Paul Jackson (bassist)
Paul Jackson | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 28, 1947 Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | Jazz, jazz-funk, jazz fusion, funk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instrument(s) | Bass guitar |
| Website | Official website |
Paul Jerome Jackson Jr. (March 28, 1947 – March 18, 2021) was an American jazz electric bassist and composer. He was a founding member of the Headhunters and played on several of Herbie Hancock's albums, including Head Hunters and Thrust. Jackson subsequently moved to Japan and started a voluntary concert called Jazz for Kids, with the intent of familiarizing students there with African-American history.
Early life
Jackson was born in Oakland, California, on March 28, 1947. He was one of four children of Paul Sr. and Rosa Emanuel. His father was initially a heavyweight boxer, who subsequently worked as a contractor and was occasionally employed as a security guard at music venues.[1] Jackson played piano and bassoon as a child, in addition to his primary instrument of bass,[2] which he started playing when he was nine years old. At the age of 14, he performed with the Oakland Symphony Orchestra and went on to study at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.[3]
Career
Jackson was a founding member of
Later life
Jackson resided in Japan from 1985 until his death.[2] There, he became involved in its music scene. He wrote and arranged music for television advertisements and movies. He also performed with local artists such as Char, Tsutomu Yamashita, and Sadao Watanabe. Jackson established Jazz for Kids in 1987; this was a voluntary concert performed in schools around the country with the goal of familiarizing students with African-American history via music and presentation. He visited over 80 schools for this endeavor, and a documentary was produced by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology covering his band.[3]
Jackson released his second solo album, Funk on a Stick, in 2005. Nine years later, he collaborated with Xantoné Blacq and Tony Match – under the moniker "Paul Jackson Trio" – to release Groove or Die.[4] Jackson stopped touring in 2016 due to unspecified health concerns.[5]
Personal life
Jackson's first marriage ended in divorce. He had one son from that marriage, LaFura Eguchi Jackson, who was born in 1975 and died of cancer in 2000. Jackson's second marriage was to Akiko Suzuki. They remained married until his death.[1]
Jackson died on March 18, 2021, at a hospital near Tokyo, Japan.[2][4] He was ten days short of his 74th birthday; he suffered from sepsis caused by complications from diabetes prior to his death.[1]
Discography
As leader
- Black Octopus (Eastworld, 1978)[6]
- The Funk Stops Here with Mike Clark (Tiptoe, 1992)[6]
- Conjunction with Mike Clark (Buckyball, 2001)[6]
- Funk on a Stick (Back Door, 2005)[6]
- Groove or Die (Whirlwind, 2014)[6]
As sideman
With Herbie Hancock
- Head Hunters (Columbia, 1973)[6]
- Thrust (Columbia, 1974)[6]
- Death Wish (Columbia, 1974)[7]
- Man-Child (Columbia, 1975)[6]
- Flood (Sony, 1975)[6]
- Secrets (Columbia, 1976)[6]
- VSOP (Columbia, 1976)[6]
- Sunlight (Columbia, 1978)[8]
- Direct Step (Sony, 1979)[6]
- Kimiko Kasai, Butterfly (Sony, 1979)[9]
- Mr. Hands (Columbia, 1980)[6]
With the Headhunters
- Survival of the Fittest (Arista, 1975)[6]
- Straight from the Gate (Arista, 1977)[6]
- Return of the Headhunters (Verve, 1998)[6]
- Evolution Revolution (Basin Street, 2003)[6]
- Rebecca Barry & The Headhunters (LMF, 2005)[10]
With others
- Azteca – Azteca (CBS, 1972)[6]
- Eddie Henderson – Heritage (Blue Note, 1976), Comin' Through (Capitol, 1977), Mahal (Capitol, 1978)[6]
- Harvey Mason – Marching in the Street (Arista, 1975)[6]
- Bennie Maupin – Slow Traffic to the Right (Mercury, 1977)
- The Pointer Sisters – Steppin' (Blue Thumb, 1975)[11]
- Sonny Rollins – Easy Living (Prestige, 1977)[6]
- Santana – Festival (CBS, 1977)[6]
- Shawn Phillips – Spaced (A&M Records, 1977)[6]
- Stanley Turrentine – Everybody Come On Out (Fantasy, 1976)[6]
- Stomu Yamashta – Go Too (Arista, 1977)[6]
Sources
- Jazz Times, Volume 37, Issues 1-5. 2007 p. 297
- Yanow, Scott. Jazz: A Regional Exploration. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2005, p. 231. ISBN 0-313-32871-4
References
- ^ a b c d e Russonello, Giovanni (March 23, 2021). "Paul Jackson, Funk Bassist With Herbie Hancock, Dies at 73". The New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Farberman, Brad (March 19, 2021). "Paul Jackson, Headhunters Bassist Who Played With Herbie Hancock, Dies At 73". NPR. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Paul Jackson". Whirlwind Recordings. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Bloom, Madison (March 19, 2021). "Paul Jackson, Jazz Bassist Who Played With Herbie Hancock, Dies at 73". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ^ Rugoff, Lazlo (March 22, 2021). "Jazz bassist and Headhunters founding member Paul Jackson has died". The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Paul Jackson – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
- ^ "Death Wish (1974)". Library of Congress. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ^ "Sunlight". Herbie Hancock. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ^ May, Chris (April 8, 2018). "Kimoko Kasai with Herbie Hancock: Butterfly". All About Jazz. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ^ "Discography". Herbie Hancock. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ^ "Steppin': The Pointer Sisters – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
External links
- Paul Jackson official website
- Paul Jackson discography at Discogs
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