The extraordinary musician and composer Henry Threadgill stopped by MSR Recording Studio in NYC where I was recording this past week with composer Wadada Leo Smith. I thoroughly enjoy being in Henry’s presence; he is warm, fun, kind, humble and full of life. It was always special to play with Henry, stimulating, exhilarating and edifying. Seeing Henry reminded me that I have live recordings of him and I playing together. I am looking forward to digging them up and diving in.

Congratulations!
Twelve Years A Slave!
Best Picture Oscar!
Truth is Power!

Great afternoon, I enjoyed playing for the Baby Grand Jazz Series in Hartford CT with the inimitable Carl Testa. Twas wonderful to see Maurice D. Robertson, Diana Wimbish and Paul K. Mercado. Thank you Hartford Public Library, Pramod Pradhan and BGJS for putting on a quality event. Thanks to everyone, family, old friends and the many new friends that came out, wow... it was a joy.

MICHAEL GREGORY JACKSON Live!

MICHAEL GREGORY JACKSON-Guitar CARL TESTA-bass

Baby Grand Jazz Series 2014

Hartford Public Library (Downtown Library Atrium)

Sunday February 23, 2014

 3:00 PM. to 4:00 PM 

500 Main Street, Hartford CT  06103

(860-695-6295)

I love great music. I am very pleased to have witnessed some at Jordan Hall/New England Conservatory of Music (N.E.C.) in Boston, MA the other night.

My friend, spirit-ful drummer Ra-Kalam Bob Moses played with the great George Garzone on saxophone and the bracing and powerful John Lockwood on bass…subtle, deep and soulful music. 

Then came the inimitable Cecil McBee on bass, with Ra-Kalam on drums add saxophonist Mark Zaleski, whom I had the pleasure of playing with when I sat in with Russ Gershon’s Either Orchestra. Also, playing with this group was Christian Contreras, two exciting saxophonist to keep an eye on for sure…beautiful and stretchy music.

The imaginative pianist Ben Schwendener’s excellent trio featured Kenwood Dennard, ever multi-dimensional and impressive; honored to call a friend of mine, on drums. This trio was fully rounded out and sat on down by Mark Friedman on bass. Wow! What a pleasure, this music was right on point, most funky, clear and incendiary.

Pianist Tim Ray played the most breathtaking and mesmerizing version of “Tea for Two” that I have ever heard.

Pianist Hankus Netsky, always warm of spirit and gracious, played the heart-moving duet “Mayn Tayere” with violinist and vocalist Eden MacAdam-Somer.

There was a lot of other fantastic music on the bill, too much for me to write about right now.

If you are in Boston, I highly recommend attending concerts at N.E.C., a venerable institution that presents music of the highest quality. A magical memorable place for me…I ran into my old friend Billy Hart, yet another dream drummer. I was happy to be back at N.E.C. again, I taught there in the days of yore. - MGJ

Pete Seeger R.I.P., you will be missed.

I was very moved by Anthony Braxton’s acceptance speech at the NEA Jazz Master ceremony. Braxton was clear, compelling and compassionate in the telling of his story; a thoroughly fascinating and deep down journey through his inspirations, musical influences and the ups and downs, ins and outs, of a life spent marching to many different beats. Then, he went further, passionately expressing his desire to end the divisiveness in the music world and in society. Braxton made a passionate, informed and intelligent plea for acceptance, inclusion, and the necessity for exploration and expansion within all musical forms to keep music alive, growing and vital. It is of the utmost importance that the myriad of individual voices of musicians and composers are allowed to flourish, be welcomed in, to add to the continuum and history of American music and art in and around the world. Discovering, maintaining and nurturing one’s unique and personal identity and the sharing of creative spirit is the foundation and heart of all quality music irrespective of category. Thank you so very much for your music and soul. Congratulations Anthony!