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Michael Gregory Jackson

Michael Gregory Jackson “Unfettered Conceptualist Guitar”

About Me

Michael Gregory Jackson is an American guitarist and composer celebrated for his innovative contributions across genres such as jazz, R&B, avant-garde, rock, blues, and free jazz. His musical journey has influenced numerous contemporary musicians and guitarists, including Vernon Reid, Bill Frisell, Brandon Ross, Mary Halvorson and Nels Cline, to name a few.

Jackson’s early musical foundation was shaped by his exposure to his father’s jazz collection and his own fascination with musical exploration untethered to genre, from Stravinsky and Coltrane to Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis and Pharaoh Sanders. He began playing the guitar at the age of seven, and by his teenage years, he was delving into a diverse array of musical styles, from early rock, indigenous music, avant-garde jazz, and classical music of many periods.

In the 1970s, Jackson emerged as a prominent figure in New York’s avant-garde loft jazz scene. He collaborated with now iconic musicians such as saxophonist Oliver Lake, trumpeters Baikida Carroll, and Wadada Leo Smith, and Julius Hemphill, and contributed to critically acclaimed recordings like Lake’s “Holding Together” (1976) and “Life Dance of Is” (1978). It was during this period that Jackson released his debut solo album, “Clarity” (1977), which featured Oliver Lake (saxophone, flute) David Murray(tenor sax) and Leo Smith (trumpets), and Jackson (guitars, mandolin, percussion, flutes, voice). Jackson’s next five releases varied wildly musically, this variation is emblematic of what Jackson calls his unfettered approach to music.

Brandon Ross, guitarist and gifted sonic explorer, encapsulates Michael and his career in a booklet that accompanied Michael’s 2022 release Electric Git Box: “Michael is legendary. Trailblazer would be an apt term to apply to his revision of guitar vernacular and cross-genre virtuosity. Aspects of his vocabulary of extended techniques and conceptual organization appear in the sound and approaches of any number of guitarists who heard him in concert in Boston, New Haven, NYC, St. Louis, Europe and beyond in the early 70’s. You know who they are, but most importantly – THEY KNOW who they are and who they were before and after hearing Michael. The door he revealed and opened led to a bold and bright new terrain.”

Jackson’s work continues to inspire and influence next generations of musicians. In 2020Los Angeles hip hop artist K Town Oddity (Stones Throw) sampled Jackson’s ‘Lovin’ You’ on his ‘Weed in LA’. In 2023 Los Angeles’ preeminent spiritual jazz producer and musician Carlos Niño reached out to Jackson to tell him he was deeply inspired by Jackson’s music. Soon after, Nino performed with Jackson at the storied The World Stage in the heart of Los Angeles’ African American Cultural Center, Leimert Park. In October 2024 Jackson’s career came full circle when he performed as Special Guest for André 3000’s New Blue Sun tour (along with Carlos Niño) in a completely improvised performance at The Wang Theater in Boston.

Currently, Jackson has numerous other projects in various states of pre-release including additional loft jazz sessions, two completed recording projects with his Danish collaborators, and an expansive cinematically sonic project recorded in 2023/25 with numerous & very special guests.

Throughout his career, Jackson has maintained a commitment to musical exploration and innovation. In recent years the term he has used to describe himself and his career is “unfettered”. His discography and career reflect that.

Michael Gregory Jackson Discography

As Leader:

• Wildflowers The New York Loft Jazz Sessions (1976) • Clarity (1977) • Karmonic Suite (1978) • Gifts (1979) • Heart & Center (1979) • Cowboys, Cartoons & Assorted Candy (1982) • Situation-X (1983) • What to Where (1988) • The Way We Used to Do (1990) • Red (1998) • Towards the Sun (2002) • After Before (2015) • Endogeny & Exogamy (2015) • Spirit Signal Strata (2017) • WHENUFINDITUWILLKNOW (2019) * Frequency Equilibrium Koan (2021)  • Electric Git Box (Dedicated to Greg Tate) (2022) • FlowSonic (2023) • Frequency Equilibrium Koan Expanded (2025) 

As Sideman:

With Oliver Lake: • Wildflowers The New York Loft Jazz Sessions (1976) • Holding Together (1976) • Life Dance of Is (1978) • Shine! (1979) • Plug It (1983) • Zaki (1992)   With Anthony Braxton: 
• Wildflowers The New York Loft Jazz Sessions (1976)

With Nona Hendryx: • The Heat (1985)

With Wadada Leo Smith: • Spiritual Dimensions (2009) • Heart’s Reflections (2011) • Najwa (2017)

With Stan Harrison: • Some Poor Soul Has A Fire (2024) 

As Producer:

* Spiritual Dimensions, Side 2  Wadada Leo Smith (2009)  * Hearts Reflections  Wadada Leo Smith (2011)

* Fits Like A Glove  Pheeroan aKLaff Side 1 (1983)