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D.D. Jackson

D.D. Jackson is an award-winning jazz pianist/composer whose work spans 12 CD’s as leader or co-leader (including two for the major label RCA Victor/BMG) featuring almost entirely original material. His most recent CDs are Serenity Song (2006 Justin Time), Suite for New York (2003 Justin Time) (a meditation on the events of 9/11), and Sigame, a Latin-tinged work featuring drummer extraordinaire Dafnis Prieto. A member of the prestigious Lehman Engel BMI Musical Theatre Workshop, Jackson's theatre work includes an upcoming opera entitled Trudeau: Long March/ Shining Path on the former Canadian Prime Minister and the musical-comedy “Depressed, Depressed” written with Chicago City Limits veteran Carl Kissin. Jackson performs all over the world with his groups and has also appeared and recorded with some of the most distinguished names in jazz including saxophonists David Murray and drummer Jack Dejohnette. He is also an accomplished classical pianist and recently released a recording of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue on Summit Records. Jackson also writes a regular column for Downbeat magazine entitled “Living Jazz” and maintains  the related “D.D. Jackson Living Jazz Podcast”. For more on D.D., visit ddjackson.com

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197
Download Review

D.D. Jackson: Unreleased Live Performances

Read "D.D. Jackson: Unreleased Live Performances" reviewed by Mark Sabbatini


D.D. Jackson Unreleased live performances ddjackson.com

D.D. Jackson is truly one of jazz's good guys, which just makes it harder saying anything negative about this collection of unreleased live songs available as free downloads at his web site.

But while he gets high marks for performance, the imperfections--due mostly to sound quality often resembling a mediocre audience bootleg tape--can't be ignored.

Jackson is an elite modern pianist whose range ...

189
Album Review

D.D. Jackson: Suite For New York

Read "Suite For New York" reviewed by Nic Jones


The musical evocation of New York is nothing new. Julius Hemphill and Laura Nyro have done it before, and for all of the dissimilarities between their works their powers of evocation leave Jackson with a lot to live up to. He does so here with aplomb, producing music with no modest personality of its own. His is the only work of the three to appear in the wake of the events of 9/11, though these events have little overt influence ...

114
Album Review

D.D. Jackson: Sigame

Read "Sigame" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Pianist D.D. Jackson has covered a lot of ground in his seven records as a leader. During this process of evolution, he moved from the powerfully warm sound of his first disc, Peace-Song (a true masterpiece), through signature efforts in solo, duo, trio, and sextet settings. Jackson's piano playing draws heavily upon blues, soul, and gospel roots while exercising a strong sense of modern adventurism. A student of the late Don Pullen, Jackson retains elements of Pullen's characteristic style: for ...

123
Album Review

D.D. Jackson: Sigame

Read "Sigame" reviewed by Jim Santella


D.D. Jackson's piano trio opens his latest album with a down-home flavor. Laid back and wholesome, the piece forms an instant association with Ray Charles. Jackson's improvisation, however, moves off into a different, desired direction. More adventurous than most, the pianist stretches his blues tinge across the keyboard in favor of dynamic inflection. All the compositions are Jackson's. His impressionism runs from one continent to another throughout history, and retains a highly romantic mood. It's an acoustic session. As the ...

109
Album Review

D.D. Jackson: Sigame

Read "Sigame" reviewed by Jim Santella


D.D. Jackson's piano trio opens his latest album with a down-home flavor. Laid back and wholesome, the piece forms an instant association with Ray Charles. Jackson's improvisation, however, moves off into a different, desired direction. More adventurous than most, the pianist stretches his blues tinge across the keyboard in favor of dynamic inflection. All the compositions are Jackson's. His impressionism runs from one continent to another throughout history, and retains a highly romantic mood. It's an acoustic session. As the ...

154
Album Review

D.D. Jackson: Rhythm-Dance

Read "Rhythm-Dance" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Rhythm-Dance, a trio recording from early '96, continues with many of the same themes found on 1995's Peace-Song. Again, the compositions are all by Jackson. In the absence of David Murray's titanic tenor sax, Jackson explores the greater freedom a straight trio allows. His melodies overflow with gospelly/bluesy embellishments, and his solos break free from rhythmic and harmonic constraints. The trio, as on Peace-Song, is remarkably tight. It's worthwhile considering that this record was made within months after the deaths ...

138
Album Review

D.D. Jackson (featuring David Murray): Peace-Song

Read "Peace-Song" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Pianist D.D. Jackson, a Canadian transplant to New York, recorded his first record, Peace-Song, in late '94. It features his trio, which also includes Canadian expatriates John Geggie on bass and Jean Martin on drums. Tenor saxophonist David Murray makes contributions throughout, blowing melodies as well as far-flung solos making use of the full range (emotional as well as tonal) of his instrument.

Jackson's playing betrays obvious similarity to that of the late Don Pullen: it straddles the gap between ...

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140

Performance / Tour

D.D. Jackson at Mec/Jazzy Jazz Festival in Rare Organ Appearance

D.D. Jackson at Mec/Jazzy Jazz Festival in Rare Organ Appearance

Source: All About Jazz

Canadian-born, New York-based jazz pianist/composer D.D. Jackson will make a rare New York City appearance playing organ in a free outdoor performance as part of the Medgar Evers College (CUNY)/Jazzy Jazz Festival series. The concert takes place on Friday, August 3rd, 2007 at 1650 Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, with sets at 6:30 and 8:30 pm. Joining him in his trio will be special guest Christian Howes on electric violin/bass, and longtime AACM member Reggie Nicholson on drums. Material on the ...

275

Performance / Tour

A Family Focus for Upcoming D.D. Jackson Trio MOMA Performance

A Family Focus for Upcoming D.D. Jackson Trio MOMA Performance

Source: All About Jazz

Canadian-born, New York-based jazz pianist/composer D.D. Jackson's free performance on Sunday, July 29th, 2007 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City will feature original music from his latest CD Serenity Song, and material with a distinct focus on family, with a piece dedicated to his wife and 10-month old son Jarrett Jackson (named after pianist Keith Jarrett), along with other compositions from the CD that reflect the full gamut of emotions experienced as father and husband. Joining ...

115

Performance / Tour

D.D. Jackson Trio at the Jazz Gallery (NYC) Nov. 1 plus Living Jazz Podcasts

D.D. Jackson Trio at the Jazz Gallery (NYC) Nov. 1 plus Living Jazz Podcasts

Source: All About Jazz

For those of you in the New York City area, The D.D. Jackson Trio (D.D. Jackson - pianist/composer); Dafnis Prieto - drums and Ugonna Okegwo - bass will be appearing for one night only in New York City at the Jazz Gallery on Tues. Nov. 1rst at 9 and 10:30 pm. They will be playing material from a new Justin Time CD they'll be recording shortly in conjunction with D.D.'s upcoming Artistshare website. The Jazz Gallery is at: 290 Hudson ...

Primary Instrument

Piano

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

Author of "Living Jazz", Downbeat magazine, a column that has been running bi-monthly for 5 years covering all aspects of being a jazz musician in this day and age, from performance/composition, to business and everything in between and associated D.D. Jackson's Living Jazz Podcast"

Adjunct Professor, Long Island University; 2005-present

Private lessons (composition/jazz piano performance): 1990-present

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Suite For New York

Unknown label
2003

buy

Suite For New York CD

Justin Time Records
2003

buy

Sigame

Justin Time Records
2001

buy

Peace-Song

Justin Time Records
2000

buy

Rhythm-Dance

Justin Time Records
2000

buy

Anthem

RCA Records
2000

buy

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