|
|
Milt Jackson
- Vibraphone
(1923 - 1999)
|
|
Born
on Jan. 1, 1923, in Detroit, Jackson's musical beginnings were in the neighborhood
gospel churches as a pianist, guitarist, violinist percussionist and singer.
He took up the vibraphone in high school. He moved to New York, played with
Earl Hines and in 1945, joined Dizzy Gillespie's
big band rhythm section, which also included pianist John
Lewis, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Kenny
Clarke. He worked with Charlie Parker,
Thelonious Monk and Miles
Davis and in 1951 recorded with Gillespie bandmates Lewis, Clarke and
Brown. Inspired by that recording, they reformed as the Modern Jazz Quartet
in 1952 with Percy Heath replacing Ray Brown and Connie Kay taking the drum
chair after the departure of Kenny Clarke in 1955. For the following 50
years the sound of Milton "Bags" Jackson's vibraphone would signature the
Modern Jazz Quartet and inspire generations of followers.
Jackson's impassioned improvisations and compositions, including "Bluesology"
and "Bag's Groove," helped define the MJQ sound. Jackson recorded many splendid
dates as a leader, including, The Ballad Artistry Of Milt Jackson, Ballads
And Blues and Big Band Bags, and worked with many jazz immortals, including
John Coltrane, Coleman
Hawkins, Ray Charles and Quincy Jones. In '99 he fronted an exciting
album date with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Explosive! (Qwest).
He died in 1999. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Recommended recordings |
 |
|
Blues on Bach (Modern Jazz Quartet) |
Atlantic |
| Complete
last Concert (Modern Jazz Quartet) |
Atlantic |
| Dedicated
to Connie (Modern Jazz Quartet) |
Atlantic |
| Celebration
(Modern Jazz Quartet) |
Atlantic |
| Pyramid
(Modern Jazz Quartet) |
Atlantic |
| Fontessa
(Modern Jazz Quartet) |
Atlantic |
|
Concorde (Modern Jazz Quartet) |
OJC |
|
Django (Modern Jazz Quartet) |
OJC |
| Complete
Modern Jazz Quartet Pablo and Prestige |
Prestige |
| Echoes
- Together Again (Modern Jazz Quartet) |
Pablo |
| Sheriff
(Modern Jazz Quartet) |
Wea / Warner |
| Third
Stream Music (Modern Jazz Quartet) |
Wounded Bird |
| Modern
Jazz Quartet 1957 |
Wounded Bird |
| Wizzard
of the Vibes |
Blue Note |
| The
Jazz skyline |
Savoy Jazz |
| Meet
Milt Jackson |
Savoy Jazz |
| Jackson
'Ville |
Savoy Jazz |
| Things
are getting Better (with Cannonball Adderley) |
Riverside |
|
Bags Meets Wes |
OJC 234-2 -
Riverside 9407 |
|
Soul Believer |
OJC 686-2 -
Pablo 2310-832 |
|
Night Mist |
OJC 827-2 -
Pablo 2312-124 |
|
The Big 3 |
OJC 805-2 -
Pablo 2310-757 |
|
Memories of Thelonious Sphere Monk |
OJC 851-2 -
Pablo 2308-235 |
|
Ain't but a Few of us Left |
OJC |
|
Montreux 77 |
OJC |
|
Big Bags |
OJC |
|
Jackson, Johnson, Brown and Company |
OJC |
|
Soul Fusion with Monty Alexander |
OJC |
|
Opus De Jazz |
Wea / Savoy |
|
Best of Milt Jackson |
Fantasy / Pablo |
|
Bags and Trane |
WEA Atlantic |
|
Soul Brothers |
WEA Atlantic |
|
Plenty Plenty Soul |
WEA Atlantic |
|
Sa va Bella |
WEA Warner
Bros |
|
Burnin' in the Woodhouse |
WEA Warner
Bros |
|
Explosive |
WEA Warner
Bros |
|
Reverence and Compassion |
WEA Warner
Bros |
|
Milt Jackson |
Blue Note |
|
Sunflower |
Columbia |
|
Bean Bags |
Koch |
