Music - June 30, 2007
Jazz for connoisseurs
On the heels of the long-awaited reissue of recently-departed jazz pianist Andrew Hill's 1966 "Compulsion" by Blue Note comes a batch of Connoisseur Series reissues that includes the session Hill recorded for Blue Note right after.
Tags: Blue Note, Andrew Hill, Grassel, Frank Foster, Turrentine, Jimmy Smith, Kenny Cox

Music - April 26, 2007
Grassel gives "Compulsion" another chance
When the subject of Andrew Hill's 1966 "Compulsion" came up, Grassel told me he was disappointed by it and seemed unsurprised that Blue Note hadn't seen fit to reissue it. So, when that reissue did arrive on March 20, I sent a copy to Grassel, who vowed to give it another chance and share his thoughts.
Tags: Grassel, Andrew Hill, Blue Note, Unit Structures, Cecil Taylor, Cecil McBee, Compulsion, Andrew Cyrille, Rashied Ali, Joe Chambers, John Gilmore

Music - March 29, 2007
Where does the road lead for jazz?
The Pabst was abuzz with excitement as Ahmad Jamal prepared to take stage and his audience sat ready to be captivated. Jamal is well known to jazz fans and an influence on his peers. But, as popular music moves along, he and the other artists that created classic albums are fading away from the spotlight.
Tags: jazz, ahmad jamal, goodsell, neapolitan, lotus land, tommy noble, the estate, berkeley fudge, grassel, jazz in the park, wyms

Music - Oct. 5, 2005
Grassel's first live CD captures superax duo
After a life-threatening illness, jazz guitarist Jack Grassel's back on wax (well, on CD, anyway), with a new disc. "Live at The Uptowner," with fellow guitarist Kirk Tatnall and drummer Ernie Adams, is a document from the guitar duo's long-standing residency at the Riverwest corner tap.
Tags: Grassel, Uptowner, Tatnall, Ernie Adams, jazz, Riverwest, superax

Music - Dec. 8, 2004
Pritchett's fretwork made lasting mark in Milwaukee
George Pritchett was perhaps the greatest jazz guitarist ever to grace Milwaukee stages, but that didn't make his brief life any easier. Nearly two decades after his death, however, Pritchett isn't forgotten.
Tags: Pritchett, jazz, Grassel, Momblow, Cuzner, Oriental, Landmark, guitar, Linke, Tatnall, Peplin, Schroedl