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Jack Schaeffer

California native, Jack Schaeffer's natural ability with the clarinet early on lead him to organize his dixieland band, The Gages Rages. Then following he played the baritone sax with Phil Moore's big band touring the country, playing in a spin off German band group where with Jack's intuitive nature and sense of humor added just the right amount of Bavarian oomph-papa to round out the polkas in the classic styling on his clarinet.

In the early 60's Jack on the tenor sax, joined with the popular surf band The Royale Monarchs which were regulars on the television show "The Cinnamon Cinder." Producer Gary Usher discovered the musicians and singed Jack's newly reformed group, The Forte'Four to a recording contract at MCA/Universal and released several singles on the Decca Records label. Guitarist Glen Campbell joined as session man on their recording dates. Elvis Presley liked the groups new song "The Climb," and used their recording on the soundtrack of the MGM film, "Viva Las Vegas."

In the late 1960's Schaeffer showcased on the Las Vegas strip as musical director in Frederick Apcar's production, "The Sands Playmate Review", featuring Jack's seven piece band, The Enterprise. "I always felt bad for the poor drummer", he recalled,"who had to kick that bassdrum, accenting each step those Showgirls made on stage. Ah showbiz, but this was Vegas! and I was now a "Show-Kid" as they referred to us."

Jack was a founding member with lead singer Chuck Girard, keyboard player Dave Ingram and drummer Ernie Earnshaw (later of The Wackers) in the rock band Love Song, playing extended dates on stage at Disneyland's, Tomorrowland. Popular playing the mid-60's Orange County hot spot Harvey's Gold Street. Shortly after Schaeffer moved on Love Song with Girard became founding group of California's premier Christian record company, Maranatha Music.

After settling in the Bay area in the ealry 70's, Jack Schaeffer was a primary musician, arranger and co- founder of the Chicago style big jazz band sound of the group named Marin. The large ensemble of brass horns, built it's large jazz sound around the Hammond organ blend. Opening one Tuesday night at San Francisco's Winterland, recieved a standing command encore. In a review gave the big jazz band high marks, "Nobody gets encores on a Tuesday!". Marin played concert dates on the square at UC Berkeley campus, where one professor dubbed their sound the "Musical answer to Technocracy".

Schaeffer next helped form and musically arrange an acoustical group around the sultry voice of blues singer Patty Parsons. AnExchange became popular playing San Francisco's famous coffeehouse the Coal Yard, Marin counties, Mill Valley Sweetwater Inn (featured grand-opening night), Sausalito's famous Gatsby's and Hollywood's legendary Doug Weston's Troubadour. AnExchange opened for Ike and Tina Turner, the Everly Brothers in San Francisco and Joan Baez at the Edmonton International Pop Festival in Canada.

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Interview

Jack Schaeffer: Strumbola

Read "Jack Schaeffer: Strumbola" reviewed by Randall Robinson


Jack Schaeffer is a longtime Marin county saxophonist who, since the 1970s, has frequently been showcased at San Francisco and Sausalito nightclubs. Schaeffer is a staple of Mill Valley's Sweetwater Inn, opening the club with his AnExchange Quartet back in the 1970s. Still playing these many years later, Schaeffer frequently gigs with his Hot House Swing Band.“Saxophonist Jack," as he is affectionately known, has piqued interest and curiosity with his conversion, invention or, perhaps, contraption, the tiple-styled multi-string ...

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Interview

Saxophonist Jack Schaeffer Interviewed at AAJ

Saxophonist Jack Schaeffer Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz

AAJ contributor Randall Robinson sat down recently with longtime Marin county saxophonist Jack Schaeffer who, since the 1970s, has frequently been showcased at San Francisco and Sausalito nightclubs, and is a staple of Mill Valley's Sweetwater Inn, where the saxophonist's AnExchange Quartet played its first gig. Still playing these many years later, Schaeffer frequently gigs with his Hot House Swing Band.

“Saxist Jack," as he is affectionately known, has piqued interest and curiosity with his conversion, invention or, perhaps, contraption, ...

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