Jacob Sacks is an American jazz pianist and composer.
Life and career Sacks is originally from Michigan.Ratliff, Ben (October 19, 1999) "A Contest Befitting Monk". The New York Times. pp. E1, E4. He met drummer Dan Weiss at the Manhattan School of Music.Panken, Ted (August 2010) "Dan Weiss – Tabla-Informed Concentration". Down Beat. p. 22. Sacks was a finalist in the 1999 Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition, aged 22. Sacks was part of bassist Eivind Opsvik's quartet.Margasak, Peter (September 2009) "Eivind Opsvik – Nordic Grit Meets Neil Young". Down Beat. p. 24. Sacks has for a long time played in a trio with the bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Dan Weiss, and in a duo with vocalist Yoon Sun Choi. Sacks has also played and recorded with harpsichord and other keyboard instruments.Drouot, Alain (July 2012) "Eivind Opsvik – Overseas IV". Down Beat. p. 48.
Playing style Nate Chinen of The New York Times commented that Sacks is "drawn to the subtler, deeper mechanics of harmony and form."Chinen, Nate (May 30, 2014) "A Pianist Stands Out As a Leader by Fitting In with the Group". The New York Times.
Compositions Sacks "isn't averse to succinctness or simplicity as a composer".
Discography An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.
As leader/co-leader Year recordedTitleLabelPersonnel/Notes2005Two Miles a DayLoyal / Yeah YeahQuartet, with Mat Maneri (viola, violin), Eivind Opsvik (bass), Paul Motian (drums)2008Imagination: The Music of Joe RaposoYeah YeahDuo, co-led with Yoon Sun Choi (vocals)2013*No Man's LandYeah YeahQuintet, with Andrew Bishop (clarinet, tenor sax), John Wojciechowski (tenor sax), Tim Flood (bass), Dan Weiss (drums)
As sideman Year recordedLeaderTitleLabel2010*AlisoCriss Cross Jazz2010*TimshelSunnyside2010*LabyrinthManricks2012*UnhingedIrabbagast2012*Overseas IVLoyal2014*FourteenPi2014* Road TripRKM2017*The Time VersesCriss Cross Jazz2020*Yeo-NeunShelter Press
References
External links Interview with trombonist Jacob Garchik