Vic Juris joined the growing roster of world-class jazz guitarists on Mel Bay Records with the April 2005 release of his latest CD, A Second Look. This beautifully understated recording features Vic on archtop and nylon-string guitars, Jay Anderson on bass and Tim Horner on drums. Dave Liebman plays saxophone on three cuts, and Kate Baker provides a spellbinding vocal track on "Table for One".

Born Victor E. Jurusz Jr. in 1953 in Jersey City, New Jersey, Vic Juris began his professional ascent in the early 1970s through appearances and recordings with Phil Woods, Dizzy Gillespie, and Czech bassist/composer Miroslav Vitous. He participated in the jazz fusion movement with the Barry Miles group and in duets with Larry Coryell. His virtuosity and creativity in both acoustic and electric ensembles allowed him to quickly build a broad fan base.

Vic has recorded and performed with an extensive roster of jazz legends, including David Liebman, Freddie Hubbard, Gary Peacock, John Ambercrombie, Bireli Lagrene and Lee Konitz. A master of fluid lyricism, subtle phrasing and engaging harmonies, Vic is especially well known for his seductive ballads. He is a prolific composer and recorded many of his previous works with the Steeplechase record label.

Vic is the author of Modern Chords: Advanced Harmony for Guitar, published by Mel Bay Publications in 2004. A dedicated music educator, he is on faculties at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University and at the Jazz & Contemporary Music Program at New School University in New York City.

Here's what the jazz critics are saying:

"Vic Juris is simply one of jazz's finest. His playing is modern, creative and progressive, yet steeped in tradition. He's indeed arrived and this collection belongs in any jazz enthusiast's library."
        Jim Carlton
        Author of Conversations with Great Jazz Guitarists
        From the introduction to A Second Look

"Beautiful Record. Vic Juris is one of the best players on the modern scene."
        Peter Bernstein

"Vic Juris is the greatest. There are none better"
        John Abercrombie

"A Second Look, like last year's Blue Horizon, continues to assert Juris' considerable talents in a less-is-more context. To hear someone who is almost insidiously pushing the boundaries of jazz guitar, one need look no further."
        John Kelman
        All About Jazz