Jack Rose (guitarist)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Jack Rose


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background =
Birth_name =
Alias = Dr. Ragtime
Born =
Died =
Origin =
Instrument = Guitar
Genre = American primitive
Ragtime
Blues
Folk
Country-slide
Drone
Noise
Raga
Experimental
Occupation = Musician
Years_active =
Label = Eclipse Records
VHF Records
Tequila Sunrise
Sacred Harp Library
Beautiful Happiness
Three Lobed Recordings
Funeral Folk
Great Pop Supplement
aRCHIVE
Klang Industries
Time-Lag
Locust
Bastet
Life is Hard
Associated_acts = Pelt
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/jackrosekensington Official MySpace]
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Jack Rose is an American guitarist originally from Viginia and currently based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A founding member of the drone/noise band Pelt, Rose is currently best known for his solo acoustic guitar work.

Pelt and beyond

In 1993 Jack Rose joined the noise/drone band Pelt, releasing a handful of albums and EPs. Rose further developed his acoustic guitar technique as the band slowly shifted from its electric roots. Although Pelt frequently went on and off hiatus during Rose's most involved periods in the band, he didn't begin to concentrate on his own recordings until the early 2000s. 2001 saw his first self-released CD-R of mostly blues and ragtime. In 2002, this new focus culminated in his public transformation from Pelt member to solo artist on his first proper full-length, " Red Horse, White Mule", released by Eclipse Records.

olo work

Jack Rose has been a prolific recording artist since his first release, with albums, EPs, and compilation tracks on no less than ten record labels. His major works are made up of the triad of consecutive full-length releases on Eclipse -- " Red Horse, White Mule" (2002), " Opium Musick" (2003), and "Raag Manifestos" (2004) -- in addition to his 2005 opus "Kensington Blues", released by Tequila Sunrise.

His depth of knowledge in the traditions of blues, ragtime and Eastern music are complimented by the avant-garde and experimental spirit of Pelt. Comparisons to American primitive guitarist John Fahey are frequent, but Rose has been praised by reviewers, fans, and contemporaries alike for rising to the challenge of playing in a unique style despite his affection for music originating in decades past. As Ben Chasny of Six Organs of Admittance said in reference to Rose's "Opium Musick", " [f] inally, somebody has something to say on the acoustic guitar that hasn't been said before." [Chasny, Ben. [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/10266-guest-list-six-organs-of-admittance-ten-truthsuntruths-and-other-completely-subjective-things "Guest List: Six Organs of Admittance: Ten Truths/Untruths"] , "Pitchfork Media", February 1, 2005.]

In an interview with Foxy Digitalis, Rose expressed a dissatisfaction with some of his releases, explaining that new recordings are necessary to self-sustain as an internationally-touring musician. He further went on to modestly say that his "Kensington Blues" is a "really hard record to live up to." [Card, Cory. [http://www.digitalisindustries.com/foxyd/features.php?which=233 "Jack Rose Interview"] , "Foxy Digitalis", April 3, 2007.]

His recorded collaborations outside of Pelt have been infrequent but include Jason Bill of Charalambides, Donald Miller of Borbetomagus, Glenn Jones of Cul de Sac, Eric Carbonara, and Keenan Lawler. In 2008, he reunited with Pelt members and other musicians including Micah Blue Smaldone on his album "Dr. Ragtime and His Pals."

Rose is presently touring in support of his 2008 "Dr. Ragtime and His Pals" release, which will be released on vinyl by Tequila Sunrise in October. A vinyl version of his "I Do Play Rock and Roll" will be released by Three Lobed around this time as well.

Critical reception

Mr. Rose's reception has largely been positive, earning high marks from such media outlets as Dusted Magazine, Allmusic and Pitchfork, where he is frequently described as an American Primitive guitarist, a term coined in the 1960's to describe John Fahey's music. He is often compared to the artists on Fahey's Takoma label and other guitarists from that time as well; his ragas have been compared to the work of Robbie Basho and recent touring partner Peter Walker, for example [VHF Records. [http://www.vhfrecords.com/jackrose/reviews.html "Jack Rose Reviews"] "retrieved August 26, 2008"] . Although Rose is self-taught and his music is sometimes reminiscent of Fahey's (including covers of a number of Fahey's songs on his recordings and in his live performances), his rapid evolution as a guitarist, and prolific, diverse, genre-bending output have helped him to shed this common and narrow-sighted analogy. In fact, Rose's greatest link to John Fahey, perhaps, is his sharing of Fahey's half-joking belief that "the secret is always to steal from obscure sources." [Fahey, John. [http://www.melbay.com/product.asp?ProductID=99802BCD "John Fahey: American Primitive Guitar"] "Disc 1, Track 1".] Rose cites artists as diverse as Blind Blake, William "Bill" Moore, and Oscar "Buddy" Woods as influences. [Rose, Jack. [http://www.myspace.com/jackrosekensington "Jack Rose"] "Jack Rose's Influences Listed on MySpace", retrieved July 1, 2008]

Discography

Dr. Ragtime

*"Doctor Ragtime" CD-R (2002) (Tequila Sunrise)
*"Dr. Ragtime" 7" EP (2005) (Sacred Harp Library)
*"Dr. Ragtime" 78rpm EP (2005) (Life is Hard)
*"Dr. Ragtime and His Pals" CD/LP (2008) (Beautiful Happiness/Tequila Sunrise)

Jack Rose

*"Hung Far Low, Portland, Oregon" CD-R (2001) (self-released/Klang Industries)
*"Red Horse, White Mule" LP (2002) (Eclipse Records)
*"Opium Musick" LP (2003) (Eclipse Records)
*"Raag Manifestos" LP (2004) (Eclipse Records)
*"Kensington Blues" CD/LP (2005) (VHF Records/Tequila Sunrise)
*"Untitled I & II" 7" EP (2006) (Tequila Sunrise)
*"Jack Rose" CD/LP (2006) (aRCHIVE/Tequila Sunrise)
*"Split with Silvester Anfang" 7" EP (2007) (Funeral Folk)
*"I Do Play Rock and Roll" CD/LP (2008) (Three Lobed Recordings)
*"Jack Rose and The Black Twigs" 7" EP (2008) (The Great Pop Supplement)

Compilations

*"Klang VII" CD-R (1999) (Klang Industries)
*"Wooden Guitar" CD (2003) (Locust Music)
*"Golden Apples of the Sun" CD (2004) (Bastet)
*"Imaginational Anthem" CD (2005) (Near Mint Records)
*"By the Fruits you Shall Know the Roots" 3xLP (2005) (Eclipse/Time-Lag)

Notes

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/jackrosekensington Official MySpace Page]
* [http://www.vhfrecords.com/jackrose/ VHF Records site]