Jack Grassel is an American jazz guitarist, teacher, and author from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Career
Billy Bauer and Jack Grassel, Long Island, New York, 2001Jill Jensen and Jack Grassel at Caroline's Jazz Club in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2002Jimmy Wyble, Jack Grassel, and Sid Jacobs at the Musician's Institute in Hollywood, California, 2009
With a family to support, Grassel turned to teaching music and playing jazz locally. He worked with Rosemary Clooney, Slide Hampton, Stanley Jordan, Ed Thigpen, and Nancy Wilson. He created the Occupational Music degree program at Milwaukee Area Technical College and wrote the books Big Ax and Super Ax. He formed Frozen Sky Records. As a result of the first two records of his compositions "Magic Cereal" and "If You're Too Crazy", he was featured in the New Talent section of Guitar Player magazine and became a contributing writer.[1]
He later invented an instrument he named the "SuperAx" which contained both guitar and bass guitar strings. His friend, guitarist Kirk Tatnall, built one, too, and they recorded the album Live at the Uptowner with their hybrid instruments.[2]
The Hofner guitar company hired Grassel to record a promotional album, Guitar Smoke.[3]
In 2000, readers of Guitar One magazine voted Grassel "one of the 10 best guitarists in America." He married vocalist Jill Jensen, and they recorded five albums: Seems Like Dreams, It's About the Music, Snow People. Live at the Carlton Grange and Jack and Jill Jazz. [1]
Discography
Magic Cereal (Frozen Sky, 1986)
If You're Too Crazy for You Body (Frozen Sky, 1989)
