D. D. Jackson
Robert Cleanth Kai-Nen "D. D." Jackson (born January 25, 1967) is a Canadian–American jazz pianist and composer. His work as a leader or co-leader appears on 12 CDs. He won the Juno Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album – Instrumental in 2000 for his solo piano disc ...So Far. Jackson has composed operas and for television programs.
D. D. Jackson | |
---|---|
Birth name | Robert Cleanth Kai-Nen Jackson |
Born | Ottawa, Canada | January 25, 1967
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
Instruments | Piano, keyboards |
Years active | Early 1990s–present |
Labels | Justin Time, RCA |
Associated acts | Hamiett Bluiett, David Murray |
Website | www |
Early life and education
Jackson was born in Ottawa on January 25, 1967.[1] "D. D." comes from the word for "little brother" in Mandarin Chinese, which was used by his family.[2] He is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States.[2] He started playing the piano at the age of six. After graduating with a degree in classical music from Indiana University in 1989, Jackson moved to New York, where he took a master's degree in jazz at the Manhattan School of Music.[2] The pianist Don Pullen was his mentor,[1] and Jackson also took private lessons with Jaki Byard.[2]
Later life and career
Jackson first played with David Murray in the early 1990s.[2] He was the music director for Mytholojazz on Broadway in 1999, for which he also played onstage.[2] After some albums for Justin Time Records, Jackson recorded two for RCA Records in 1999.[3] For the first of these, ...So Far, he won the "Best Contemporary (Instrumental) Jazz Album" Juno Award in 2000.[4] He also recorded Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue for Summit Records in 2002.[2]
Jackson's first opera, Quebecité, premiered in 2003, and was followed three years later by Trudeau: Long March/Shining Path, and a musical comedy, Depressed, Depressed.[2] He was one of the composers for the children's TV show The Wonder Pets, and scored the entire 26-episode season of The Ocean Room, another children's TV show.[2]
For five years, Jackson also wrote a regular column for DownBeat magazine entitled "Living Jazz".[2] He began teaching at Hunter College in 2009, and at the Harlem School of the Arts in 2011.[2]
Playing style
"Known for an energetic, even daring, approach to keyboard playing, Jackson routinely pushes his technical limits, using cross-rhythms or different meters in each hand, playing clusters with his palms or arms, and standing to sound thunderous chords at both ends of the piano simultaneously."[2]
Discography
As leader
Year recorded | Title | Label | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994? | Peace-Song | Justin Time | With David Murray (tenor sax), John Geggie (bass), Jean Martin (drums)[5] |
1996? | Rhythm-Dance | Justin Time | Trio, with John Geggie (bass), Jean Martin (drums)[6] |
1996 | Paired Down, Vol. 1 | Justin Time | Duos, with Hugh Ragin (trumpet), James Carter (tenor sax, C-melody sax), David Murray (tenor sax), Hamiet Bluiett (baritone sax), Billy Bang (violin), Santi Debriano (bass)[3] |
1997 | Paired Down, Vol. 2 | Justin Time | Duos, with Ray Anderson (trombone), David Murray (tenor sax), Don Byron (clarinet), Jane Bunnett (flute), Santi Debriano (bass)[3] |
1998? | Same Space | Justin Time | Trio, co-led with Hamiett Bluiett (baritone sax, bass clarinet, wood flute), Mor Thiam (percussion, vocals)[7] |
1999? | Join Us | Justin Time | Trio, co-led with Hamiett Bluiett (baritone sax, clarinet, wood flute), Mor Thiam (percussion, vocals)[8] |
1999 | ...So Far | RCA Victor | Solo piano[3] |
1999 | Anthem | RCA Victor | With Christian Howes (violin, guitar), Richard Bona (electric bass, vocals), Jack DeJohnette (drums), Mino Cinelu (percussion); James Carter (sax) added for some tracks[3] |
2001 | Sigame | Justin Time | With Christian Howes (violin), Ugonna Okegwo (bass)[3] |
2001? | The Calling | Justin Time | Trio, co-led with Hamiett Bluiett (baritone sax, wooden flute, clarinet), Kahil El'Zabar (drums, percussion, vocals)[9] |
2002 | Suite for New York | Justin Time | With Brad Turner (trumpet), Tom Walsh (trombone), James Spaulding (alto sax, flute), David Mott (baritone sax), Christian Howes (violin), Ugonna Okegwo (bass), Dafnis Prieto (drums, percussion)[3] |
2005–06 | Serenity Song | Justin Time | With Dana Leong (trombone, cello), Sam Newsome (soprano sax), David Mott (baritone sax), Christian Howes (violin), Ugonna Okegwo (bass), Dafnis Prieto (drums, percussion)[3] |
As sideman
With James Carter
- Present Tense (EmArcy, 2008)
With David Murray
- Long Goodbye: A Tribute to Don Pullen (DIW, 1996)
- Creole (Justin Time, 1998)
- Octet Plays Trane (Justin Time, 2000)
With ProMusica Chamber Orchestra
With the World Saxophone Quartet
- M'Bizo (Justin Time, 1999)
References
- Yanow, Scott. "D.D. Jackson". AllMusic. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- Maloney, S. Timothy (July 25, 2013), Jackson, D.D. (Robert Cleanth Kai-Nen), Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.A2241786
- Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. pp. 752–753. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
- Sharpe, John (April 1, 2000). "D. D. Jackson: Anthem". All About Jazz.
- Yanow, Scott. "D.D. Jackson: Peace-Song". AllMusic. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- Yanow, Scott. "D.D. Jackson: Rhythm-Dance". AllMusic. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- Campbell, Al. "Hamiet Bluiett / D.D. Jackson / Mor Thiam: Same Space". AllMusic. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- Yanow, Scott. "Hamiet Bluiett / D.D. Jackson / Mor Thiam: Join Us". AllMusic. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- "Bluiett/Jackson/El'Zabar: The Calling". All About Jazz. May 1, 2001.
- "American Jazz Concertos: ProMusica Chamber Orchestra". www.summitrecords.com. Retrieved January 5, 2019.