FRANK J. JACKSON - Legendary Bay Area Giant of Jazz PIANIST & VOCALIST - Pioneer/Honoree San Francisco Fillmore Jazz District - 2005 Lifetime Achievement Honoree by KPFA, KCSM, KKUP & KUSP -Elite Member of Piano & Vocal Jazz Performers -Pre-eminent Performer of Great American Songbook -Best Male Vocalist
Frank Jackson, long recognized as a brilliant jazz pianist and vocalist, bandleader, producer, recording artist, and standup vocalist, is highly in demand performing and recording on the scene today in clubs, festivals and concerts from trio to sextet settings.
Frank Jackson's place in San Francisco jazz history was recently solidified even more forcibly in Fall 2005, when he was honored as a Heritage Pioneer Jazz Legend of the Fillmore Jazz District, and is prominently featured in "Harlem of the West," the recent 2006 best-selling history of the Fillmore District Jazz Era of the 1940s and 1950s by Elizabeth Pepin and Lewis Watts. An Exhibit of the same, based on the book, is on display at the San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum, 401 Van Ness Ave, SF, CA 415 - 225 - 4800 until August 26, 2006. For details visit www.sfpalm.org.
Frank Jackson started his summer 2006 off as the leader back at the keys at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA, recording his next CD with a stellar lineup of jazz giants of the Bay Area. His record label, Kasis Records, LLC, anticipates the CD release in Spring 2007.
Frank Jackson's annual return to Jazz at Pearls, San Francisco jazz club for three nights from August 4, 5 & 6, 2006, 8pm & 10pm shows. Check him out at www.jazzatpearls.com.
Other recent highlights for this Bay Area Jazz treasure include; Frank celebrated his 80th birthday in concert at Yoshi's Jazz House, Jack London Square, Oakland,CA, on December 19, 2005 to sold out shows featuring Allen Smith, trumpet, Omar Clay, drums, Noel Jewkes, woodwinds, Al Obidinski, bass, & Jeff Chambers, bass, some of the best jazz players in the Bay Area & beyond, with live recording by Bud Spangler for KCSM's 91.1 FM Sunday Night Suite Series aired on KCSM, San Mateo, CA, in April & May 2006.
June 2005, Frank was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by four Northern California Public Radio legend DJs: Doug Edwards, Producer/Host - KPFA; Haybert King Houston, Editor/Host, Jazz Now Interactive/Jazz Now - KKUP; Pete Fallico, Producer/Host - KUSP & KCSM/Jazz BeatRadio; Afrikahn Jahmal Dayvs, Producer/Host - Jazzline Radio/TV - KKUP. Honor was bestowed upon Frank while performing to sold out shows at Jazz at Pearls, SF's legendary jazz house.
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Year 2004 - Critics Poll Choice for his latest CD "New York After Dark"
Frank & Kasis Records' latest CD release, "NEW YORK AFTER DARK," recorded November 2003 at Systems Two Studio, Brooklyn, NY, and released in late 2004, features him as male vocalist and co-producer with the late great jazz messengers music director, pianist, educator, and composer, JAMES WILLIAMS (piano, organ & producer), RON CARTER (bass), BILLY PIERCE (soprano & tenor saxophones), and KENNY WASHINGTON (drums). Liner Notes by Bob Blumenthal, Marsalis Music. New York After Dark has received rave reviews by both jazz press & jazz radio & welcomes Frank to the male jazz vocalists category.
For recent press reviews, go to www.cdbaby.com/fjackson.
A highlight with the late great James Williams, was Frank's January 2004 debut at Birdland, NYC, as vocalist with James Williams and Mulgrew Miller. Also, Porters, NYC welcomed Frank back in trio setting after his November 2003 sold out performance.
Frank's own CDs comprise a classic traditional piano-vocals-bass-guitar combo, larger ensembles with several guitars and drums. In 2003, Frank released his long awaited second CD, "SWINGIN' AND ALL DRESSED TO GO," and also reissued his first CD, "I SHOULD CARE," both under his own independent record label company, Kasis Records, LLC, which was established with his wife, Kathy, in year 2002 to document, promote and support Frank's classic jazz style. All CDs have received rave reviews and are considered quality classic jazz recordings. CDs available at www.cdbaby.com/fjackson, www.tower.com, www.bestbuy.com, and www.frankjacksonjazz.com.
Born in Cleburne, Texas, and living in San Francisco since 1942, Frank Jackson one of the "BAY AREA GIANTS OF JAZZ," has for over six decades been serving up his impeccable, elegant piano style, smooth warm vocals and unique phrasing.
As a traditional jazz musician and one of the most accomplished interpreters of the Great American Songbook, he is a consummate entertainer, able to fulfill practically any request with his astonishing knowledge of the American Songbook, ranging from the Tin Pan Alley to the theme songs from "Star Trek," "Being Green," the theme song of Kermit the Frog, to "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," Eric Idle's more than famous song themed in Broadway's "Spamalot," to "It's a Jungle Out There," Randy Newman's theme for made for TV, "Monk." Looking for obscure standards, you'll find them amongst Frank's impressive repertoire'.
Frank's music is swinging at any tempo. His versatility ranges from uptempo, ballads, blues, latin, and instrumentals. His piano playing recalls the minimalism of Count Basie, the lushness of Duke Ellington, the two-handed melodic sound of Erroll Garner, and sheer virtuosity of Bud Powell. Frank is by no means an imitator. He has formed his own, individual conception of how jazz is to be played. His cheerful personality is contagious, possessing a joy of life that is obvious on the bandstand or off. What has truly earned the respect and admiration of musicians and music lovers alike is Frank's one-of-a-kind interpretations and delicious vocal renderings of the great standards. His vocals -- suave, elegant, formidable, and articulate, his scatting -- note for note pure ease and modern, are among the most respected in jazz. He has the ability to draw the listener in as though he's telling a story, with such soulful feeling, the listener feels and responds like he is singing only to them.
Frank has performed with numerous internationally famous musicians as well as with some of the finest Bay Area talent. His experience includes recordings, radio & TV appearances, concerts, educational jazz clinics and camps, festivals and club appearances.
Frank Jackson has roots deep in the San Francisco music scene dating back to the heyday of the "MO," as it was called from the war years in the 1940s until the Fillmore District broke up in the mid-1960s. In his teens, Frank always a singer, learned to play the piano and formed a trio to play at teen and community centers. Frank Jackson started his musical career in the late 1940s playing at Slim Jenkins club, piano bars and afterhours clubs in the Bay Area.
In the early 1950s, Frank Jackson was the first musician to open at Slim Gaillord's "Vout City," which was opened only for two months, then taken over by John "Jimbo" Edwards and became known as the San Francisco's legendary "JIMBO'S BOP CITY," an afterhours club open from 2-6AM. Frank Jackson worked as the house pianist at the legendary "BOP CITY," for a duration of seven years, with tenor sax giant, Dexter Gordon, and alto saxophonist, Pony Poindexter. Also during this time, Frank Jackson performed with the jazz ensemble, "The 4 Naturals," at The International Settlement in North Beach. In the popular Frank Sinatra movie, "Pal Joey," you can view the huge billboard of "The 4 Naturals," at the entrance to the famous International Settlement. This picture is also featured in the book, "Harlem of the West."
Frank's education in jazz flourished during the years he worked as house pianist at San Francisco's legendary "Bop City." Musicians travelling up and down the West Coast would drop in at "Bop City" to jam after their gigs or just to see who was in town. Being in the house band, Frank got the chance to associate with practically everyone: Charlie (Bird) Parker, Billie Holiday, Frank Foster, Ben Webster, Ella Fitzgerald, Harold Land, Joe Comfort, Erroll Garner, Art (God) Tatum, Nat "King" Cole, who had a major influence on Frank's career, Chet Baker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, and the list goes on.
Frank has performed with such jazz luminaries as: Lionel Hampton, Gerald Wilson, Dexter Gordon, Teddy Edwards, Cal Tjader, Lester Young, Ben Webster, Slim Gaillord, Brew Moore, Curtis Counce, Teddy Bun, Ruth Brown, Oscar Pettiford, Frank Butler, T-Bone Walker, Jimmy Witherspoon, Ernestine Anderson, Ernie Andrews, Smiley Winters, Chico Hamilton, James Williams, Rufus Reid, Darryl Hall, Mulgrew Miller, Sammy Simpson, Eddie Hammond, Eddie Alley, Vernon Alley, Allen Smith, Frank Fisher, Harold Jones, John Handy, Jules Broussard, Noel Jewkes, Mary Stallings, Denise Perrier, Omar Clay, Jeff Chambers, Bodil Niska, Larry Vuckovich, Kim Nalley, and the list goes on.
Frank and his family resided in the thriving FIllmore District in San Francisco, and he went to school with Cal Tjader, Vince Guarladi and grew up with Maya Angelou. Much of this rich history has been captured in the new book, "Harlem of the West" The San Francisco Fillmore Jazz Era 1940s - 1950s by Elizabeth Pepin and Lewis Watts and exhibit of same on display at the San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum. There is interest that this exhibit will tour outside of California.
Frank was a highly sought after instrumentalist and acompanist in his early career working with vocalists like Ruth Brown, T-Bone Walker, Jimmy Witherspoon, Helen Humes, Brook Benton, Ernestine Anderson, Ernie Andrews, and so on. Frank formed a vocalist group, named the "Quinns," who toured and performed with the Gerald Wilson Big Band throughout California in the 1960s.
Frank worked with Roy Milton, Big Joe Turner and Lionel Hampton, all who wanted him to go on the road, but Frank chose to remain near his elderly parents, family and share his talents within the Bay Area community.
When in the Bay Area, look for Frank at Jazz at Pearls, legendary San Francisco jazz club, Octavia Lounge, Shanghai 1930, Enrico's, Downtown - Berkeley, Anna'z Jazz Island - Berkeley, Yoshi's Oakland jazz house, or just tune to KCSM 91.1FM for Datebook listings, and music of Frank Jackson. Show less
