Jack Wilkins Jazz Memorial - September 6, 2023

Saint Peter's Church in Midtown Manhattan has been the site of many memorials and celebrations-of-life for jazz musicians throughout the decades. Please join us for a celebration of the life and legacy of jazz guitarist Jack Wilkins on September 6.

Featuring guitarists Richard Boukas, Jeff Barone, Roni Ben-Hur, Steve Cardenas, Sheryl Bailey, Peter Bernstein, Paul Bollenback, Mark Whitfield, Carl Barry, and Peter Rubie among other guest musicians and speakers.

A native of New York City, Jack 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.

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

Jack 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. Jack then became a member of the Buddy Rich septet.

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

Jack taught for such colleges as Manhattan School of Music, The New School, NYU, and Brooklyn College. He also gave master classes at universities across the United States. He gave an incredible course in the History of Jazz Guitar both in colleges and at home for small groups of students.
Jack died on May 5, 2023, at the age of 78.

This memorial is organized and funded by Gayle Tapper, Jazz Foundation of America, and Saint Peter's Church.