Jack West on Innovation, Invention, and the “Acoustic Spank
Jack West, a virtuoso guitarist and prolific inventor, brings a "whole new sub-genre of jazz" to Berkeley for a double-bill performance celebrating a major return to the studio.
See the full show details and ticket information at the end of this feature. Listen to the full conversation with Jack West below:
The Berkeley music scene often serves as a crossroads for the avant-garde and the traditional, but few artists embody that intersection quite like Jack West. A virtuoso guitarist whose career has bridged rural Alabama funeral bands and high-stakes solar-technology invention, West is preparing for a "homecoming" performance at Freight & Salvage on February 26. This show marks his return to recording after more than twenty years of silence.
West’s creative drive extends beyond composition; he is a prolific inventor with over 100 patents, including the streamlined Zep Solar systems. For West, "inventing songs is the same process as inventing technology." This mindset led to the "acoustic spank" technique, enabled by a custom thumbpick that lets him strike strings in both directions—mimicking flamenco triplets while maintaining a funky, American feel.
The performance features his new album, Guitars On Life, a collaboration with guitar explorer Walter Strauss. While Strauss provides filigreed melodies inspired by West African kora masters, West serves as a one-man rhythm section. The evening also celebrates West’s past, with the Slide Guitar Ensemble performing tracks from the retrospective Essential Curvature. "It's just been really fun to dust off that material," West notes about revisiting his favorite slide guitar tunes.
What To Expect
A Dynamic Double-Bill: The evening features the Slide Guitar Ensemble performing music from Curvature, followed by a headlining set from the Jack West and Walter Strauss Duo.
Stellar Collaborators: The ensemble features marimbist Lalo Crane, bassist Gary Brown, and drummer Josh Jones.
