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Chubby Jackson

A fine bassist, Chubby Jackson is best-known for his association with Woody Herman's first two Herds of the mid-to late '40s, where he functioned not only in the rhythm section but as a sort-of cheerleader whose vocal interjections really pushed the band. Although he started on the clarinet when he was 16, Jackson soon switched to bass and was a professional by the time he was 19, playing with many big bands, including those led by Raymond Scott, Jan Savitt, and Henry Busse. After touring with Charlie Barnet from 1941 to 1943 (sometimes with Oscar Pettiford as the second bassist), Jackson joined Woody Herman's transitional orchestra and was partly responsible for the group adding many young modernists to the personnel, resulting in the First Herd. Jackson was with Herman during 1943-1946 (appearing on many recordings). After Herman broke up the band, Jackson played with Charlie Ventura's septet (1947) and had his own small group that toured Scandinavia. A second tour with Herman (1948) was followed by a period leading his own big band (1948-1949), more work with Ventura (1951), and a period co-leading a combo with Bill Harris. Chubby Jackson spent the 1950s as a studio musician, freelancer, and a host of his own children's television show. After periods living in Chicago, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, he eventually settled in San Diego in semi-retirement, although Jackson occasionally emerged, including for a stint with Lionel Hampton (1978-1979) and with Herman reunion groups. Even in retirement, Jackson seemed tireless, helping to organize cultural events for senior citizens and briefly hosting a cable TV jazz program. Jackson passed away in San Diego on October 1, 2003 after a protracted battle with cancer.


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102
Album Review

Chubby Jackson: Chubby Takes Over

Read "Chubby Takes Over" reviewed by David Rickert


For this 1958 recording Woody Herman stepped aside and let bassist Chubby Jackson have the reins of the band. This would have been any player's dream, for the Herd was stocked with talented players who grew up listening to the Four Brothers and bebop and could solo with the best of them. As a result, Herman's band was still capable of turning up the heat long after the height of the big band era, as his other releases for the ...

107
Album Review

Chubby Jackson: Chubby Takes Over

Read "Chubby Takes Over" reviewed by Norman Weinstein


This respectable (though not exactly essential) big band session was organized by Chubby Jackson, a very versatile bassist who paid his dues with various editions of the Woody Herman big band from the '40s on. This album gathered a number of former Woody Herman alumni, essentially many of the same players who appeared on The Herd Rides Again. Everyone plays precisely and powerfully, but the arrangements seem corny and dated for the most part. If not for the ...

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Interview

Interview: Chubby Jackson

Interview: Chubby Jackson

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Bassist Chubby Jackson is largely forgotten now, but in his prime he was one of the most dynamic band leaders in the late 1940s and '50s. For example, in 1949, his band featured Norman Faye, Al Porcino and Charlie Walp (tp); Mario Daone and Rob Swope (tb); Frank Socolow (as); Ray Turner and Al Epstein (ts); Marty Flax (bar); Teddy Charles (vib); Gene Di Novi (p); Red Kelly (b); Tiny Kahn (d,arr,vcl); Joe Harris (bgo,cga) and Chubby Jackson (cond,vcl). [Photo ...

Recording

Chubby Jackson: Entitled to You

Chubby Jackson: Entitled to You

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

One of the hippest big-band albums of 1957 was Chubby Jackson's I'm Entitled to You. And that's saying something, since virtually everything Jackson recorded was with-it and explosive. Jackson not only was a pistol, he also was a brilliant bassist and band leader who attracted the most fiery arrangers and best players. From my conversations with the late Hal McKusick, much of Jackson's appeal had to do with his jolly sense of humor. He managed to combine brilliant artistic judgment ...

1

Recording

Chubby Jackson: New York, 1949

Chubby Jackson: New York, 1949

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

In 1944, bebop was virtually ignored by the country's jazz fans—except those in New York, where the new style had first been recorded earlier that year. Viewed initially as unintelligible gibberish and way too fast for dancing, the new style was too complicated. Few musicians could play it authentically, since too few bebop recordings were on the market. And there was a hot-dog component to the music, with artists appearing to showboat for themselves rather than engage and entertain audiences. ...

106

Interview

Kne-O'chaw Hampton will be Interviewed by Jaijai Jackson, the Daughter of Bassist Chubby Jackson

Kne-O'chaw Hampton will be Interviewed by Jaijai Jackson, the Daughter of Bassist Chubby Jackson

Source: All About Jazz

August 27, 2005 -- Kne-O'chaw Hampton will be interviewed by Jaijai Jackson of Five String Productions. Jaijai Jackson is the daughter of jazz legend-bassist Chubby Jackson. JaiJai recently launched her own jazz radio show through xradio.biz/lasvegas as the “Woman of Jazz." Jackson brings her experience and background to the benefit of launching new independent jazz artists on worldwide radio. Xradio.biz is the official independent music supporter of all genres of music. Her format encompasses traditional swing jazz from her father's ...

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Radio

Daughter of Chubby Jackson Launches Jazz Radio Show

Daughter of Chubby Jackson Launches Jazz Radio Show

Source: All About Jazz

Jaijai Jackson, daughter of jazz legend-bassist Chubby Jackson launches her own internet jazz radio show through Xradio.biz in Las Vegas. (PRWEB) August 7, 2005 -- Jaijai Jackson of Five String Productions recently launched her own jazz radio show through xradio.biz/lasvegas as the “Woman of Jazz". Jackson brings her experience and background to the benefit of launching new independent jazz artists on worldwide radio. Xradio.biz is the official independent music supporter of all genres of music. Her format encompasses traditional swing ...

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Obituary

Jazz Bassist and Scat Singer Chubby Jackson Dies in Rancho Bernardo

Jazz Bassist and Scat Singer Chubby Jackson Dies in Rancho Bernardo

Source: All About Jazz

Jazz bassist and scat singer Chubby Jackson died in Rancho Bernardo, California on Oct 1, 2003 just shy of his 85th birthday.

Chubby was often called the cheer leader of Jazz for his enthusiasm and humor that was so much a part of his musical career. He was respected for his incredible energy on and off the bandstand. His death came after a long battle with kidney failure and cancer.

In a statement from his Florida home, Chubby's son, drummer ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Chubby Takes Over

Empire Musicwerks
2005

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Twist Calling With...

Laurie Records
1962

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Live

Laurie Records
0

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Videos

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