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D.D. Jackson
Composer - Arranger - Producer - Performer - Educator
With the holiday season fast approaching, I thought it was time for me to get out my Fall Newsletter before the official end of autumn is completely upon us next week! Please read on about some of my recent activities, from performances with: James Carter in India, legendary drummer Milford Graves, and as part of a Don Pullen tribute project; to recent Production-related news; to the debut at the legendary Minton's in Harlem of the Harlem School of the Arts Jazz Quartet I direct. And as always, please continue to keep me in mind for your arranging/production/composing and performing needs!
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India with James Carter and Other Performance News
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(l-r) James Carter, myself, Leonard King (at the Shisha Cafe in Pune, India)
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Over Thanksgiving I was asked to be a last-minute sub for saxophonist James Carter's regular organist Gerard Gibbs, performing on Hammond B3 in the James Carter Organ Trio (with Leonard King on drums), on my first tour of India. The mini-tour (of Pune, Bangalore, and Mumbai) was eye-opening both culturally and musically, as I tried to "keep up" with their music book and also remain appropriately facile on the B3. The audience reaction to the group was incredibly enthusiastic (especially to our final show in Mumbai); but it was still a reminder to me that I always have a lot to learn (especially on a secondary instrument such as organ). Lots of fun, though, and a pleasure to work with James again, with whom I now have a surprisingly long history dating back to his appearance on my "Paired Down" CD's (Justin Time Records) from the mid-90's, and on albums such as my BMG CD "Anthem" (which also featured such performers as: Jack Dejohnette, Richard Bona, Mino Cinelu, and violinist Christian Howes - here's an excerpt from that CD - ah, memories!)
Last month I also had the opportunity to participate in a unique project assembled by Prof. Jason Crafton at Virginia Tech, centered around the music of one of my key musical mentors, the great pianist/composer Don Pullen (and taking place just an hour from his hometown of Roanoke). Over 3 days, I participated in a recording featuring big band versions of some of Don's most popular tunes Jason had commissioned from various arrangers; gave lessons; and participated in a big concert finale the last night. You can hear one of my performances from this concert by clicking below (on Don's great blues tune "1529 Gunn Street"):
 | | (l-r): Kidd Jordan, Milford Graves, myself |
Finally, in September I was honored to return to the Guelph Jazz Festival (near Toronto), to perform in the same festival and building (the River Run Centre) that premiered my jazz opera "Qu�b�cit�" several years ago. This time it was a trio featuring myself on piano, with master drummer Milford Graves and saxophonist Kidd Jordan. The music was primal, intense, spontaneous and interactive from the very first beat, and an exhilarating pleasure for me as player (as always!)
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I was also pleased to begin a relationship as Vocal Director and
composer for a project with Edge Studio, a great midtown Manhattan studio that specializes in voice-over recording, whose clientele includes many from the children's TV and media industry. Since I've lately been composing music for such Emmy Award-winning TV shows as "Peg + Cat" and "The Wonder Pets", it was a good fit, and in an age of ever-shrinking "actual" studios, it's also nice to see a place like this thriving and providing such a much needed service. The project also afforded me the opportunity to continue to perfect my Melodyne vocal-editing chops, with some of the required work brought home to my studio in Maplewood, NJ (pictured below):
 | | My Maplewood studio (click to enlarge image) |
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HSA at Minton's and other Education News
 | | HSA Quartet at Minton's (click to enlarge image and for photo credits) |
I was also pleased in my capacity as Chair of Jazz and Contemporary Studies at the Harlem School of the Arts to bring the Jazz Quartet I direct into the legendary Minton's in Harlem for their debut performance last week (with additional performances coming on Feb. 22/15 and May 3/15). The core group was joined by Faculty member Don Eaton on congas, and later by the surprise guest of Ray Chew (of American Idol/Showtime at the Apollo fame) on drums.
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