Teaching

- Mr. Grassel has taught composition, arranging, improvisation, ear training, jazz-rock-blues-classical music history, music business, music appreciation, jazz combos, and instrumental technique at:

Vandercook College, adjunct music faculty, 2011
Musicians Institute, adjunct music faculty, 2009, 2010
Western Illinois University and University of Illinois, guest artist, 2006, 2007
Wisconsin Lutheran College, adjunct music faculty, 2003-2007
Hofner Guitar Company, clinician, 1999-2005
Milwaukee Area Technical College, - department chairman, coordinator of instruction, ....................................................................creator of the Music Occupations degree program: 1983-2004
Fender / Guild Guitar Company, clinician, 1999
National Guitar Workshop Jazz Summit, jazz faculty, 1995-1998
Gibson Guitar Company, clinician, 1991
Birch Creek Music Center, jazz faculty, 1987
Young Audiences of Wisconsin, coordinator of elementary jazz presentations, 1971-1987
Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, faculty, jazz degree program, 1971-1984
Millikan University, guest artist, 1981
University of Wisconsin Whitewater, adjunct faculty, 1976
Cascio School of Music, instructor, 1965-1971
Modern Music School, instructor, 1962-1965

Performances

- Jack has led his bands and has been employed as a sideman resulting in approximately 12,000 performances. He has also played with name artists too numerous to mention including:

Luciano Pavarotti, Rosemary Clooney, Nancy Wilson, John B. Williams, Roy McCurdy, Frankie Laine, Richie Crabtree, Maureen McGovern, Cab Calloway, Jay Leno, Bob Hope, Louie Bellson, Vic Damone, Tom Jones, Al Martino, Joel Grey, Mel Rhyne, Bobby Rydell, The Drifters, The Crystals, Lainie Kazan, David Benoit, Ira Sullivan, Ed Thigpen, Howard Levy, Debbie Reynolds, Lana Cantrell, Buddy Montgomery, The Barnum and Bailey Circus, Holiday on Ice, Bob Newhart, Buddy Montgomery, Doc Severinson, Myron Floren and the Stars of the Lawrence Welk Show tour, Margaret Whiting, Rose Marie, Eartha Kitt, Helen O'Connell, John Gary, Chad Mitchell, Henny Youngman, Martha Ray, Jim Kerhin, Buster Williams, Roger Williams, Percy Faith, Paul Wertico, Rita Moreno, Morton Gould, Lucas Foss, McCoy Tyner, June Valli, Anna Marie Albergetti, Barry Williams, John Raitt, Jerry Vale, Bobby Vinton, Jimmie Rodgers, Trini Lopez, Donna Fargo, Art Hoyle, Tal Farlow, Barry Harris, Mamie Van Doren, Mark Eagan, Gary Willis, Carol Channing, Rufus Ried, Donald O'Connor, Slide Hampton, Johnny Padilla, John Scofield, Ritchie Cole, Stu Katz, Marlena Shaw, Marlene Rosenburg, Jerry Van Dyke, Fabian, Richard Hayman, Marcus Roberts, Phyllis Newman, Sandler and Young, Sergio Franchi, Greg Federico, Michael Feinstein, Dane Richeson, Skitch Henderson, Tommy Leonetti, Gloria Loring, Jimmy Webb, Theodore Bikel, Adam Levy, Stanley Jordan, Harold Jones, Ernie Adams, Dennis Day, Jackie Allen, Nancy Ames, Phil Ford, Mimi Hines, Hans Sturm, Jeff Pietrangelo, Greg Koch, Berkeley Fudge, Muriel Anderson, Tim Reynolds, Kirk Tatnall, Steve Peplin, Leigh Cowan, Bill Schaefgen, The Bar "O" Ranch, Bill Martin, Sam Belton, Steve Nelson-Raney, Bob Russell, Ben Hans, Scott DuBois, The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, The Bell City Brass, John Price, Barry Velleman, Bob Ockenden, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, The Milwaukee Choristers, Scott Currier, Harold Miller, Andy LoDuca, Jill Jensen, The Chuck Howard Superband, Hod O'Brien, Stephanie Nakasian, Rick Holmes, Tommy Sheridan, Christopher Kringel, Del Bennet, Jamey Aebersold, Kaye Berigan, and Randy Knackert with 45rpm.

Endorsements

- Jack uses whatever picks, guitars, cables, strings, amps and speakers he needs to present his ever-changing daily musical vision. His tone comes from his fingers. His music comes from his brain, shaped by life experience. However, to make his music realized in the real world for others to hear, he uses, may use or has used these tools:

Raezor's Edge speaker cabinets: The Jack Grassel model JG-10 (available at www.jhalemusic.com)
George L cables
Surf picks, Tone Tek picks, Moshay picks
Hofner guitars, 1999-2005
Walter Woods amplifiers
Dan Smocke guitars: The Jack Grassel model JG-1 (available at www.smockeguitars.com)
Gibson guitars, 1991, Guild guitars, 1998
Lincoln Music, Schmitt Music, Paramount Guitars and JHale Music supplies musical equipment.
Cadillac is the official jazzmobile. It is kept running by Pinkalla Auto Solutions and McFarland Motors . Jack's guitar is serviced by Jim Eanelli, Ron Jones and Dennis Rauen.
Jack's fingernails are maintained by Jesse at Laguna Nails, Racine, WI.

Writings

Music Ed Magic, 2009
Just Jazz Guitar Magazine, columnist, 1996-2005
City Edition, jazz record reviewer, 1995-1998
Art Muscle, performance reviewer, 1995
Madison Music Cooperative, "Power Practicing" columnist, 1996
Minneapolis Jazz Newsletter, "Power Practicing"columnist, 1996
Guitar Player Magazine, "Master Series" columnist, 1987-1990

Musicals (played in orchestra):

Man of La Mancha, Pippin', Hello Dolly, Timbuktu, No No Nanette, Working, Promises Promises, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well in Paris, Bye Bye Birdie, Shenandoa, Annie, Anything Goes, Island, Fiddler On The Roof.

Compositions

After Orwell, Another Chance, Go To Sleep Gabrielle, Blues for Roy Smeck, Bobsled, Bossa Mama, Bumpin' Around, Calatrava, Caves of Fear, clouds, Cofusion Illusion, Electric Garden, Full Spectrum Light, Gee Flat Blues, Gentle Sundays, Ghost Ridge, Glider, Goofy Bophead, Here Comes the Queen of Abyssinia, It Comes With the Snow, Inroad, Interlude, Jade Castles, Jim Glynn, Jooth Smazz, Kissing the Princess, Lacuna, Last Dance of the Samurae, Library Tomatoes, Lost in Eternity, Magic Cereal, Main Squeeze, Make a Wish, Mom and Dad's Blues, Mowgli's House, Metal Head, Noctilucent Vectors, November 20th, One Tow Free, On the Fifth Say, Passage, Planet Zoldar, Quite Possible the Blues Eminating From Daisy's View of the World, Rebirth, Remember Ruta Lee?, Ride, Song For Your Mother, Song For Bill, Space Dream, Sphinz Mysterium, Stratos, Swami Beflatananda, Talk To Me, Tango Schmango, The Harmonic Convergence of West Allis, The Summer's End, Thunderstones, There Are Monsters Under the Rug!, The Thing, The Tryst, Things, Travelin' at a Light Speed, Turning Back, War is Over...If You Want It.

Inventions

2010 - The Jack Grassel model JG-1 solid body guitar (constructed and marketed by Dan Smocke Guitars)

2007 - The Jack Grassel model JG-10 double ported, rotateable, speaker cabinet (constructed and marketed by the Raezer's Edge company.

1998 - The Fretless-quarter tone-seven string guitar.

1997 - The "Super Guitar" for playing bass and guitar simultaneously.

Education

- Private study with: George Van Eps, Tal Farlow, Billy Bauer, Jimmy Wyble, Joe Daley, Dave Holland, Don Momblow, George Pritchett, Emile DeCosmo, Roger Ruggieri, Ted Ashford, Roy Plum, Don Grzanna, Bill Ruddy and Conrad Kish, (attempted to study with Ed Bickert, Cecil Taylor and Sam Rivers)