Smilin’ Jack

Had him play for our cocktail hour at our wedding. We were so happy that he came up to the OC for our event. SJ was a huge hit and we are still hearing people talk about him weeks after our wedding. If anyone is looking for a great accordion player who can entertain as well we highly recommend Smiling Jack!

It’s true — always smilin’ and always wonderful. He is Jack with an Accordion — and priceless.

All that you need to know is: This guy is awesome!

Saw Smilin’ Jack last Little Italy. Highlight of the whole event. Any man that can play accordion music that well and can smile that consistently deserves my gratitude… and my five stars.

Smilin’ Jack was the highlight of a recent Unilocal party! He really did smile the entire time. He even takes requests! This guy is amazing!

This guy is awesome… He never stops smiling while playing that accordion!!! I first saw him at the Spaghetteria a few years ago and now he plays at the Farmers Market.

Sooooo… many moons ago I was strolling through the Little Italy Farmers Market and stopped dead in my tracks when I saw and heard the legend that is Smilin’ Jack. After a few minutes I was still unable to wipe the smile off of my face and approached Jack mid-​song to snatch up a business card. The card was simple… a caricature of himself with his name and number. I had no idea why I grabbed it but knew it would come in handy someday.
Fast forward three years…
While in the process of organizing « Unilocal Last Day On Earth At Busalacchi’s A Modo Mio» the topic of live music came up. Without hesitation I said, «I know a guy!» That guy was Smilin’ Jack. The Busalacchi family was also well aware of Smilin’ Jack from his stints in Little Italy and a collective grin overwhelmed the meeting with the thought of him joining the Unilocal Elite community for what could be the last day on earth (December 20, 2012).
Long story short is that Jack showed up early, was professional, dressed to impress, smiled the ENTIRE time, and played a selection of songs that had the crowd smiling as big as he was. I would highly recommend reaching out to Jack if you have a party that needs a good alternative to a band or dj. Your guests are sure to love.
Thanks Chun for starting this page and to all the other Elites that have left reviews. He totally deserves it!

Top Secret! I love accordion music (disclaimer — except for the Weird Al variety). Perhaps it’s from a past life when I lived in Argentina and was giving tango lessons to former dictators… but give me a glass of red wine, some accordion music and an open dance floor and I’m home. I saw Smiling Jack at the Unilocal Elite End of the World Party and I was thankful that if it was indeed the end of the world, we had Smiling Jack to send us off in style. Ask him to play My Way — and get shuffling on the dance floor already!

I saw this guy perform at the Unilocal last event on Earth. And I’m glad I got to hear some accordion music before I met my fate.
This guy would make the «perfect» actor for another batman move as the Joker. I can only imagine this guy wearing white and green make up.
But back to his review. I’m a fan of every type of music and I enjoyed listening to Jacks, as it fit in with the Italian restaurant.
Keep Smilin Jack!

smilin’ jack seems like a glass half full kind of person so if accordian groovy tunes isn’t your thing then move along.
while he initially wanted to play the drums, smilin’ jack was introduced to the accordian back when he was 11 and hasn’t looked back since. playing in local eats and festivals rain or shine, jack keeps on smiling.
Unilocalers got a live treat at the latest Unilocal elite event at busalacchis in hillcrest. like jeff s. said, jack does perform a range of slow classics to upbeat tunes. whatever he plays, you can really see and enjoy the passion that he has for entertaining the crowd with his music.
heck, if you can make a living doing what you love, then hat’s off to you. chapeau!

How can anyone give this guy 1 star… must have woke up on the wrong side of happy town that day.
Second only to Rick Lyon from Imperial House for the EOTY (Entertainer of the Year) award in SD… Jack seems to have some kind of perma-grin…or a stick in his mouth… or a double fish hook… or too much botox… or who the hell knows… but just be happy he has all of his tooths cuz he’s a smilin’ all night.
All night except the second he gets done playing. then the fantasy of happyland is over… we saw Jack not smiling… it was like finding out Santa isn’t real… docked 1 star for major letdown at the end of the night.
I don’t think Jack’s eye contact is for show or for tips… I think it’s for checking out the ladies… ohhhh the ladies.

Smilin’ Jack is the man with the plan. Went to a «end of the world» Unilocal event and he was performing. If the world was to end that night, I would’ve left smiling because of Jack.

Indefatigable smile, amazing hair and outfits. Jack works hard. But Natalie, Tiffany and Chun, you have to concede that the music gets old after the first 5 minutes.
If y’all want to get more of SJ, come to the Little Italy Farmers Market on Saturdays. He’s there almost every week.

If you need accordion music, Smilin’ Jack is your guy. «Smilin’» is no exaggeration, the guy literally smiles throughout the entire performance. Everybody kept commenting on how amazing it was that he kept smiling. He has a myriad of songs to his repertoire. While he was performing at an event I attended, I heard a variety of songs ranging from Christmas to Elvis.
Nothing short of outstanding, Smilin’ Jack is your «go to» guy when you need accordion music.

After last night’s Elite Event… I’m a HUGE FAN!
Smilin’ Jack is the greatest one-​man band in all of San Diego! :D

Smilin’ Jack was. smilin’!!
Really though, there is something to be said about a one-​man show that can engage a crowd of Unilocalers with food and drink at highest priority!
This was my first time ever experiencing live accordion. Don’t know if anyone else will ever live up to him.
PS: He has AMAZING eye contact.

Ohh Tiffany R, you said it so well! He DOES have amazing eye contact!
Smilin’ Jack has some crazy face muscles to smile that long.
I don’t know a lot of people (anyone) who can play the accordion, but Smilin’ Jack probably puts the rest to shame. He is so freaking adorable.