 |
Guitarist's Guitarist
"He’s the best there is." – Marc Copeland
by Sharon Keigher
Article is from Matters Magazine
Homemade CDs are the calling cards of every basement band in America, and listeners are often overwhelmed by the amount of music – good or bad – that technology makes possible to be produced. Still, there are true masters of music who follow traditional routes in creating untraditional music.
Consider Vic Juris. He is the author of many guitar books, the subject of an upcoming DVD project and a guitarist whose body of work encompasses more than 250 legitimate records — not a single one burned on a home computer.
"Beethoven would have loved the iPod," laughs Juris, guitarist, who embraces the constant shift of music technology. "You figure the kids of the 1960’s were influenced by technology, too. Only instead of digital stuff, [it was] television. And we were interested in a lot of different music because television variety shows had live music every night."
But Juris was more than a typical kid of the sixties. He showed a voracious appetite for music at a young age, landing his first professional gig when he was just 11-years old. "I played with other kids and we entered talent shows. At that time, every social function at schools, churches and restaurants, all had live music. We played at those functions." said Juris.
Juris played in the style of Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Ricky Nelson. As a teenager he found jazz, a style that he’s never strayed far from.
Drummer Tim Horner recalls those days: "Route 46 used to be peppered with clubs and hotels, which is hard to believe because it’s now all car dealerships. But we played all over - Lake Placid, The Village Vanguard. We started as be-bop, but Vic kept pushing the envelope. He’s a real authority on polychords and modern music. He’ll take a few chords and layer together new harmonies. He’s like a John Coltrane who has taken jazz from be-bop to modern."
Juris soon found himself making appearances and recordings with the likes of Mel Torme, Perry Como, Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Liebman, Sarah Vaughn and Nancy Wilson. In 1977, his dream of issuing a record under his own name came true. Vic Juris’ Road Song was released.
"By 1978 Vic was an idol of all of the up and coming musicians," said Kate Baker, singer and Juris’ wife of five years. "He was playing at a place called Gullivers, and he was so young and so extraordinary, he was a true prodigy."
In the 80’s, Juris received a warm welcome throughout Europe touring with various musicians including: guitarist Bireli LaGrene; saxophonist Richie Cole; pianist Michel Legrand; and as part of a trio with LaGrene and Englishman John Etheridge.
The legendary pianist Marc Copland said, "Vic spent many years building a résumé as the consummate guitarist, a guitarists’ guitarist. It became very apparent that he had his own, very contemporary, style. He was a musician with something to say. We did a duet album called, Double Play. Guitar and piano is one of the most challenging combinations, but Vic [uses] every tool in his toolbox, plus, he has the amazing ability to listen. He plays and creates mutual trust. With Vic it’s very easy to make music that is spirited and honest."
A true student of music, Juris continually listens and creates atypical music, intrigued by musical possibilities rather than its commercial profitability. Classical, African, fusion, acoustic and electric, Juris continues to take his music to new and more challenging levels.
Juris will spend the spring in South Africa touring with Indian flutist Deepak Ram, playing world music with jazz. The duo is scheduled to play for Nelson Mandela. Juris’ latest release is a DVD project of live performances, to be issued by Mel Bay records in June, followed by the publication of two guitar instruction books.
His willingness to continue his music studies also led Juris to teach. He currently teaches at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University and the Jazz & Con-temporary Music program at New School University (NYC). Juris also runs the summer jazz workshops at the Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center in West Orange, where he has been a resident for five years. His wife Kate is the director of OSPAC and says, "His workshop is always the most well attended." In typical understatement, Juris responds, "It’s important to give back to the community."
"The fact that Vic Juris is still not a household name is an injustice," Copland observes, "because he’s the best there is. He’s not interested in all the trappings; he’s just interested in good music. It would be wonderful for more listeners to hear him and find what they’re missing."
Listeners may soon have their chance: Juris is tentatively slated to play a free concert at the OSPAC in West Orange this summer.
Sharon Keigher is a teacher and swim coach at Trinity School in Manhattan who resides in West Orange.
