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 m ...

guitarist.

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,

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 D ...

. 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 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 ...

, and in the late 1980s he worked with Gary Peacock'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 and Peggy Stern (1992), Benny Waters (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), Gary Peacock (since 1994), Steve LaSpina (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, 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 Epi ...

, and

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

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 f ...

(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 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 Steve LaSpina * ''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 ...

* ''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, 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 & 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 ...

& Vic Juris, ''Double Play'' (SteepleChase, 2001) * Stanley Cowell, ''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, ''The Moon Is Waiting'' (Palmetto, 2011) * Jack Kerouac & 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) * Lee Konitz & Peggy Stern, ''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 appeare ...

, ''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, ''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) * Benny Waters, ''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