Duffy Jackson: Big Band Drummer

Virtually every photo taken of Chubby Jackson shows the bassist smiling or laughing. In the 1940s and '50s, Jackson played in Woody Herman's band starting in 1943 and remained intermittently through the 1970s, leading his own bands and small groups along the way. Chubby was known for his on-stage exuberance and keeping bandmembers' spirits high. His son, Duffy became a solid big band drummer, most notably with Count Basie. What makes Duffy Jackson so much fun to watch is the very feature he inherited from his father—enormous passion for the instrument he played and the music that passed through his fingers.

Here's Duffy Jackson with Count Basie's small group in 1979...



Here's Jackson with Basie's big band in 1979...



Here's Jackson with Lionel Hampton in 1984 at Disneyland...



Here's Jackson with Count Basie in 1980...



Here's Jackson with the Basie band under the direction of Frank Foster in 1990...



Here's an interview with Jackson...



Here's Jackson talking to Bret Primack about playing with Basie...