Jack Grassel and Jill Jensen are two of Milwaukee's most established musicians. The husband and wife duo have a new album, "It's About the Music," and have a full slate of performances lined up for the rest of the year. The album is, in some ways, the culmination of a lifetime of work. Both have been involved in music their whole lives.
"I've been musical ever since I was 4 years old," says Grassel. "I've never wanted anything else but to play music."
Jensen can relate. According to her mother, her first words were "Where's the music?"
"Some things you're just born with," adds Jensen. "To me singing is as natural as breathing."
If that's the case, the pair has taken some pretty memorable breaths over the years. Among the highlights of Grassel's career is playing with Luciano Pavarotti at the Bradley Center and playing a solo set of compositions at Villa Terrace museum last summer.
"That was incredible, playing 18 of my own compositions in front of an audience with no band behind me," he says of the Villa Terrace gig.
When not performing with legends or at exquisite museums, Grassel and Jensen can be found twice a week at The Uptowner in Riverwest. Some might see it as a little curious for someone with a body of work that includes collaborations with Pavarotti to play Milwaukee's "Home of the Beautiful People." But they do it for the music.
"We love playing bars," says Grassel. "We get to play whatever we want and we have a lot of fun."
Fun is something that the duo can appreciate on a new level now. In 2004, Grassel was struck with a heart infection and suffered from toxic shock. He gradually made a recovery, and he and Jensen consider the album's release a finale on that difficult period.
As for the album, it's probably one of the more appropriately named albums in recent memory. "It's About the Music" features Grassel and Jensen collaborating with 22 other musicians to make a harmonious work that they feel proud of.
"We're tired of always hearing the same things," Jensen says. "We tried to create an album that we feels represents us in different lights. As we recorded this album, it became bigger than us, it became about the music."
Up next, they'll be performing at Long Wong's Concert Hall with the Western Illinois University Big Band on Thursday, Nov. 9.
New York alt-pop duo Porter Block come to the Fifth Ward Pub on Friday, Nov. 3. Their new album "Suburban Sprawl" is full of imaginative, hook-driven songs guaranteed to stick in your head for days.
Todd Snider blends bluegrass, folk and country-rock to get his distinctive sound. Come see the man behind 1994's "Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues" Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Shank Hall.
Shara Worden, aka My Brightest Diamond, brings her haunting yet hopeful melodies to Stonefly Brewery on Monday, Nov. 13. With influences spanning from Antony & The Johnsons to opera to the church choir where she grew up in Ypsilanti, Mich., she gives a moving performance not to be missed.
Veteran blues singer-songwriter-guitarist Chris Smither comes to Shank Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 15. The legendary musician, who has seen his songs covered by artists like Bonnie Raitt, Diana Krall and Emmylou Harris, recently released his 12th album, "Leave The Light On."
My Valkyrie rides into town from the Twin Cities and plays Points East on Friday, Nov. 17. The band's guitar-driven sound and dark, melodic songs make them a band on the rise in the rock world. This will be the first of hopefully many Milwaukee gigs to come.
The only thing that draws attention away from OK Go's creative videos is their infectious sound. The band behind hits like "Get Over It," "A Million Ways" and "Here It Goes Again" hits the stage at The Rave on Sunday, Nov. 26, opening for indie-gone-not-so-indie darlings Death Cab For Cutie.
The Black Keys have built a following through the years for their stripped-down, raw blues-rock and heavy guitar riffs. Come see what the fuss is about at The Rave on Tuesday, Nov. 28.
The Matches bring an energetic Bay Area punk sound to The Rave on Saturday, Dec. 2. They're touring in support of their critically acclaimed second album "Decomposer." A new outfit called +44, featuring Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker of Blink 182, headlines the show.
In the mood for something a little more on the local side on the 2nd? Catch Red Knife Lottery at the Cactus Club. With an unapologetically harsh (in a really good way) sound and crisp instruments, don't expect them to say Milwaukee's own for long. The Response and The Robins also play that night.
"I've been musical ever since I was 4 years old," says Grassel. "I've never wanted anything else but to play music."
Jensen can relate. According to her mother, her first words were "Where's the music?"
"Some things you're just born with," adds Jensen. "To me singing is as natural as breathing."
If that's the case, the pair has taken some pretty memorable breaths over the years. Among the highlights of Grassel's career is playing with Luciano Pavarotti at the Bradley Center and playing a solo set of compositions at Villa Terrace museum last summer.
"That was incredible, playing 18 of my own compositions in front of an audience with no band behind me," he says of the Villa Terrace gig.
When not performing with legends or at exquisite museums, Grassel and Jensen can be found twice a week at The Uptowner in Riverwest. Some might see it as a little curious for someone with a body of work that includes collaborations with Pavarotti to play Milwaukee's "Home of the Beautiful People." But they do it for the music.
"We love playing bars," says Grassel. "We get to play whatever we want and we have a lot of fun."
Fun is something that the duo can appreciate on a new level now. In 2004, Grassel was struck with a heart infection and suffered from toxic shock. He gradually made a recovery, and he and Jensen consider the album's release a finale on that difficult period.
As for the album, it's probably one of the more appropriately named albums in recent memory. "It's About the Music" features Grassel and Jensen collaborating with 22 other musicians to make a harmonious work that they feel proud of.
"We're tired of always hearing the same things," Jensen says. "We tried to create an album that we feels represents us in different lights. As we recorded this album, it became bigger than us, it became about the music."
Up next, they'll be performing at Long Wong's Concert Hall with the Western Illinois University Big Band on Thursday, Nov. 9.
New York alt-pop duo Porter Block come to the Fifth Ward Pub on Friday, Nov. 3. Their new album "Suburban Sprawl" is full of imaginative, hook-driven songs guaranteed to stick in your head for days.
Todd Snider blends bluegrass, folk and country-rock to get his distinctive sound. Come see the man behind 1994's "Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues" Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Shank Hall.
Shara Worden, aka My Brightest Diamond, brings her haunting yet hopeful melodies to Stonefly Brewery on Monday, Nov. 13. With influences spanning from Antony & The Johnsons to opera to the church choir where she grew up in Ypsilanti, Mich., she gives a moving performance not to be missed.
Veteran blues singer-songwriter-guitarist Chris Smither comes to Shank Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 15. The legendary musician, who has seen his songs covered by artists like Bonnie Raitt, Diana Krall and Emmylou Harris, recently released his 12th album, "Leave The Light On."
My Valkyrie rides into town from the Twin Cities and plays Points East on Friday, Nov. 17. The band's guitar-driven sound and dark, melodic songs make them a band on the rise in the rock world. This will be the first of hopefully many Milwaukee gigs to come.
The only thing that draws attention away from OK Go's creative videos is their infectious sound. The band behind hits like "Get Over It," "A Million Ways" and "Here It Goes Again" hits the stage at The Rave on Sunday, Nov. 26, opening for indie-gone-not-so-indie darlings Death Cab For Cutie.
The Black Keys have built a following through the years for their stripped-down, raw blues-rock and heavy guitar riffs. Come see what the fuss is about at The Rave on Tuesday, Nov. 28.
The Matches bring an energetic Bay Area punk sound to The Rave on Saturday, Dec. 2. They're touring in support of their critically acclaimed second album "Decomposer." A new outfit called +44, featuring Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker of Blink 182, headlines the show.
In the mood for something a little more on the local side on the 2nd? Catch Red Knife Lottery at the Cactus Club. With an unapologetically harsh (in a really good way) sound and crisp instruments, don't expect them to say Milwaukee's own for long. The Response and The Robins also play that night.
Tyler Casey was born and raised in the Twin Cities, but hes lived in Milwaukee for the last four years working and going to school. A senior at UWM with one semester left before he gets his print journalism degree, Tylers grown incredibly fond of his new city and hopes to stay here for good. Hes been with OnMilwaukee.com since June 2006.
Despite retaining certain customs of his fatherland (Tyler bleeds purple and gold), he considers Milwaukee his home. Spending most of his time on the East Side, Riverwest and Downtown (as well as wherever the nearest bus line can take him), Tylers always looking to experience what the city has to offer.
