Victor Edward Jurusz Jr. (September 26, 1953 – December 31, 2019), known professionally as Vic Juris, was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

guitarist A guitarist (or a guitar player) is a person who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of guitar family instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselv ...

Music career

Juris was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, but he moved with his family to Parsippany early in his life. In 1963, at the age of 10, he began learning guitar. At 11, he studied guitar at the home of his teacher, Ed Berg, and got interested in jazz listening to Berg's records of guitarists

Django Reinhardt Jean Reinhardt (23 January 1910 – 16 May 1953), known by his Romani nickname Django ( or ), was a Romani-French jazz guitarist and composer. He was one of the first major jazz talents to emerge in Europe and has been hailed as one of its most ...

, Jim Hall,

Barney Kessel Barney Kessel (October 17, 1923 – May 6, 2004) was an American jazz guitarist born in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Known in particular for his knowledge of chords and inversions and chord-based melodies, he was a member of many prominent jazz groups a ...

Jimmy Raney James Elbert Raney (August 20, 1927 – May 10, 1995) was an American jazz guitarist, born in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, known for his work from 1951 to 1952 and then from 1953 to 1954 with the Red Norvo trio (replacing Tal Farlow) and ...

, and

Johnny Smith Johnny Henry Smith II (June 25, 1922 – June 11, 2013) was an American cool jazz and mainstream jazz guitarist. He wrote "Walk, Don't Run" in 1954. In 1984, Smith was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. Early life During the Great Dep ...

. In his teens he played the rock music of the 1960s. When he was 19, he met blind saxophonist

Eric Kloss Eric Kloss (born April 3, 1949) is an American jazz saxophonist. Music career Kloss was born blind in Greenville, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, and attended the Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind, which was run by his father. When he was 1 ...

and they became friends. He made his first recording on Kloss's album ''Bodies' Warmth'' (Muse, 1975). Around the same time, he met guitarist

Pat Martino Pat Martino (born Patrick Carmen Azzara; August 25, 1944 – November 1, 2021) was an American jazz guitarist and composer. Biography Martino was born Patrick Carmen Azzara in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, to father Carmen "Mickey" ...

, who became a friend and mentor. Juris recorded with Richie Cole during 1976–78 and released his debut album as a leader, ''Road Song'', in 1979. In the early 1980s, he turned to acoustic guitar in duos with

Larry Coryell Larry Coryell (born Lorenz Albert Van DeLinder III; April 2, 1943 – February 19, 2017) was an American jazz guitarist. Early life Larry Coryell was born in Galveston, Texas, United States. He never knew his biological father, a musician. He w ...

and

Biréli Lagrène Biréli Lagrène (born 4 September 1966) is a French jazz guitarist who came to prominence in the 1980s for his Django Reinhardt–influenced style. He often performs in swing, jazz fusion, and post-bop styles. Biography Lagrène was born in So ...

, and in the late 1980s he worked with

Gary Peacock Gary George Peacock (May 12, 1935September 4, 2020) was an American jazz double bassist. He recorded a dozen albums under his own name, and also performed and recorded with major jazz figures such as avant garde saxophonist Albert Ayler, pianist ...

's band. Since 1991 he has spent much of his career with saxophonist

David Liebman David Liebman (born September 4, 1946) is an American saxophonist, flautist and jazz educator. He is known for his innovative lines and use of atonality. He was a frequent collaborator with pianist Richie Beirach. In June 2010, he received a N ...

. During the 1990s, he worked as sideman with

Lee Konitz Leon Konitz (October 13, 1927 – April 15, 2020) was an American composer and alto saxophonist. He performed successfully in a wide range of jazz styles, including bebop, cool jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Konitz's association with the cool jazz ...

and

Peggy Stern Margaret "Peggy" Stern (born September 22, 1948, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American jazz pianist and synthesizer player. Career Stern studied piano at the Eastman School of Music, receiving her bachelor's degree in 1968, then attended th ...

(1992),

Benny Waters Benjamin Waters (January 23, 1902, Brighton, Baltimore, Maryland – August 11, 1998, Columbia, Maryland) was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist. known in part for the longevity of his career. He began on organ, then switched to cl ...

(1993),

Jeanie Bryson Jeanie Bryson (born March 10, 1958) is an American singer who sings a combination of jazz, pop, and Latin music. Her repertoire is based on jazz and pop standards from the Great American Songbook and Peggy Lee and Dinah Washington. Life and ...

(1993–94),

(since 1994),

Steve LaSpina Steven Frank LaSpina (born March 24, 1954) is an American jazz bassist who plays both upright and electric bass. Life and career Steve LaSpina was born in Wichita Falls, Texas; his father and grandfather both played in dance bands. He attended the ...

(since 1995),

Judi Silvano Judi Silvano (born May 8, 1951) is a jazz singer and composer. Career Before attending college she studied flute, piano, and dance. She graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia with a degree in music and dance. She is a scholar of Sheila ...

(1996), Ken Serio (1996, 2007,2019) and Joe Locke (1998).

Barry Kernfeld Barry Dean Kernfeld (born August 11, 1950) is an American musicologist and jazz saxophonist who has researched and published extensively about the history of jazz and the biographies of its musicians. Education In 1968, Kernfeld enrolled at U ...

, The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. 2nd edition. Oxford, 2002, v. 2, p. 467. Juris taught at

The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music School of Jazz and Contemporary Music is the second conservatory of The New School. It is located on West 13th Street in New York City's Greenwich Village neighborhood. It was known as The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music before it wa ...

Lehigh University Lehigh University (LU) is a private research university in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. The university was established in 1865 by businessman Asa Packer and was originally affiliated with the Epis ...

, and

Rutgers University Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's ...

and wrote instructional books for guitar.

Discography

As leader

* '' Roadsong'' (

Muse In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Muses ( grc, Μοῦσαι, Moûsai, el, Μούσες, Múses) are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the ...

, 1978) * ''Horizon Drive'' (Muse, 1980) * ''Bleecker Street'' (Muse, 1982) * ''Bohemia'' with

John Etheridge John Michael Glyn Etheridge (born 12 January 1948) is an English jazz fusion guitarist, composer, bandleader and educator known for his eclecticism and broad range of associations in jazz, classical, and contemporary music. He is best known fo ...

(Jazzpoint, 1988) * ''For the Music'' (Jazzpoint, 1992) * ''Night Tripper'' (SteepleChase, 1995) * ''Music of Alec Wilder'' (Double-Time, 1996) * ''Pastels'' (SteepleChase, 1996) * ''Moonscape'' (SteepleChase, 1997) * ''Remembering Eric Dolphy'' (SteepleChase, 1999) * ''Songbook'' (SteepleChase, 2000) * ''Songbook 2'' (SteepleChase, 2002) * ''Journey'' with Giuseppe Continenza (Jardis, 2003) *''Seven Steps To Heaven'' with Giuseppe Continenza,

Dominique Di Piazza Dominique Di Piazza, born in Lyon, France, in 1959, is an bass guitar, electric bass player. Di Piazza discovered the bass in 1979. Already a self-taught guitarist, Di Piazza developed a distinctive, but unorthodox 'closed palm' technique of pick ...

and Pietro Iodice ( Wide Sound, 2003) * ''While My Guitar Gently Weeps'' (SteepleChase, 2004) * ''Blue Horizon'' (Zoho, 2004) * ''A Second Look'' (Mel Bay, 2005) * ''Jazz Hits Vol. 1'' with MB3 (Mel Bay, 2006) * ''Omega Is the Alpha'' (SteepleChase, 2010) * ''Listen Here'' (SteepleChase, 2011) * ''Free Admission'' (SteepleChase, 2012) * ''Walking On Water'' (SteepleChase, 2014) * ''Blue'' (SteepleChase, 2015) * ''Vic Juris Plays Victor Young'' (SteepleChase, 2016) * ''Eye Contact'' (SteepleChase, 2018) * ''Let's Cool One'' (SteepleChase, 2020)

As sideman

With Richie Cole * ''

New York Afternoon ''New York Afternoon'' is an album by saxophonist Richie Cole's Alto Madness recorded in 1976 and released on the Muse label.Keeper of the Flame'' (Muse, 1979) * ''Pure Imagination'' (Concord Jazz, 1987) * ''Signature'' (Milestone, 1988) * ''Kush'' (Heads Up, 1995) * ''West Side Story'' (Venus, 1996) * ''Trenton Style'' (Alto Madness Music, 1999) With Bireli Lagrene * ''Live'' (Jazzpoint, 1985) * ''Live at Carnegie Hall'' (Jazzpoint, 1993) * ''A Tribute to Django Reinhardt'' (Jazzpoint, 1999) With

* ''When I'm Alone'' (SteepleChase, 1995) * ''Story Time'' (SteepleChase, 1996) * ''When Children Smile'' (SteepleChase, 1997) * ''The Bounce'' (SteepleChase, 2000) * ''Remember When'' (SteepleChase, 2003) With

Dave Liebman David Liebman (born September 4, 1946) is an American saxophonist, flautist and jazz educator. He is known for his innovative lines and use of atonality. He was a frequent collaborator with pianist Richie Beirach. In June 2010, he received a N ...

* ''Classic Ballads'' (Candid, 1991) * ''Turn It Around'' (Owl, 1992) * ''Miles Away'' (Owl, 1995) * ''Songs for My Daughter'' (Soul Note, 1995) * ''Voyage'' (Evidence, 1996) * ''John Coltrane's Meditations'' (

Arkadia Jazz Arkadia Records is an independent record label that was founded in 1996. The label was founded in New York City by Bob Karcy, who had been a manager for musicians and an independent record producer. The first release was Billy Taylor's ''Music Kee ...

, 1997) * ''New Vista'' (Arkadia Jazz, 1997) * ''Liebman Plays Puccini'' (Arkadia Jazz, 2001) * ''The Unknown Jobim'' (Global Music Network, 2001) * ''Beyond the Line'' (OmniTone, 2003) * ''Conversation'' (Sunnyside, 2003) * ''In a Mellow Tone'' (Zoho, 2004) * ''Back On the Corner'' (Tone Center, 2006) * ''Blues All Ways'' (OmniTone, 2007) * ''Further Conversations'' (Azul Music, 2008) * ''Live at MCG'' (MCG 2009) * ''Live/As Always'' (Mama, 2010) * ''Turnaround'' (Jazzwerkstatt, 2010) * ''Lineage'' (Whaling City Sound, 2013) With others *

David Amram David Werner Amram III (born November 17, 1930) is an American composer, arranger, and conductor of orchestral, chamber, and choral works, many with jazz flavorings.

, ''Live at Musikfest!'' (New Chamber Music, 1990) * David Amram, ''On the Waterfront On Broadway'' (Varese Sarabande, 1995) *

Jamie Baum Jamie Baum is an American jazz flautist. Career Baum grew up in Bridgeport, Connecticut in a musical family. Her mother studied piano and trombone at Juilliard and her parents often took her to New York City for jazz concerts. Baum attended New ...

, ''Undercurrents'' (Konnex, 1992) *

, ''I Love Being Here with You'' (Telarc, 1993) * Jeanie Bryson, ''Tonight I Need You So'' (Telarc, 1994) *

Frank Catalano Frank Catalano is an American jazz saxophonist. Biography Frank Catalano began playing saxophone at age 7. When he was 16, his right middle finger was severed while working on a car engine. Following reconstructive surgery, he forced his hands t ...

& Jimmy Chamberlin, ''Tokyo No. 9'' (Ropeadope, 2017) *

Marc Copland Marc or MARC may refer to: People * Marc (given name), people with the first name * Marc (surname), people with the family name Acronyms * MARC standards, a data format used for library cataloging, * MARC Train, a regional commuter rail system o ...

& Vic Juris, ''Double Play'' (SteepleChase, 2001) *

Stanley Cowell Stanley Cowell (May 5, 1941 – December 17, 2020) was an American jazz pianist and co-founder of the Strata-East Records label. Early life Cowell was born in Toledo, Ohio. He began playing the piano around the age of four, and became interest ...

, ''Welcome to This New World'' (SteepleChase, 2013) *

Giacomo Gates Giacomo Gates (born September 14, 1950) is an American jazz vocalist. Career Gates was born and raised in Connecticut. His father was a classical violinist. He made his public debut as a vocalist at the age of six. Soon after, he picked up guita ...

, ''Centerpiece'' (Origin, 2004) *

Bill Goodwin William Nettles Goodwin (July 28, 1910 – May 9, 1958),Palm Spr ...

, ''Network'' (Omnisound, 1982) * Bill Goodwin, ''Three Is a Crowd'' (TCB, 1994) *

Tim Hagans Tim Hagans (born August 19, 1954) is an American jazz trumpeter, arranger, and composer. He has been nominated for three Grammy Awards: Best Instrumental Composition for "Box of Cannoli" on ''The Avatar Sessions'' (Fuzzy Music, 2010); Best Contem ...

, ''The Moon Is Waiting'' (Palmetto, 2011) *

Jack Kerouac Jean-Louis Lebris de Kérouac (; March 12, 1922 – October 21, 1969), known as Jack Kerouac, was an American novelist and poet who, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, was a pioneer of the Beat Generation. Of French-Canadian a ...

& David Amram, ''Pull My Daisy...and Other Jazz Classics'' (Premier, 1995) * Jack Kerouac, ''Jack Kerouac Reads On the Road'' (Rykodisc, 1999) *

, ''Bodies' Warmth'' (Muse, 1975) *

, ''Lunasea'' (Soul Note, 1992) * Joe Locke, ''Slander and Other Love Songs'' (Milestone, 1998) *

Charlie Mariano Carmine Ugo Mariano (November 12, 1923 – June 16, 2009) was an American jazz saxophonist who focused on the alto and soprano saxophone. He occasionally performed and recorded on flute and nadaswaram as well. Biography Mariano was born in ...

, ''Savannah Samurai'' (Jazzline, 1998) *

Barry Miles Barry Miles (born 21 February 1943) is an English author known for his participation in and writing on the subjects of the 1960s London underground and counterculture. He is the author of numerous books and his work has also regularly appeared ...

, ''Sky Train'' (RCA Victor, 1977) * Barry Miles, ''Fusion Is...'' (Century, 1978) * Don Patterson, ''Movin' Up!'' (Muse, 1977) *

Deepak Ram Deepak Ram (born 1960) is a South African born flautist, composer, keyboard player and producer of Indian origin. Deepak is considered a master of bansuri, an Indian flute of ancient origin made from bamboo. He is a senior disciple of world reno ...

, ''Steps Golden Horn'' (GHP, 2008) *

Rufus Reid Rufus Reid (born February 10, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American jazz bassist, educator, and composer. Biography Reid was raised in Sacramento, California, where he played the trumpet through junior high and high school. Upon graduation ...

, ''Quiet Pride'' (Motema, 2013) *

, ''Vocalise'' (Blue Note, 1997) * Judi Silvano, ''Songs I Wrote or Wish I Did'' (JSL, 2000) * Loren Stillman, ''The Brothers' Breakfast'' (SteepleChase, 2006) *

Brian Torff Brian Q. Torff (born March 16, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American jazz double-bassist, songwriter and composer. Career Teacher Brian Q. Torff is a Professor of Music and the director of the music program at Fairfield University in Fairfie ...

, ''Hitchhiker of Karoo'' (Quade, 1987) *

Mel Torme Mel, Mels or MEL may refer to: Biology * Mouse erythroleukemia cell line (MEL) * National Herbarium of Victoria, a herbarium with the Index Herbariorum code MEL People * Mel (given name), the abbreviated version of several given names (including ...

, ''A New Album'' (Gryphon, 1980) * Mel Torme, ''The London Sessions'' (DCC, 1990) *

Roseanna Vitro Roseanna Elizabeth Vitro (born February 28, 1951) is a jazz singer and teacher from Arkansas. Biography Born Roseanna Elizabeth VitroScott Fredrickson and Gary W. Kennedy.Vitro (Wickliffe), Roseanna" In ''The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz'', 2 ...

, ''Passion Dance'' (Telarc, 1996) *

, ''Plays Songs of Love'' (Jazzpoint, 1993) *

Phil Woods Philip Wells Woods (November 2, 1931 – September 29, 2015) was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader, and composer. Biography Woods was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. After inheriting a saxophone at age 12, he began ...

, ''Songs Two'' (Philology, 2015)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Juris, Vic 1953 births 2019 deaths American jazz guitarists Guitarists from New Jersey Musicians from Jersey City, New Jersey SteepleChase Records artists Zoho Music artists 20th-century American guitarists Muse Records albums Double-Time Records artists Deaths from liver cancer