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Jackson Potter

Jackson Potter is a versatile guitarist and composer based in New York City. His unique style blends traditional jazz with innovative compositions, captivating audiences and critics alike.

Raised in St. Paul, MN, Potter grew up with music around the house. He learned to play guitar at the age of 10 from his father who was introduced to music by his mother, Joyce Paul, a country singer in Nashville who opened for Elvis Presley, and sang with greats such as Tony Bennett and Pat Boone. Potter quickly excelled at the instrument and by age 21 he had placed in several midwestern guitar competitions.

In 2016, Potter attended the University of Miami, Frost School of Music, where he studied jazz guitar with John Hart. Shortly after graduating, Potter released his debut album, “Restless” in October 2021 on Wise Cat Records showcasing both his guitar playing and composing talents. The album was featured on RMR's Top Jazz Album Chart for the Year 2021 and received enthusiastic reviews from critics and press.

Since moving to NYC in 2021, Potter has performed locally, nationally and internationally including at esteemed venues such as Lincoln Center, New World Symphony Center in Miami, and the luxurious Coba restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand. Additionally, Potter has performed with outstanding musicians such as Jaleel Shaw, Troy Roberts, Richie Nuzz, April Varner, Jim Cammack, Konrad Paszkudzki and others. Potter maintains a busy schedule performing five nights a week in NYC both as a leader and a sideman for various artists ranging in genre from jazz to pop. Recently, he recorded his sophomore album, “small things” featuring Jaleel Shaw and Troy Roberts which will be released on January 24th, 2025, on Shifting Paradigm Records.

Jackson Potter: small things

Read "small things" reviewed by Kyle Simpler

by Kyle Simpler
March 12, 2025

When musicians who are both skilled at their craft and passionate about what they play come together, it translates clearly into their music. Such is the case with Jackson Potter's sophomore release, Small Things. This is an engaging and well-crafted collection that highlights his compositional skills along with his fluency in contemporary jazz guitar. With a sound that captures the lyrical fluidity of Jim Hall and the swinging clarity of Herb Ellis, Potter strikes a compelling balance between tradition and ...

Album Review

Jackson Potter: small things

Read "small things" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
March 7, 2025

Grandiose gestures are well and good, but it's actually the small things, both independent and aggregated, that often prove most impactful. Those micro events or occurrences can lead to serious matters or link together to create an incredibly meaningful web of wonders at the macro level. That's a fact that Jackson Potter most certainly recognizes. For this, his sophomore date, the Minnesota-reared, New York-based guitarist demonstrates remarkable maturity and attention to detail while weaving together a smartly balanced program with ...

“Potter is simply amazing in terms of checking all the boxes so early in his career… Keep an eye on this young man–he’s an old soul with the energy of a young man, and the result is superb.” – Marc Phillips – Vinyl Anachronist