Brothers, Eddie Gomez, Jack De Johnette, Al
Foster, Phil Woods, Kenny Drew Jr., and many others. Project G7, a two CD set
tribute to Wes Montgomery, features peerless chordal creativity by Wilkins. In
recent years, Wilkins has played at many international festivals and played
with many jazz greats including Stanley Turrentine, Jimmy Heath, The Mingus
Epitaph, 5 Guitars play
| At the
Festival |
American Guitar Museum's
Players
Choice Awards.
April 29 at 1 p.m. |
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Mingus (Primary arranger) and bassist Eddie Gomez. A consummate
accompanist, Wilkins has played and recorded with renowned singers Mel Torme,
Ray Charles, Morgana King, Sara Vaughan, Tony Bennett, Manhattan Transfer,
Nancy Marano and Jay Clayton. Wilkins was awarded an NEA grant in recognition
of his work and contribution to the guitar. He has been widely and prominently
profiled and featured in such publications as Guitar Player, Just Jazz Guitar,
Downbeat, 20th Century Guitar and Leonard Feather’s Jazz Encyclopedia.
Recently Wilkins was invited to the Smithsonian Institution to be part of the
Blue Guitars exhibit, and appeared on the P.S.I. first live jazz Internet
concert. He was also featured as part of the J.V.C. festival tributes to Johnny
Smith, Tal Farlow and Herb Ellis. Wilkins lives in Manhattan. He teaches at the
New School and Manhattan School of Music. He was recently invited to judge the
Monk Institute Guitar Competition in Washington. He also conducts seminars and
guitar clinics, both in New York and abroad. His latest CD Blusin', on the
String Jazz label features Wilkins in a strong organ trio setting. A second
organ trio recording With a Song in My Heart, will be available soon. A live
duo recording Just the Two of Us, with Gene Bertoncini - Chiaruscuro label, and
a video, Jazz Guitar Workshop (Bran Song Music) are both currently
available.
Schedule |
