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D.D. Jackson: Unreleased Live Performances
by Mark Sabbatini
D.D. Jackson Unreleased live performances ddjackson.com
D.D. Jackson is truly one of jazz's good guys, which just makes it harder saying anything negative about this collection of unreleased live songs available as free downloads at his web site.
But while he gets high marks for performance, the imperfections--due mostly to sound quality often resembling a mediocre audience bootleg tape--can't be ignored.
Jackson is an elite modern pianist whose range ...
read moreD.D. Jackson: Suite For New York
by Nic Jones
The musical evocation of New York is nothing new. Julius Hemphill and Laura Nyro have done it before, and for all of the dissimilarities between their works their powers of evocation leave Jackson with a lot to live up to. He does so here with aplomb, producing music with no modest personality of its own. His is the only work of the three to appear in the wake of the events of 9/11, though these events have little overt influence ...
read moreD.D. Jackson: Sigame
by AAJ Staff
Pianist D.D. Jackson has covered a lot of ground in his seven records as a leader. During this process of evolution, he moved from the powerfully warm sound of his first disc, Peace-Song (a true masterpiece), through signature efforts in solo, duo, trio, and sextet settings. Jackson's piano playing draws heavily upon blues, soul, and gospel roots while exercising a strong sense of modern adventurism. A student of the late Don Pullen, Jackson retains elements of Pullen's characteristic style: for ...
read moreD.D. Jackson: Sigame
by Jim Santella
D.D. Jackson's piano trio opens his latest album with a down-home flavor. Laid back and wholesome, the piece forms an instant association with Ray Charles. Jackson's improvisation, however, moves off into a different, desired direction. More adventurous than most, the pianist stretches his blues tinge across the keyboard in favor of dynamic inflection. All the compositions are Jackson's. His impressionism runs from one continent to another throughout history, and retains a highly romantic mood. It's an acoustic session. As the ...
read moreD.D. Jackson: Sigame
by Jim Santella
D.D. Jackson's piano trio opens his latest album with a down-home flavor. Laid back and wholesome, the piece forms an instant association with Ray Charles. Jackson's improvisation, however, moves off into a different, desired direction. More adventurous than most, the pianist stretches his blues tinge across the keyboard in favor of dynamic inflection. All the compositions are Jackson's. His impressionism runs from one continent to another throughout history, and retains a highly romantic mood. It's an acoustic session. As the ...
read moreD.D. Jackson: Rhythm-Dance
by AAJ Staff
Rhythm-Dance, a trio recording from early '96, continues with many of the same themes found on 1995's Peace-Song. Again, the compositions are all by Jackson. In the absence of David Murray's titanic tenor sax, Jackson explores the greater freedom a straight trio allows. His melodies overflow with gospelly/bluesy embellishments, and his solos break free from rhythmic and harmonic constraints. The trio, as on Peace-Song, is remarkably tight. It's worthwhile considering that this record was made within months after the deaths ...
read moreD.D. Jackson (featuring David Murray): Peace-Song
by AAJ Staff
Pianist D.D. Jackson, a Canadian transplant to New York, recorded his first record, Peace-Song, in late '94. It features his trio, which also includes Canadian expatriates John Geggie on bass and Jean Martin on drums. Tenor saxophonist David Murray makes contributions throughout, blowing melodies as well as far-flung solos making use of the full range (emotional as well as tonal) of his instrument.
Jackson's playing betrays obvious similarity to that of the late Don Pullen: it straddles the gap between ...
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