Courtesy of Jacob Alspach
Jacob Alspach
Jacob Alspach is on a lot of gigs around town, a frequent presence when a bar or venue is featuring trad jazz, ragtime, and other early-20th century. While there’s not a combo named after him (at least not presently), his skills on a host of instruments make him a popular player, a reputation that’s also helped by his pleasant, friendly persona.
Can’t lie: We initially reached out to him with a sidebar question about his frequent gigs with Mary Ann Schulte, misunderstanding that his joke about her being his “gig mom” is, in fact, an occasional, running joke. That intriguing note aside, his presence in and around the scene make him a perfect person with whom to catch up. Here’s a quick Q&A with one of our town’s under-heralded musicians and good guys.
Can you give us a sense of your basic musical background? What was your first instrument? And was that picked up at home, at school, or through private lessons?
I took piano lessons as a kid and then guitar lessons with this guy named Duke, who is a local teaching legend. I think he’s taught some guitarists who went on to play with famous bands. From 5th grade through 8th grade, I played trombone in the school band, then I quit until my mid-20s, when I picked it up again.
Run us through the various groups with whom you now play and the instruments on which you feature? What are your favorite gigs these days?
I mainly play the with the Gaslight Squares with TJ Müller. Then I sub with other bands like Miss Jubilee and Annie and the Fur Trappers. I play bass with an accordion band, sometimes. I do gigs with a great banjo player and singer name Denny Scherer. Banjo and guitar are my main instruments, but I also gig on bass, trombone, and, occasionally, drums.
Singing. You do it. What's your comfort level there? What do you enjoy about singing, be it an artist or style?
I like to sing a bit, and TJ is really cool about letting me. Singing jazz tunes is my favorite because you can just sing like yourself. Put your own spin on it. There's more pressure when you sing songs that are associated with a specific artist because people expect you to sound like that.
As you play with a bunch of area musicians, what are some things you've taken from any of them? Be it professional tips, appreciation of new songs, life skills, what have you?
I’m just so lucky to be able to play with all of the great musicians we have here in town. I grew up here and have lived here all my life, and some great musicians from all over have come here to play. People like TJ and Ethan Leinwand. It’s like they just showed up at my doorstep, looking for someone to play the music I love. Can’t get any better than that. I learned a ton about the business from playing with the wonderful singer Miss Jubilee. She taught me how to wrap cords like a boss.
PHOTO BY MATT MARCINKOWSKI
T.J Müller (trumpet), Jacob Alspach (tenor banjo), Jon Weiss (tuba), and Matt Sellers (piano).
Lightning round:
Did you ever head up a high school ska band?
Not ska, but close. In high school, I was in a band called The Reactions. We won an RFT Music Award for best garage rock in 2003, I think? We did open for MU330 once.
More challenging: studio or live work?
Definitely studio. I’m not one for fussing over mics and different sounds and stuff. I just like to get out my instrument and play. That’s what’s great about trad jazz. The instruments sound how they sound. There’s nothing to mess with.
Town in which you'd like to busk or prolifically sit-in?
New Orleans. I’ve never played there.
Type of music club/listening environment STL can use?
Something touristy. Like a live band in a riverboat history exhibit at the Arch or the History Museum or something similar. I’d love a gig like that.
Instrument you'd pick up if you have time?
Trumpet or sax. They’re too hard.
Current day job? Dream day job?
I teach music at HopeMark Preschool and ukulele at the Folk School. Both wonderful places and people!
