Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar

do with my life. Chet was my biggest influence.”
After a brief stint in college, Crook started playing
guitar regularly with older jazz musicians at local
nightclubs.
“All through the mid–1960s and 1970s I worked in
bands that had a rhythm section and a good piano player
who could read,” he says. “We played six nights a week,
ten to two.”
To supplement his income, Crook gave lessons and
worked at a music store before he landed a job as a factory
sales rep for Ampeg in 1968. Eventually he became
dissatisfied with music-related jobs and decided to dedicate
all his time and effort to the guitar. After performing in
several USO tours of Southeast Asia, Crook returned to
the local club scene only to find they could no longer afford
five- and six- piece groups. Fewer dollars meant finding
ways to get a bigger sound with fewer personnel.
“At that time there were no foot pedals for playing
bass,” Crook says. “I got the idea of putting heavier bass
strings on the guitar from Bob Wylie, who’s an inventor in
Wichita.”
With the bass notes covered, Crook worked as a duo
with a drummer before deciding he could make it as a solo
instrumentalist. In 1989 Crook released a self-titled album
recorded and produced by drummer David Teegarden. That
album, and the performances on this video, are the only
available recordings of Crook to date.
These days Crook teaches 20 guitar students a week,
he plays at a popular Tulsa nightspot four nights a week,
and he occasionally performs concerts if they’re not too
far from home. Over the years his repertoire has grown to
include many tunes outside the standard jazz songbook.
“I’m not just a jazz player – I love to play tunes,” Crook
says. “I like guitar music. I’ve never been much of a fan of
other instrumental music.”
Naturally, Crook enjoys listening to the great guitarists
who have inspired him and many others to dedicate
themselves to the instrument.
“I try to listen to just about everybody – Howard
Roberts, Johnny Smith, Tal Farlow, George Van Eps,” Crook
says. “I bought all their records. I’ve listened to everyone
from Bach to Bob Wills, and I’ve went to school on
everybody I could learn a lick from. “