Jazz Musician Frank Portolese '75 Profiled by Paper

January 29, 2002

January 29, 2002, Greencastle, Ind. - Frank Portolese, a musician and 1975 graduate of DePauw University, "plays jazz guitar the old-fashioned way, getting a clear tone from his 1965 Barker Archtop guitar," Robert Loerzel writes in the Deerfield (Illinois) Review. In an article entitled "Portolese plays it straight," Loerzel profiles the Chicago-area musician who plays clubs around the Windy City, has released two compact discs, and teaches improvisation to young guitarists at Midwest Young Artists in Highwood, Illinois.

Portolese "grew up listening to rock music. But when he heard what jazz musicians could do with the guitar, he almost instantly lost interest in playing rock," Loerzel writes. The article continues, "After earning a degree in journalism at DePauw University in Indiana, Portolese moved to Chicago and began studying jazz guitar. In 1978, one of his instructors sold him the guitar he still uses."

In reviewing Frank Portolese's latest CD, Last Call, the Chicago Tribune's Howard Reich wrote, "He pushes from one musical climax to the next... a remarkable range of ideas." AllAboutJazz.com calls it "a guitar lover's album" read review here. Another review, posted on the Jazz Institute of Chicago's Web site, says "Chicago is blessed with several magnificent jazz guitarists and Frank Portolese has been a leader of this six-string fraternity for over 20 years." Read more by clicking here.

You can also order Portlese's music at Barnes & Noble.com and Amazon.com.

Back