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Jack Wilkins

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For the Irish footballer, see Jack Wilkins (footballer).
Jack Wilkins
Birth nameJack Rivers Lewis
Born(1944-06-04)June 4, 1944
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedMay 5, 2023(2023-05-05) (aged 78)
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, educator
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1950s–2023
LabelsMainstream, Music Masters, CTI, Chiaroscuro
Websitewww.jackwilkins.com

Jack Rivers Lewis (June 4, 1944 – May 5, 2023), known professionally as Jack Wilkins, was an American jazz guitarist.

Career

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A native of New York City, Wilkins grew up listening to his parents' music, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday. He started playing guitar when he was thirteen. He had an older cousin who played albums for him by Charlie Christian, Tal Farlow, Django Reinhardt, and Johnny Smith. He cited Smith's Designed for You as one of the albums that meant the most to him, in addition to Sounds of Synanon by Joe Pass, Poll Winners by Barney Kessel, The Swinging Guitar of Tal Farlow, and Interpretations of Tal Farlow.[1]

While still in his teens, he worked as a guitarist in bands led by Les Elgart, Larry Elgart, Warren Covington, and Sammy Kaye.[2]

Wilkins worked with Dan Armstrong, Lew Soloff, Lew Tabackin, and Lloyd Wells. In his twenties, he worked as a vibraphonist. He formed the band The Jazz Partners and played vibes with pianist Barry Manilow, who admired the work of Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, and Barney Kessel. Wilkins and Manilow arranged songs from Kessel's albums for their group. A copy of his first solo album, Windows (Mainstream, 1973), found its way into the hands of Buddy Rich's manager. Wilkins then became a member of the Buddy Rich septet.[1]

Wilkins also worked with Kenny Barron, Frank Foster, Sonny Fortune, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Jimmy McGriff, Sal Nistico, Zoot Sims, Sonny Stitt,[2] Jack DeJohnette, Phil Woods, and the Brecker Brothers.[3]

Wilkins died on May 5, 2023, at the age of 78.[4]

Discography

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As leader

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  • Windows (Mainstream, 1973)
  • You Can't Live Without It (Chiaroscuro, 1977)
  • Opal (CTI, 1983)
  • Captain Blued (Greene Street, 1984)
  • Call Him Reckless (Musicmasters, 1989)
  • Alien Army (Musicmasters, 1991)
  • Mexico (CTI, 1992)
  • Merge (Chiaroscuro, 1992)
  • Trioart (Arabesque, 1998)
  • Bluesin (String Jazz, 1999)
  • Just the Two of Us with Gene Bertoncini (Chiaroscuro, 2000)
  • Reunion (Chiaroscuro, 2001)
  • Christmas Jazz Guitar (Mel Bay, 2002)
  • Until It's Time (MAXJAZZ, 2009)

As sideman

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With Nancy Harrow

  • Anything Goes (Audiophile, 1979)
  • Two's Company (Inner City, 1984)
  • Winter Dreams (Artists House, 2003)

With Buddy Rich

With others

References

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  1. ^ a b Barth, Joe (2006). Voices in Jazz Guitar. Pacific, Missouri: Mel Bay. p. 444. ISBN 0786676795.
  2. ^ a b Yanow, Scott (2013). The Great Jazz Guitarists. San Francisco: Backbeat. p. 206. ISBN 978-1-61713-023-6.
  3. ^ Yanow, Scott. "Jack Wilkins". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  4. ^ Robinson, Lyle (6 May 2023). "RIP Jack Wilkins 1944 – 2023". The Jazz Guitar Life. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
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