My brother Bruce Kevin Jackson passed away.
He was one of my three big brothers, closest in age to me. Growing up, we slept in bunk beds, he on the top and me on the bottom. He would sing or more, hum himself to sleep every night. I enjoyed that…He was my very tough big brother and protector, a loner; he was a deeply sensitive and talented person.
Bruce was a soulful, strong singer, he sung in a sweetly powerful voice. He often came to my gigs, sat in with my nine piece funky band in the 90’s. He really loved music, he played guitar, wrote songs and was in some cool bands. He was also handy with tools, building and fixing things.
Through the years we would get out of touch periodically but would catch up eventually. Bruce was a man of very few words, when I asked him how he was, he would say “I’m OK”, when I asked what he was doing these days he would say “nothing much.”
Bruce had two children with his high school sweetheart; his children were most important to him, gave him the most joy.
Bruce had dreams…moving to the islands, settling down and finding peace…
My big brother Bruce, I miss you and will always love you.
Friday, December 27, 2013
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Yusef Lateef
When I was 16 years old I went to Cutler’s Record Store in
New Haven CT on my weekly random album buying adventure. Each week I would
peruse the albums and decide which one or two to buy based on the vibe and attraction
of the album cover artwork, knowing nothing about the artists or music
contained within.
On this particular outing I was very drawn to and purchased
“The Blue Yuseff” by Yuseff Lateef. That
day I also bought Blue Cheers’ “Vincebum Eruptum”; must have been something
pertaining to the color and word BLUE.
When I listened to “The Blue Yuseff” I felt expanded, it
opened a door for me, increased my knowledge and awareness of the vast nature
and possibilities of the blues.
Yuseff was an amazing person, musician and composer. I would
see him often in Western MA where we both lived for many years. We said hello
whenever we would cross paths. He always struck me as a deep and kind man, one
that exuded peace and tranquility. I felt a connection with him that was far
beyond the few words we spoke. I was humbled, knowing that his mastery and
music profoundly affected and influenced me, my music…then, now and always…
Yusef Lateef, R.I.P. I will miss you. MGJ
Saturday, December 21, 2013
What a night! Double bill at Outpost186 in Cambridge, MA with the inimitable Charlie Kohlhase and his group "Explorers Club," great band, great tunes, great concepts, great playing! Thank you Charlie! Next upSimon Spang-Hanssen and I, MICHAEL GREGORY JACKSON ripped, rippled and rumpled, danced, stomped, and shouted... sailed beyond the clouds, our two man mystical musical origami army!! Thank you to everyone that came out to listen...Many thanks to Rob Chalfen for making us feel loved, warmed and welcome! Ahhh yes, all of this and more... Later that night I found myself sitting in with Russ Gershon's The Either/Orchestra, celebrating their 28th anniversary! A joyous and momentous occasion indeed! I felt so honored to be up there with all of them... Russ's awesome arrangements and a plethora of spectacular musicians! The big band and I played "The Hard Blues" composed by the incomparable Julius Hemphill whom I love and miss so very, very, very much Fat Man and the Hard Blues: The Julius Hemphill Appreciation Society thank you Julius! thank you Russ! The band was slammin,'!! everybody in the house was rocking' and jammin'!!!! Phew! What a night!!!!! MGJ
Sunday, December 15, 2013
MICHAEL GREGORY JACKSON
"TEXTURE, SIGNAL, STRATA"
Coming to Boston, MA!
Michael Gregory Jackson-Guitar and Voice
Simon Spang-Hanssen-Saxophone and Flute
and Charlie Kohlhase Explorer's Club
Thursday 12.19.13 @9PM
Outpost 186 Gallery Space
186 1/2 (Rear) Hampshire St,
Cambridge, MA 02139
Cambridge, MA 02139
$10-$15
Michael Gregory Jackson and Simon Spang-Hanssen initially sparked their musical connection at the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, NY in the late 1970's. Jackson was one of the original guiding artists at CMS and Simon was a very accomplished musician from Denmark studying at CMS. Many years later the two musicians would meet again in Copenhagen, Denmark to resume their creative musical explorations. Simon is a multifaceted musician, saxophonist, composer, improviser and painter. Michael and Simon have developed a profound communication, camaraderie and musical interplay whenever they perform together.
At present Simon is the saxophonist in the MICHAEL GREGORY JACKSON CLARITY QUARTET, in Europe and plays saxophone and flute on Michael's latest release "LIBERTY, Art Ensemble Syd with Michael Gregory Jackson" EME 2013.
Michael Gregory Jackson's "TEXTURE, SIGNAL, STRATA" will result in the upcoming release of compositions and improvisations for trio, duos and solos that feature various combinations of musicians and instrumentation exploring various possibilities, conceptualizations, introspective interpretations and range of the compositions.
MICHAEL GREGORY JACKSON
Bio by Sal Cataldi
One of the most influential guitarists to emerge during New York’s avant-garde loft jazz scene has returned to influence a new generation of edge-pushing, genre-hopping musicians. He’s also returned, after a few decades’ detour courtesy of “The King of Pop,” to his original name and performance moniker – Michael Gregory Jackson.
Michael has tread a winding musical path over his 30-plus year career, embracing everything from creative music, jazz, blues, rock and electronica soundscapes to harmonically rich and lyrically-deep vocal tunes, with the complex arrangements and subtleties that are a signature of his music. His ability to span musical genres was best captured by one reviewer’s depiction, “Musical Mercury.”
Over the past decade, Jackson has increasingly performed at New York venues like John Zorn’s Space, Tonic, Roulette, Spectrum and during the annual Visions Festival, at a much-anticipate reunion of the Oliver Lake Trio alongside his original cohorts, sax man Lake and drummer Pheeroan aKLaff. Jackson has also hit the European festival circuit, performing in ensembles led by another longtime partner in sound, Wadada Leo Smith, for whom he produced two noted discs, “Spiritual Dimensions,” Cuneiform 2009 and “Heart's Reflections,” Cuneiform 2011.
Michael's newest release is a product of his European travels and teachings. “LIBERTY” (EME Music) features Jackson and the Art Ensemble Syd, a creative ensemble from Sonderborg a town in southern Denmark. The disc includes seven Jackson originals including the free-spirited, two- part title track, the touching vocal ballad “Down” and the wild, improvised “Citi,” compelling jazz author Bob Gluck to write “The music is deeply touching and even heartbreaking. It defies category (yay!)…I cannot stop listening to this recording. It is that good…one part New Orleans early jazz, another part Ornette Coleman ‘harmolodic’ sycronicity, and a third part jam band party.”
Michael’s ensembles have included musical luminaries Wadada Leo Smith, Marty Ehrlich, Pheeroan aKLaff, Oliver Lake, Baikida Carroll, Will Calhoun, Anthony Davis, Julius Hemphill, David Murray, Mark Helias, Jerome Harris and Mark Trayle to name a few.
PERFORMED AND / OR RECORDED WITH (SELECTED):
Julius Hemphill, Mick Jagger, Wadada Leo Smith, Nels Cline, Oliver Lake, Nile Rodgers, Henry Threadgill, Baikida Carroll, Will Calhoun, David Murray, Steve Winwood, Walter Becker, Kenwood Dennard, Vernon Reid, Anthony Davis, Jack Dejohnette, Archie Shepp, Obie Award Winner Ntozake Shange, Amina Claudine Myers, David Sancious, Marcus Miller, Chaka Khan, Olu Dara, Jimmy Giuffre, John Tchichai, Niels Praestholm, Karl Berger, Jimmy Guiffe, Will Calhoun, Jerry Marotta, Jay Hoggard, Stephen Stewart, Lee Konitz, Ed Blackwell, Rodney Holmes, Nona Hendryx, Pulitzer Prize Winner Paul Muldoon, Omar Hakim, Dwight Andrews, Jessica Hagedorn, Ed Blackwell, Anthony Jackson, Marty Ehrlich, Karl Berger, Victor Lewis, Carlos Santana, Anthony Braxton and many more.
Simon Spang-Hanssen http://www.simonspang.com/
Simon Spang-Hanssen started out in the mid-seventies in Copenhagen, Denmark as a member of John Tchicai and "Strange Brothers", which included bassist Peter Danstrup and drummer Ole Roemer. He also performed with Johhny Dyani, Jesper Zeuthen, The New Jungle Orchestra, the Brazilian drummer/composer Doug Raney, Nenê and with his own groups that included Ben Besiakov, Jesper Lundgaard and Alex Riel.
Simon lived and worked in Paris, and played with Andy Emler Megaoctet, The Quintet of Francois and Louis Moutin, Nguyên Lê "Tales of Vietnam," The Orchestra National de Jazz, Bojan Z., Denis Badault, Anouar Brahem and with his personal projects featuring musicians such as: Richard Bona, Xavier Desandre, Mariane Bitran, Mario Canonge.
Returning to Denmark Simon formed several groups including "Rainbow Spirit" with Gambian kora-player Dawda Jobarteh, an octet "Alisio Ensemble", the Paris-based "Ear Witness" with Emil Spányi, Linley Marthe and Felix-sabal-Lecco and the S.S.H. 5-tet with a.o. Bob Rockwell. Also a member of "Art Ensemble Syd" and recordings and performances with Michael Gregory Jackson, Chris Stover and Django Bates.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Thursday, December 12, 2013
MICHAEL GREGORY JACKSON/TONIGHT 7PM CONCERT
LIVE STREAMING!
http://www.live.shapeshifterlab.com/
MICHAEL GREGORY JACKSON
"TEXTURE, SIGNAL, STRATA"
Michael Gregory Jackson-Guitar and Voice
Simon Spang-Hanssen-Saxophone and Flute
Thursday 12.12.13 @7PM
ShapeShifter Lab
18 Whitwell Place Brooklyn, NY 11215 646-820-9452
$10
http://www.michaelgregoryjackson.com/http://www.ShapeShifterLab.com/
Michael Gregory Jackson and Simon Spang-Hanssen initially sparked their musical connection at the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, NY in the late 1970's. Jackson was one of the original guiding artists at CMS and Simon was a very accomplished musician from Denmark studying at CMS. Many years later the two musicians would meet again in Copenhagen, Denmark to resume their creative musical explorations. Simon is a multifaceted musician, saxophonist, composer, improviser and painter. Michael and Simon have developed a profound communication, camaraderie and musical interplay whenever they perform together.
At present Simon is the saxophonist in the MICHAEL GREGORY JACKSON CLARITY QUARTET, in Europe and plays saxophone and flute on Michael's latest release "LIBERTY, Art Ensemble Syd with Michael Gregory Jackson" EME 2013.
Michael Gregory Jackson's "TEXTURE, SIGNAL, STRATA" will result in the upcoming release of compositions and improvisations for trio, duos and solos that feature various combinations of musicians and instrumentation exploring various possibilities, conceptual and introspective interpretations and range of the compositions.
MICHAEL GREGORY JACKSON
http://www.michaelgregoryjackson.com/
Bio by Sal Cataldi
One of the most influential guitarists to emerge during New York’s avant-garde loft jazz scene has returned to influence a new generation of edge-pushing, genre-hopping musicians. He’s also returned, after a few decades’ detour courtesy of “The King of Pop,” to his original name and performance moniker – Michael Gregory Jackson.
Michael has tread a winding musical path over his 30-plus year career, embracing everything from creative music, jazz, blues, rock and electronica soundscapes to harmonically rich and lyrically-deep vocal tunes, with the complex arrangements and subtleties that are a signature of his music. His ability to span musical genres was best captured by one reviewer’s depiction, “Musical Mercury.”
Over the past decade, Jackson has increasingly performed at New York venues like John Zorn’s Space, Tonic, Roulette, Spectrum and during the annual Visions Festival, at a much-anticipate reunion of the Oliver Lake Trio alongside his original cohorts, sax man Lake and drummer Pheeroan aKLaff. Jackson has also hit the European festival circuit, performing in ensembles led by another longtime partner in sound, Wadada Leo Smith, for whom he produced two noted discs, “Spiritual Dimensions,” Cuneiform 2009 and “Heart's Reflections,” Cuneiform 2011.
Michael's newest release is a product of his European travels and teachings. “LIBERTY” (EME Music) features Jackson and the Art Ensemble Syd, a creative ensemble from Sonderborg a town in southern Denmark. The disc includes seven Jackson originals including the free-spirited, two- part title track, the touching vocal ballad “Down” and the wild, improvised “Citi,” compelling jazz author Bob Gluck to write “The music is deeply touching and even heartbreaking. It defies category (yay!)…I cannot stop listening to this recording. It is that good…one part New Orleans early jazz, another part Ornette Coleman ‘harmolodic’ sycronicity, and a third part jam band party.”
Michael’s ensembles have included musical luminaries Wadada Leo Smith, Marty Ehrlich, Pheeroan aKLaff, Oliver Lake, Baikida Carroll, Will Calhoun, Anthony Davis, Julius Hemphill, David Murray, Mark Helias, Jerome Harris and Mark Trayle to name a few.
PERFORMED AND / OR RECORDED WITH (SELECTED):
Julius Hemphill, Mick Jagger, Wadada Leo Smith, Nels Cline, Oliver Lake, Nile Rodgers, Henry Threadgill, Baikida Carroll, Will Calhoun, David Murray, Steve Winwood, Walter Becker, Kenwood Dennard, Vernon Reid, Anthony Davis, Jack Dejohnette, Archie Shepp, Obie Award Winner Ntozake Shange, Amina Claudine Myers, David Sancious, Marcus Miller, Chaka Khan, Olu Dara, Jimmy Giuffre, John Tchichai, Niels Praestholm, Karl Berger, Jimmy Guiffe, Will Calhoun, Jerry Marotta, Jay Hoggard, Stephen Stewart, Lee Konitz, Ed Blackwell, Rodney Holmes, Nona Hendryx, Pulitzer Prize Winner Paul Muldoon, Omar Hakim, Dwight Andrews, Jessica Hagedorn, Ed Blackwell, Anthony Jackson, Marty Ehrlich, Karl Berger, Victor Lewis, Carlos Santana, Anthony Braxton and many more.
Simon Spang-Hanssen http://www.simonspang.com/
Simon Spang-Hanssen started out in the mid-seventies in Copenhagen, Denmark as a member of John Tchicai and "Strange Brothers", which included bassist Peter Danstrup and drummer Ole Roemer. He also performed with Johhny Dyani, Jesper Zeuthen, The New Jungle Orchestra, the Brazilian drummer/composer Doug Raney, Nenê and with his own groups that included Ben Besiakov, Jesper Lundgaard and Alex Riel.
Simon lived and worked in Paris, and played with Andy Emler Megaoctet, The Quintet of Francois and Louis Moutin, Nguyên Lê "Tales of Vietnam," The Orchestra National de Jazz, Bojan Z., Denis Badault, Anouar Brahem and with his personal projects featuring musicians such as: Richard Bona, Xavier Desandre, Mariane Bitran, Mario Canonge.
Returning to Denmark Simon formed several groups including "Rainbow Spirit" with Gambian kora-player Dawda Jobarteh, an octet "Alisio Ensemble", the Paris-based "Ear Witness" with Emil Spányi, Linley Marthe and Felix-sabal-Lecco and the S.S.H. 5-tet with a.o. Bob Rockwell. Also a member of "Art Ensemble Syd" and recordings and performances with Michael Gregory Jackson, Chris Stover and Django Bates.
Since his beginnings with John Tchicai Simon has experimented in many directions both as a player and composer and has developed a personal mixture of his many roots in jazz and across the musical spectrum.
LIVE STREAMING!
http://www.live.shapeshifterlab.com/
MICHAEL GREGORY JACKSON
"TEXTURE, SIGNAL, STRATA"
Michael Gregory Jackson-Guitar and Voice
Simon Spang-Hanssen-Saxophone and Flute
Thursday 12.12.13 @7PM
ShapeShifter Lab
18 Whitwell Place Brooklyn, NY 11215 646-820-9452
$10
http://www.michaelgregoryjackson.com/http://www.ShapeShifterLab.com/
Michael Gregory Jackson and Simon Spang-Hanssen initially sparked their musical connection at the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, NY in the late 1970's. Jackson was one of the original guiding artists at CMS and Simon was a very accomplished musician from Denmark studying at CMS. Many years later the two musicians would meet again in Copenhagen, Denmark to resume their creative musical explorations. Simon is a multifaceted musician, saxophonist, composer, improviser and painter. Michael and Simon have developed a profound communication, camaraderie and musical interplay whenever they perform together.
At present Simon is the saxophonist in the MICHAEL GREGORY JACKSON CLARITY QUARTET, in Europe and plays saxophone and flute on Michael's latest release "LIBERTY, Art Ensemble Syd with Michael Gregory Jackson" EME 2013.
Michael Gregory Jackson's "TEXTURE, SIGNAL, STRATA" will result in the upcoming release of compositions and improvisations for trio, duos and solos that feature various combinations of musicians and instrumentation exploring various possibilities, conceptual and introspective interpretations and range of the compositions.
MICHAEL GREGORY JACKSON
http://www.michaelgregoryjackson.com/
Bio by Sal Cataldi
One of the most influential guitarists to emerge during New York’s avant-garde loft jazz scene has returned to influence a new generation of edge-pushing, genre-hopping musicians. He’s also returned, after a few decades’ detour courtesy of “The King of Pop,” to his original name and performance moniker – Michael Gregory Jackson.
Michael has tread a winding musical path over his 30-plus year career, embracing everything from creative music, jazz, blues, rock and electronica soundscapes to harmonically rich and lyrically-deep vocal tunes, with the complex arrangements and subtleties that are a signature of his music. His ability to span musical genres was best captured by one reviewer’s depiction, “Musical Mercury.”
Over the past decade, Jackson has increasingly performed at New York venues like John Zorn’s Space, Tonic, Roulette, Spectrum and during the annual Visions Festival, at a much-anticipate reunion of the Oliver Lake Trio alongside his original cohorts, sax man Lake and drummer Pheeroan aKLaff. Jackson has also hit the European festival circuit, performing in ensembles led by another longtime partner in sound, Wadada Leo Smith, for whom he produced two noted discs, “Spiritual Dimensions,” Cuneiform 2009 and “Heart's Reflections,” Cuneiform 2011.
Michael's newest release is a product of his European travels and teachings. “LIBERTY” (EME Music) features Jackson and the Art Ensemble Syd, a creative ensemble from Sonderborg a town in southern Denmark. The disc includes seven Jackson originals including the free-spirited, two- part title track, the touching vocal ballad “Down” and the wild, improvised “Citi,” compelling jazz author Bob Gluck to write “The music is deeply touching and even heartbreaking. It defies category (yay!)…I cannot stop listening to this recording. It is that good…one part New Orleans early jazz, another part Ornette Coleman ‘harmolodic’ sycronicity, and a third part jam band party.”
Michael’s ensembles have included musical luminaries Wadada Leo Smith, Marty Ehrlich, Pheeroan aKLaff, Oliver Lake, Baikida Carroll, Will Calhoun, Anthony Davis, Julius Hemphill, David Murray, Mark Helias, Jerome Harris and Mark Trayle to name a few.
PERFORMED AND / OR RECORDED WITH (SELECTED):
Julius Hemphill, Mick Jagger, Wadada Leo Smith, Nels Cline, Oliver Lake, Nile Rodgers, Henry Threadgill, Baikida Carroll, Will Calhoun, David Murray, Steve Winwood, Walter Becker, Kenwood Dennard, Vernon Reid, Anthony Davis, Jack Dejohnette, Archie Shepp, Obie Award Winner Ntozake Shange, Amina Claudine Myers, David Sancious, Marcus Miller, Chaka Khan, Olu Dara, Jimmy Giuffre, John Tchichai, Niels Praestholm, Karl Berger, Jimmy Guiffe, Will Calhoun, Jerry Marotta, Jay Hoggard, Stephen Stewart, Lee Konitz, Ed Blackwell, Rodney Holmes, Nona Hendryx, Pulitzer Prize Winner Paul Muldoon, Omar Hakim, Dwight Andrews, Jessica Hagedorn, Ed Blackwell, Anthony Jackson, Marty Ehrlich, Karl Berger, Victor Lewis, Carlos Santana, Anthony Braxton and many more.
Simon Spang-Hanssen http://www.simonspang.com/
Simon Spang-Hanssen started out in the mid-seventies in Copenhagen, Denmark as a member of John Tchicai and "Strange Brothers", which included bassist Peter Danstrup and drummer Ole Roemer. He also performed with Johhny Dyani, Jesper Zeuthen, The New Jungle Orchestra, the Brazilian drummer/composer Doug Raney, Nenê and with his own groups that included Ben Besiakov, Jesper Lundgaard and Alex Riel.
Simon lived and worked in Paris, and played with Andy Emler Megaoctet, The Quintet of Francois and Louis Moutin, Nguyên Lê "Tales of Vietnam," The Orchestra National de Jazz, Bojan Z., Denis Badault, Anouar Brahem and with his personal projects featuring musicians such as: Richard Bona, Xavier Desandre, Mariane Bitran, Mario Canonge.
Returning to Denmark Simon formed several groups including "Rainbow Spirit" with Gambian kora-player Dawda Jobarteh, an octet "Alisio Ensemble", the Paris-based "Ear Witness" with Emil Spányi, Linley Marthe and Felix-sabal-Lecco and the S.S.H. 5-tet with a.o. Bob Rockwell. Also a member of "Art Ensemble Syd" and recordings and performances with Michael Gregory Jackson, Chris Stover and Django Bates.
Since his beginnings with John Tchicai Simon has experimented in many directions both as a player and composer and has developed a personal mixture of his many roots in jazz and across the musical spectrum.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
MICHAEL
GREGORY JACKSON
"TEXTURE,
SIGNAL, STRATA"
Michael
Gregory Jackson-Guitar and Voice
Simon
Spang-Hanssen-Saxophone and Flute
and Charlie Kohlhase Explorer's Club
Thursday
12.19.13 @9PM
Outpost 186 Gallery Space
186 1/2 (Rear) Hampshire St,
Cambridge, MA 02139
$10
Michael
Gregory Jackson and Simon Spang-Hanssen initially sparked their musical
connection at the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, NY in the late 1970's.
Jackson was one of the original guiding artists at CMS and Simon was a very
accomplished musician from Denmark studying at CMS. Many years later the two
musicians would meet again in Copenhagen, Denmark to resume their creative
musical explorations. Simon is a multifaceted musician, saxophonist, composer,
improviser and painter. Michael and Simon have developed a profound
communication, camaraderie and musical interplay whenever they perform
together.
At
present Simon is the saxophonist in the MICHAEL GREGORY JACKSON CLARITY
QUARTET, in Europe and plays saxophone and flute on Michael's latest release
"LIBERTY, Art Ensemble Syd with Michael Gregory Jackson" EME 2013.
Michael
Gregory Jackson's "TEXTURE, SIGNAL, STRATA" will result in the
upcoming release of compositions and improvisations for trio, duos and solos
that feature various combinations of musicians and instrumentation exploring
various possibilities, conceptualizations, introspective interpretations and
range of the compositions.
MICHAEL
GREGORY JACKSON
Bio
by Sal Cataldi
One
of the most influential guitarists to emerge during New York’s avant-garde loft
jazz scene has returned to influence a new generation of edge-pushing,
genre-hopping musicians. He’s also returned, after a few decades’ detour
courtesy of “The King of Pop,” to his original name and performance moniker –
Michael Gregory Jackson.
Michael
has tread a winding musical path over his 30-plus year career, embracing
everything from creative music, jazz, blues, rock and electronica soundscapes
to harmonically rich and lyrically-deep vocal tunes, with the complex
arrangements and subtleties that are a signature of his music. His ability to
span musical genres was best captured by one reviewer’s depiction, “Musical
Mercury.”
Over
the past decade, Jackson has increasingly performed at New York venues like
John Zorn’s Space, Tonic, Roulette, Spectrum and during the annual Visions
Festival, at a much-anticipate reunion of the Oliver Lake Trio alongside his
original cohorts, sax man Lake and drummer Pheeroan aKLaff. Jackson has also
hit the European festival circuit, performing in ensembles led by another
longtime partner in sound, Wadada Leo Smith, for whom he produced two noted
discs, “Spiritual Dimensions,” Cuneiform 2009 and “Heart's Reflections,”
Cuneiform 2011.
Michael's
newest release is a product of his European travels and teachings. “LIBERTY”
(EME Music) features Jackson and the Art Ensemble Syd, a creative ensemble from
Sonderborg a town in southern Denmark. The disc includes seven Jackson
originals including the free-spirited, two- part title track, the touching
vocal ballad “Down” and the wild, improvised “Citi,” compelling jazz author Bob
Gluck to write “The music is deeply touching and even heartbreaking. It defies
category (yay!)…I cannot stop listening to this recording. It is that good…one
part New Orleans early jazz, another part Ornette Coleman ‘harmolodic’
sycronicity, and a third part jam band party.”
Michael’s
ensembles have included musical luminaries Wadada Leo Smith, Marty Ehrlich,
Pheeroan aKLaff, Oliver Lake, Baikida Carroll, Will Calhoun, Anthony Davis,
Julius Hemphill, David Murray, Mark Helias, Jerome Harris and Mark Trayle to
name a few.
PERFORMED
AND / OR RECORDED WITH (SELECTED):
Julius
Hemphill, Mick Jagger, Wadada Leo Smith, Nels Cline, Oliver Lake, Nile Rodgers,
Henry Threadgill, Baikida Carroll, Will Calhoun, David Murray, Steve Winwood,
Walter Becker, Kenwood Dennard, Vernon Reid, Anthony Davis, Jack Dejohnette,
Archie Shepp, Obie Award Winner Ntozake Shange, Amina Claudine Myers, David
Sancious, Marcus Miller, Chaka Khan, Olu Dara, Jimmy Giuffre, John Tchichai,
Niels Praestholm, Karl Berger, Jimmy Guiffe, Will Calhoun, Jerry Marotta, Jay
Hoggard, Stephen Stewart, Lee Konitz, Ed Blackwell, Rodney Holmes, Nona
Hendryx, Pulitzer Prize Winner Paul Muldoon, Omar Hakim, Dwight Andrews,
Jessica Hagedorn, Ed Blackwell, Anthony Jackson, Marty Ehrlich, Karl Berger,
Victor Lewis, Carlos Santana, Anthony Braxton and many more.
Simon
Spang-Hanssen http://www.simonspang.com/
Simon
Spang-Hanssen started out in the mid-seventies in Copenhagen, Denmark as a
member of John Tchicai and "Strange Brothers", which included bassist
Peter Danstrup and drummer Ole Roemer. He also performed with Johhny Dyani,
Jesper Zeuthen, The New Jungle Orchestra, the Brazilian drummer/composer Doug
Raney, Nenê and with his own groups that included Ben Besiakov, Jesper
Lundgaard and Alex Riel.
Simon
lived and worked in Paris, and played with Andy Emler Megaoctet, The Quintet of
Francois and Louis Moutin, Nguyên Lê "Tales of Vietnam," The
Orchestra National de Jazz, Bojan Z., Denis Badault, Anouar Brahem and with his
personal projects featuring musicians such as: Richard Bona, Xavier Desandre,
Mariane Bitran, Mario Canonge.
Returning
to Denmark Simon formed several groups including "Rainbow Spirit"
with Gambian kora-player Dawda Jobarteh, an octet "Alisio Ensemble",
the Paris-based "Ear Witness" with Emil Spányi, Linley Marthe and
Felix-sabal-Lecco and the S.S.H. 5-tet with a.o. Bob Rockwell. Also a member of
"Art Ensemble Syd" and recordings and performances with Michael
Gregory Jackson, Chris Stover and Django Bates.
Since
his beginnings with John Tchicai Simon has experimented in many directions both
as a player and composer and has developed a personal mixture of his many roots
in jazz and across the musical spectrum.
MICHAEL
GREGORY JACKSON
"TEXTURE,
SIGNAL, STRATA"
Michael
Gregory Jackson-Guitar and Voice
Simon
Spang-Hanssen-Saxophone and Flute
and Charlie Kohlhase Explorer's Club
Thursday
12.19.13 @9PM
Outpost 186 Gallery Space
186 1/2 (Rear) Hampshire St,
Cambridge, MA 02139
Cambridge, MA 02139
$10
Michael
Gregory Jackson and Simon Spang-Hanssen initially sparked their musical
connection at the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, NY in the late 1970's.
Jackson was one of the original guiding artists at CMS and Simon was a very
accomplished musician from Denmark studying at CMS. Many years later the two
musicians would meet again in Copenhagen, Denmark to resume their creative
musical explorations. Simon is a multifaceted musician, saxophonist, composer,
improviser and painter. Michael and Simon have developed a profound
communication, camaraderie and musical interplay whenever they perform
together.
At
present Simon is the saxophonist in the MICHAEL GREGORY JACKSON CLARITY
QUARTET, in Europe and plays saxophone and flute on Michael's latest release
"LIBERTY, Art Ensemble Syd with Michael Gregory Jackson" EME 2013.
Michael
Gregory Jackson's "TEXTURE, SIGNAL, STRATA" will result in the
upcoming release of compositions and improvisations for trio, duos and solos
that feature various combinations of musicians and instrumentation exploring
various possibilities, conceptualizations, introspective interpretations and
range of the compositions.
MICHAEL
GREGORY JACKSON
Bio
by Sal Cataldi
One
of the most influential guitarists to emerge during New York’s avant-garde loft
jazz scene has returned to influence a new generation of edge-pushing,
genre-hopping musicians. He’s also returned, after a few decades’ detour
courtesy of “The King of Pop,” to his original name and performance moniker –
Michael Gregory Jackson.
Michael
has tread a winding musical path over his 30-plus year career, embracing
everything from creative music, jazz, blues, rock and electronica soundscapes
to harmonically rich and lyrically-deep vocal tunes, with the complex
arrangements and subtleties that are a signature of his music. His ability to
span musical genres was best captured by one reviewer’s depiction, “Musical
Mercury.”
Over
the past decade, Jackson has increasingly performed at New York venues like
John Zorn’s Space, Tonic, Roulette, Spectrum and during the annual Visions
Festival, at a much-anticipate reunion of the Oliver Lake Trio alongside his
original cohorts, sax man Lake and drummer Pheeroan aKLaff. Jackson has also
hit the European festival circuit, performing in ensembles led by another
longtime partner in sound, Wadada Leo Smith, for whom he produced two noted
discs, “Spiritual Dimensions,” Cuneiform 2009 and “Heart's Reflections,”
Cuneiform 2011.
Michael's
newest release is a product of his European travels and teachings. “LIBERTY”
(EME Music) features Jackson and the Art Ensemble Syd, a creative ensemble from
Sonderborg a town in southern Denmark. The disc includes seven Jackson
originals including the free-spirited, two- part title track, the touching
vocal ballad “Down” and the wild, improvised “Citi,” compelling jazz author Bob
Gluck to write “The music is deeply touching and even heartbreaking. It defies
category (yay!)…I cannot stop listening to this recording. It is that good…one
part New Orleans early jazz, another part Ornette Coleman ‘harmolodic’
sycronicity, and a third part jam band party.”
Michael’s
ensembles have included musical luminaries Wadada Leo Smith, Marty Ehrlich,
Pheeroan aKLaff, Oliver Lake, Baikida Carroll, Will Calhoun, Anthony Davis,
Julius Hemphill, David Murray, Mark Helias, Jerome Harris and Mark Trayle to
name a few.
PERFORMED
AND / OR RECORDED WITH (SELECTED):
Julius
Hemphill, Mick Jagger, Wadada Leo Smith, Nels Cline, Oliver Lake, Nile Rodgers,
Henry Threadgill, Baikida Carroll, Will Calhoun, David Murray, Steve Winwood,
Walter Becker, Kenwood Dennard, Vernon Reid, Anthony Davis, Jack Dejohnette,
Archie Shepp, Obie Award Winner Ntozake Shange, Amina Claudine Myers, David
Sancious, Marcus Miller, Chaka Khan, Olu Dara, Jimmy Giuffre, John Tchichai,
Niels Praestholm, Karl Berger, Jimmy Guiffe, Will Calhoun, Jerry Marotta, Jay
Hoggard, Stephen Stewart, Lee Konitz, Ed Blackwell, Rodney Holmes, Nona
Hendryx, Pulitzer Prize Winner Paul Muldoon, Omar Hakim, Dwight Andrews,
Jessica Hagedorn, Ed Blackwell, Anthony Jackson, Marty Ehrlich, Karl Berger,
Victor Lewis, Carlos Santana, Anthony Braxton and many more.
Simon
Spang-Hanssen http://www.simonspang.com/
Simon
Spang-Hanssen started out in the mid-seventies in Copenhagen, Denmark as a
member of John Tchicai and "Strange Brothers", which included bassist
Peter Danstrup and drummer Ole Roemer. He also performed with Johhny Dyani,
Jesper Zeuthen, The New Jungle Orchestra, the Brazilian drummer/composer Doug
Raney, Nenê and with his own groups that included Ben Besiakov, Jesper
Lundgaard and Alex Riel.
Simon
lived and worked in Paris, and played with Andy Emler Megaoctet, The Quintet of
Francois and Louis Moutin, Nguyên Lê "Tales of Vietnam," The
Orchestra National de Jazz, Bojan Z., Denis Badault, Anouar Brahem and with his
personal projects featuring musicians such as: Richard Bona, Xavier Desandre,
Mariane Bitran, Mario Canonge.
Returning
to Denmark Simon formed several groups including "Rainbow Spirit"
with Gambian kora-player Dawda Jobarteh, an octet "Alisio Ensemble",
the Paris-based "Ear Witness" with Emil Spányi, Linley Marthe and
Felix-sabal-Lecco and the S.S.H. 5-tet with a.o. Bob Rockwell. Also a member of
"Art Ensemble Syd" and recordings and performances with Michael
Gregory Jackson, Chris Stover and Django Bates.
Since
his beginnings with John Tchicai Simon has experimented in many directions both
as a player and composer and has developed a personal mixture of his many roots
in jazz and across the musical spectrum.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
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