I was at a wedding when I got word that Jack had died. It felt like a punch in the gut. I didn’t know him particularly well, but well enough to say hi when I saw him around town. He lived around the corner from me here in Port Fishington, and I’d often see him smoking a cigarette outside his house on Cedar Street. I named this blog for the song he’s playing in the video above. Watch it and let it soak in.
Jack’s music continues to amaze me. His genius was revered within a small group of fans here, grew somewhat when Kensington Blues was released, and then shrank again. Seeing him play was always a treat and I saw him pretty often, most memorably in the First Unitarian Church sanctuary when he opened for Sunn O))). I saw him play with Pelt when they opened for Earth in the church basement. Jack was the sort of artist who had his bonafides and didn’t need critical praise from Pitchfork to grow a committed following.
I can’t believe he’s gone. It’s one of the saddest stories in music for me in 2009. I sometimes imagine him still playing at 60, dazzling a new generation with his singular style. I wanted to see where he’d take his music. It’s a shame that we won’t all get to see that happen. I’m hopeful that Thrill Jockey can release his final album and that Jack gets the recognition he so richly deserves.
Rest in peace, Jack. Your music lives on eternally.