Jump to content

Jack Rose (guitarist)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jack Rose
Rose at The Luminaire in London, 2007
Rose atThe Luminairein London, 2007
Background information
Also known asDr. Ragtime
Born(1971-02-16)February 16, 1971
Fredericksburg, Virginia
DiedDecember 5, 2009(2009-12-05)(aged 38)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
GenresAmerican primitive guitar,ragtime,blues,folk,country blues,drone,noise,raga,experimental
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Guitar,Twelve-string guitar,Lap steel guitar,Vocals
Years active1993–2009
LabelsEclipse,VHF,Tequila Sunrise, Sacred Harp Library, Beautiful Happiness, Three Lobed Recordings, Klang Industries,Time-Lag,Locust,Bastet,Thrill Jockey,Life is Hard

Jack Rose(February 16, 1971 – December 5, 2009) was an Americanguitaristoriginally fromVirginiaand later based inPhiladelphia.Rose is best known for his solo acoustic guitar work. He was also a member of thenoise/dronebandPelt.

Career

[edit]

Pelt and beyond

[edit]

In 1993, Jack Rose joined the noise/drone bandPeltwith Michael Gangloff and Patrick Best. Then influenced bypunkandrock and rollinitially, the trio, sometimes joined by friends including Mikel Dimmick and Jason Bill (also ofCharalambides), released their first album in 1995. Rose continued from that point as both a solo act as well as a member of Pelt, who continued to put out more than a dozen albums and a handful of minor releases primarily on theVHF RecordsandEclipselabels as well as the band's own Klang imprint. The group toured steadily in the U.S. and referenced the work ethic of theGrateful Deadin the title of their albumRob's Choice.Notable tourmates includedHarry Pussy,Charalambides andSonic Youth.In Pelt, Rose played a variety of instruments, primarily electric guitar. During the late 1990s, Pelt began to play more folk-derived material, with Rose switching to acoustic guitar.Byron Coleywrote a feature on the group for the magazineThe Wire,calling them "the HillbillyTheatre of Eternal Music."In late 1999, after Rose had been fired from his job at a coffee shop and was able to collectunemployment benefits,he concentrated on acoustic guitar and his technique developed rapidly. He first released two CD-Rs,Hung Far Low, Portland, OregonandDoctor Ragtime,which featured a mix ofcountry bluesandragtime.These releases were composed of original and traditional songs, including covers of songs by fingerpicking guitaristsJohn FaheyandSam McGee.His first proper full-length,Red Horse, White Mule,(named after brands ofmoonshinementioned on a best-selling sermon of the late 20s, "The Black Diamond Express Train to Hell" byReverend A. W. Nix) was released onvinylby Eclipse Records in 2002.

Solo work

[edit]

Jack Rose was a prolific recording artist in his relatively short solo career, with albums, EPs, and compilation tracks on no fewer than ten record labels. He gained a new level of public exposure upon his inclusion onDevendra Banhart's sold-outGolden Apples of the Suncompilation in 2004.

Rose's first three consecutive releases onEclipse Records—Red Horse, White Mule(2002),Opium Musick(2003), andRaag Manifestos(2004)—were met with praise by critics and contemporaries alike. "Finally," saidBen ChasnyofSix Organs of Admittance,referring toOpium Musickin an interview withPitchfork,"somebody has something to say on the acoustic guitar that hasn't been said before."[1]

Raag Manifestoswas named one of 2004's "50 Records of the Year" by theUKavant garde musicmagazineThe Wirein January 2005,[2]following a feature on him in issue #241.[3]Rose's rise in popularity in the UK during that time coincided with hisPeel Sessionon May 20, 2004.[4]

In 2005 he releasedKensington Blueson Tequila Sunrise records. Featuring ragtime,ragas,country blues andlap steel,the record earned high marks from Pitchfork[5]and Dusted Magazine.[6]"Kensington Bluesis a really hard record to live up to, "Rose toldFoxy Digitalisin a 2007 interview.[7]He went on to express doubts about some of his other material released around that period of time. "With everyone putting out so much stuff, I mean you've gotta have new product all the time, it's kind of a drag," he continued. "I hate to sound like a total capitalist here... but when you're on tour you need to have something to sustain you."

His recorded collaborators outside of Pelt were infrequent but include Jason Bill of Charalambides,Donald MillerofBorbetomagus,Glenn JonesofCul de Sac,Ian Nagoski and Keenan Lawler. In 2008, he reunited with Pelt members and other musicians includingMicah Blue Smaldoneon his albumDr. Ragtime and His Pals.

He released two live LPs on Three Lobed Recordings,I Do Play Rock And Roll(2008) andThe Black Dirt Sessions(2009), receiving positive reviews fromBrainwashed[8]andPitchfork.[9]TheWooden Guitarcompilation onLocust Musicwas issued on vinyl for the first time in 2009 and almost immediately went out of print.

With the exception of his first two CD-R releases, all of his music has been available on vinyl, often in limited editions. HisDr. Ragtime78,for example, was produced in an edition of only 6 copies, with one selling for $500 as part of a benefit auction oneBay.[10]Some of his more popular releases such asKensington Blueshave been re-pressed on vinyl in open editions.

Jack Rose andThe Black Twig Pickers,his ninth LP, was released in May 2009. An appearance on the 7-inch compilationMeet the Philly Eliteand a tour-only 7-inch on the Great Pop Supplement followed.

Style

[edit]
In 2006, Rose playing lap steel guitar at the Buffalo Bar in London

Rose's compositions were mostly for 6-string guitar, 12-string guitar, andWeissenborn-style lap steel guitar. He often employedopen tuningswhen playing.

He was compared to guitarists on theTakomalabel from the 1960s, includingAmerican primitive guitaristJohn Fahey,Robbie Bashoand formerVanguardrecording artist and eventual touring partnerPeter Walker.[11][12]

Rose citedCharley Patton,Blind Blake,John Fahey,Robbie Basho,Zia Mohiuddin Dagarand, in later years,Link Wrayas influences.[13]

Death and legacy

[edit]

Rose died of an apparentheart attackin Philadelphia, at the age of 38.[14]He was buried atWest Laurel Hill CemeteryinBala Cynwyd,Pennsylvania.[15]

Luck In The Valley,Rose's final LP, was released posthumously on February 23, 2010, byThrill Jockey Records.[16]The record was the third installment of what Jack self-deprecatingly referred to as his "Ditch Trilogy." The album received an 8.2 on Pitchfork and featured Glenn Jones, Harmonica Dan, and pianistHans Chewon most of the session.[17][18]

In late April 2010, Three Lobed Recordings curated and released the digital compilationHonest Strings: A Tribute To The Life And Work Of Jack Rose,with all proceeds going to Rose's estate.[19]

Rose's final recording, an electrified 4 song collaboration with D. Charles Speer & The Helix calledRagged and Rightwas released on June 15, 2010, as part ofThrill Jockey's singles club.[20]The EP was recorded at Black Dirt Studios with Jason Meagher.

Discography

[edit]

Dr. Ragtime

[edit]
  • Doctor RagtimeCD-R (2002) (Tequila Sunrise),ed. 50
  • Dr. Ragtime– "Buckdancer's Choice" b/w "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground" 7-inch EP (2005) (Sacred Harp Library),ed. 500
  • Dr. Ragtime"Alap" b/w "Flirtin' with The Undertaker" 78rpm EP (2005) (Life is Hard),ed. 6
  • Dr. Ragtime and His PalsLP (2008) (Tequila Sunrise),an edition of 100 for the Terrastock Festival, containing 4 extra songs from the final LP release, and an alternate cover silk-screened by Brooke Sietinsons ofEspers
  • Dr. Ragtime and His PalsCD/LP (2008) (Beautiful Happiness/Tequila Sunrise),LP ed. of 1000

Jack Rose

[edit]
  • Portland, ORCD-R (2001) (self-released/Klang Industries)
  • Red Horse, White MuleLP (2002) (Eclipse Records),ed. 500
  • Opium MusickLP (2003) (Eclipse Records),ed. 1000
  • Raag ManifestosLP (2004) (Eclipse Records),ed. 1000
  • Kensington BluesCD/LP (2005) (VHF Records/Tequila Sunrise),ed. 500. Open edition on VHF.
  • Untitled I & II7-inch EP (2006) (Tequila Sunrise),ed. 500
  • Jack RoseCD/LP (2006) (aRCHIVE/Tequila Sunrise),ed. 1000
  • Split with Silvester Anfang7-inch EP (2007) (Funeral Folk)
  • I Do Play Rock and RollCD/LP (2008) (Three Lobed Recordings),LP ed. 938
  • Jack Rose andThe Black Twigs7-inch EP (2008) (The Great Pop Supplement),ed. 500
  • The Black Dirt SessionsLP (2009) (Three Lobed Recordings),LP ed. 2021
  • Jack Rose andThe Black Twig PickersLP (2009) (Klang Industries),ed. 1000
  • Jack Rose andThe Black Twigs7-inch EP (2009) (The Great Pop Supplement)ed. 400
  • Luck In the ValleyCD/LP (2010) (Thrill Jockey)LP ed. 1500
  • Ragged and RightWith D. Charles Speer & The Helix 12-inch EP (2010)ed. 500
  • 12.11.2009CD-R (2010) (Unsound Recordings)ed. 230

Compilations

[edit]
  • Klang VIICD-R (1999) (Klang Industries)
  • Wooden GuitarCD/LP (2003; 2008) (Locust Music)
  • Golden Apples of the SunCD (2004) (Bastet)
  • Imaginational AnthemCD (2005) (Near Mint Records)
  • By the Fruits you Shall Know the Roots3×LP (2005) (Eclipse/Time-Lag)
  • Less Self is More Self: Tarantula Hill Benefit2CD (2006) (Ecstatic Peace!)
  • Meet the Philly Elite(withMeg Baird,Kurt Vile,and US Girls) 7-inch (Kraak)

References

[edit]
  1. ^Chasny, Ben."Guest List: Six Organs of Admittance: Ten Truths/Untruths",Pitchfork,February 1, 2005.
  2. ^"Wire: 2004 Rewind"The Wire, issue 251 (Jan 05),retrieved May 20, 2009
  3. ^"The Wire"The Wire issue 242,retrieved May 20, 2009
  4. ^BBC"BBC Radio One"Keeping it Peel – Jack Rose,retrieved May 20th 2009
  5. ^Baron, Zack."Kensington Blues Review",Pitchfork,November 1, 2005. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
  6. ^Meyer, Bill."Kensington Blues Review",Dusted Magazine,Oct 5 2005. Retrieved May 14, 2009
  7. ^Card, Cory."Jack Rose Interview"Archived2009-08-29 at theWayback Machine,Foxy Digitalis,April 3, 2007.
  8. ^Schleicher, Lucas."I Do Play Rock and Roll Review",Brainwashed,April 19, 2009. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
  9. ^Murphy, Matthew."The Black Dirt Sessions Review",Pitchfork,April 27, 2009. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
  10. ^"Jack Rose Auction Archive",Popsike,retrieved May 14, 2005.
  11. ^Leggett, Steve."Jack Rose Biography"Allmusic,retrieved May 14, 2009.
  12. ^VHF Records."Jack Rose Reviews"Archived2008-09-21 at theWayback Machineretrieved August 26, 2008
  13. ^Rose, Jack."Jack Rose"Jack Rose's Influences Listed on MySpace,retrieved Nov 17, 2009
  14. ^Keepnews, Peter (December 9, 2009)."Jack Rose, Versatile Master of the Guitar, Is Dead at 38".The New York Times.p. A41.
  15. ^"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon May 5, 2012.RetrievedDecember 16,2009.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^"Luck In The Valley".Thrill Jockey.RetrievedJune 14,2017.
  17. ^Masters, Marc."Luck in the Valley Review",Pitchfork,February 24, 2010.
  18. ^Jurek, Thom."Luck in the Valley Review",Allmusic
  19. ^"Musicians Celebrate Jack Rose With Mammoth Benefit Album".AllMusic.All Media Network.RetrievedJune 14,2017.
  20. ^"Jack Rose Artist Biography".Thrill Jockey.RetrievedJune 14,2017.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jack_Rose_(guitarist)&oldid=1242711917"