Guitarist Vic Juris passed away on December 31, 2019 at the age of 66.

He was born Victor Edward Jurusz on September 26, 1953 in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Juris started playing guitar when he was nine and he considered Django Reinhardt, Johnny Smith, Wes Montgomery and Barney Kessel to be early inflluences.

In 1971 Juris joined the Don Patterson Trio and he also played during the era with pianist Barry Miles and altoist Eric Kloss, making his recording debut with the latter.

After that period, Juris was in great demand, playing with a long list of greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Phil Woods, Jimmy Smith, Sarah Vaughan, Chico Hamilton, Dave Liebman, Mel Torme, Eddie Jefferson, James Moody, Lee Konitz, and Richie Cole.

A forward-looking bop-based guitarist, Juris also teamed up now and then with other guitarists including Bireli Lagrene, Larry Coryell, John Abercrombie and Russell Malone.

Juris led over 20 albums of his own and appeared on over 150 recordings as a sideman.

Vic Juris is featured playing “The Shadow Of Your Smile” with bassist Bill Coleman and drummer Andy Bold.

-Scott Yanow