Chicago-area-based drummer and Naperville resident Jack Mouse gathered a quintet of some of his longtime collaborators and created an album of ten original compositions. With Art Davis on trumpet, Scott Robinson on woodwinds, guitarist John McLean, and a pair of bassists splitting duties, Bob Bowman and Kelly Sill, Mouse’s well-seasoned group receives a long overdue recording debut.
Mouse’s extensive background began when, upon graduating from college, he spent three years as featured soloist with the “Falconaires,” the official jazz ensemble of the U.S. Air Force Academy.
As a member of the Janice Borla Group, Jack can be heard on Janice’s CDs Whatever We Imagine (P-Vine Records, Japan), Lunar Octave (DMP), Agents of Change (Blujazz) and her latest, From Every Angle (Blujazz), which DownBeat gave 4 stars and named as one of the “Best CDs of the Year.” Also a member of the Dan Haerle Trio, he is heard on The Truth of the Matter (Seagull Records), Standard Procedure (Blujazz) – included in DownBeat’s “Best CDs of 2005” – and their current release Aspiration (Seagull Records). Jack’s multi-faceted career has been the subject of recent interviews in Modern Drummer and Jazz Improv magazines. He has authored articles for Percussive Notes and the IAJE-Illinois Newsletter. In 2005 he was a featured artist during the first online Virtual Percussion Festival presented at the University of Manitoba by the ALIVE Project (Accessible Live Internet Video Education).
Currently Coordinator of Jazz Studies at North Central College, Jack has also served on the faculties of the American Conservatory of Music, Benedictine University, Saskatchewan School of the Arts, Clark Terry Great Plains Jazz Camp, National Stage Band Camps, Jamey Aebersold Combo-Improvisation Camps and Birch Creek Farm Academy for the Performing Arts. He has been a faculty artist member of the Janice Borla Vocal Jazz Camp since its founding in 1989. As a member of the Bunky Green Quartet, he was among the first musicians to introduce jazz education to the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Jack has presented clinics and workshops at jazz festivals, music conventions, colleges and high schools throughout the United States, and is now available to do clinics online. He is a staff artist/clinician for Yamaha Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Aquarian Drum Heads and Vic Firth Drum Sticks.
For more information about Jack Mouse visit www.jackmouse.com.
