Spotlight on Jack Schantz
Welcome back to George’s Jazz Nook!
To Be of Service to A Music “So Much Bigger Than Any One of Us”
By George Blake, CJO Board President
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the CJO is an appropriate time to thank Jack Schantz. In his seventeen years as artistic director of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra (1992-2009), Schantz had to walk “the leader walk” many times. He cold called legends, navigated personalities, promoted little-known artists, and ensured the CJO’s survival (sometimes going without pay himself). Countless musicians have blossomed in Northeast Ohio because of Schantz’s commitment to jazz.
Jack Schantz holding trumpet
For CJO saxophonist Chris Coles, Jack Schantz is a “great gatherer of talent because he is generous with his time.” Studying at The University of Akron, Coles states that Schantz gave him “the opportunity to grow” and “made sure I was on my way. That’s the most you can ask from a teacher.” According to Coles, Schantz is responsible - along with Sean Jones - for inspiring a generation of musicians from Northeast Ohio, including Theron Brown, Nathan-Paul Davis, and Sam Blakeslee. Coles and Brown are the current jazz faculty at the University of Akron.
Schantz’s own development also occurred in Akron, where he spent formative years in the late 1970s studying with Roland Paolucci. Paolucci had a tremendous influence on Schantz. Schantz describes Paolucci as “the classiest man I have ever known.” When Schantz was running the CJO, he called on Paolucci countless times for advice. During a drive to rehearsal, Paolucci shared a key philosophy on life and jazz: “this music is so vast and so much bigger than any one of us. Each of us had to find a way to be of service to it somehow.”
Schantz has been of service to this vast music. This is evident not only in his recordings -such as his 1995 recording with Oscar Peterson or his 1998 Cleveland Jazz Orchestra recording with Sammy Nestico – but also as a luminous musical presence in Northeast Ohio’s live music scene. Chicago based trumpeter Josh Rzepka states that Schantz’s phrasing and sound is hardwired into his musical psyche. Growing up in Cleveland, Rzepka “heard him live more than any trumpet player alive.” Similarly, Akron’s Tommy Lehman states that he “learned so much from just sitting next to him and going to hear him when I was coming up. Jack is the standard of excellence for jazz in Northeast Ohio.”
When Jack Schantz started as artistic director of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra in 1992, his focus for building the identity of the group was not a particular repertoire, but achieving artistic excellence. Over his subsequent 17 years at the helm, the CJO repeatedly surpassed the expectations of guest artists. Visiting vibraphonist Terry Gibbs, for example, raved about the CJO: “I didn’t expect a band like this in Cleveland…they knocked me out…this is a great band!” This kind of thing happened so often that Schantz began to feel like a big band pool shark. A skeptical guest artist would arrive in The CLE. Then, rehearsal would begin: “It was so much fun watching the dawn of realization sweep across their faces.”
One of the happiest moments of those years was Sammy Nestico’s guest visit. During the concert Schantz received a note from CJO saxophonist Rich Shanklin: “This is what I was put on this planet for!”
Introducing the Jack Schantz Chair in Trumpet Fund
Jack Schantz playing trumpet
As part of our 40th Anniversary celebration, we are asking for gifts for the newly established Jack Schantz Chair in Trumpet Fund at the Akron Community Foundation.
This chair honors Jack Schantz, former artistic director and a current member of the ensemble. Through his through his unwavering commitment to celebrate jazz’s composers, CJO original music and his singular voice as CJO’s signature soloist for decades, Jack has contributed beyond measure to further the CJO’s mission.