Jack's Waterfall is the musical adventure of singer/songwriter and musician, Jack
Licitra. Pop, blues, jazz, folk, gospel and global music all meet at The Waterfall,
a place of healing and learning. Sometimes Jack performs solo and other times with
a group, but there is always present a unique energy of inclusiveness. His great
capacity for rhythmic and percussive adventures, his virtuosic piano explorations,
and his heartfelt songs and storytelling come together in every captivating performance.
Jack Licitra founded Jack's Waterfall in 1998. The group has released five CD's:
Live at the Paris Café (1999) features a duo performance with mandolin guru, Buddy
Merriam; Calling All Angels (2000) is rich in percussion and includes an all-star
cast of musicians including guitarist Matt Marshak and percussionist Richie Guerrero.
Griot (2001) is a collection of more mature songs and interesting rhythms and features
Bakithi Kumalo (from Paul Simon’s Graceland) on fretless bass and Morris Goldberg
(from the Rosie O'Donnell Show) on saxophone and flutes. The Right Way to be Wrong
(2006) is an example of many genres of music coming together in a cohesive project
with master Irish Musician Eamonn O’Rourke(Kathy Mattea, Dolly Parton) on violin
and fretless bass as the perfect compliment. The River (2007) flows with the unique
Waterfall trio of Cello and Upright bass combined with percussive guitar woven together
with some tightly crafted songs.
Jack's Waterfall has appeared at The B.B. King Blues Festival, The Long Island Music
Hall of Fame Awards, The New Jersey Folk Festival and WFUV's Under the Radar. Licitra
has toured The United States opening for such acts as the Allman Brothers and the
Dickie Betts Band and even had the honor of singing for Senator Hillary Clinton.
Jack’s expansive career has also found him sharing the stage with the likes of Levon
Helm, Richie Havens, Buckwheat Zydeco, James Cotton, Marcia Ball, and many others.
Drawing on elements from many different places, Jack’s Waterfall has taken on a
power all its own. It is a project that has demonstrated its ability to grow an
audience by recently selling out The Boulton Center, drawing 490 people to the Patchogue
Theatre, and packing venues from Montauk to Manhattan. The music and concept appeal
to people from many different parts of the community, but it is the fact that it
is motivated by love and an energy greater then itself that has helped “The Waterfall”
raise tens of thousands of dollars at eight of it’s annual “World Peace Parties”
and bring a special feeling of togetherness and unity at each performance. Writing
songs to help his family through tough times – Jack was fourteen when his father
died - Jack soon discovered the healing powers of music. He notes, "Music or any
of the arts are universal - shared experiences or communications that bring people
closer together. It gets them in touch with things they were feeling but never actually
tried to express."
The current edition of Jack’s Waterfall includes Jack on vocals, guitar and piano-percussion,
Jerry McDonald on upright bass and Jon Preddice on cello. The group plays music
that has been called ‘inspirational,’ ‘Zen,’ ‘emotional’ and ‘energetic.’ All of
these suggest a magical experience led by a talented musician with unique communicative
power.