Jazz Guitarist Mike Jackson of Warwick returns to WV Winery stage

WARWICK-The Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery welcomes back jazz virtuosos Mike Jackson and Rave Tesar on Saturday, June 26, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 with reservations and $18 at the door. Mike Jackson, a Warwick, resident, is a highly acclaimed bebop guitarist and is often referred to as one of the best jazz guitar players anywhere. Jackson began his career as an R&B guitarist, playing the Washington, D.C. nightclub scene and the so-called "Chitlin' Circuit" of black theaters and nightclubs throughout the northeast and south. In the late 60s, he toured Europe with Big Al Downing, and while still in his teens, Mike backed up such popular artists of the day as: Solomon Burke, Baby Washington, Clyde McPhatter, The Marvelettes, Marv Johnson, Marvin Gay, Billy Stewart, Johnnny Stewart, and many others. He appeared on shows with just about every major R&B and rock artist of the 60s. In 1968, Jackson turned his attention to jazz. He went on to play with many popular DC jazz musicians such as drummer Billy Hart - with whom he had played R&B gigs as a teenager - organists Garland Butts, Skip Fennell, Orlando Smith, Freddie Johnson and Jackie Hairston, and a host of other prominent DC players. Rave Tesar is anacclaimed, versatile keyboardist known in the tri-state area as a great jazz musician, an accomplished composer, and recording engineer.