D.D. Jackson

I am a two-time Emmy Award-winning composer, producer, and Juno Award-winning jazz pianist and educator. As a composer, I specialize in writing, arranging, and producing memorable, custom-made music for t.v., film & other media. I consider myself an "artistic problem solver": I strive to get to the essential conceptual truth of what the client is looking for - and to express it in a creative and supportive way. [READ MORE] or [BIO]

My first RCA CD's

September 10, 1999  /  D.D. Jackson

 An eventful summer. Recorded my first two albums for my new label of RCA Victor (BMG). The first, a solo recording, was completed this past May in Montreal. It was really intended as a "summing up" of the things which have influenced me stylistically in my life thus far, particularly from the realm of jazz and classical music. The music was coincidentally recorded at an old RCA Victor studio in Montreal; a nice, oversized, warm-sounding room with a huge Bosendorfer Imperial Grand, and I'm quite pleased with the result. 

The idea, I think, is to pair this album with my 2nd recording for the label, which will be released a little later on, and which I just finished recording, with a veritable "all-star" band; pretty much everyone on their respective instruments I consider to be my favorites, particularly with the musical conception I was going for with this recording. The group included: Jack Dejohnette on drums, Cameroon electric bassist Richard Bona (who also sings on a track), James Carter on saxes on 4 tracks, Mino Cinelu on percussion, and Christian Howes on violin. I think people who know my past work will be very surprised when they hear it: it focuses on the more melodic and groove-oriented aspects of my writing and arranging. So I think when the two releases are ultimately considered together, they will paint a fairly accurate portrait of my desire to be as far-reaching and open-minded in my influences as possible.
Just received my first copies of ...So Far (the solo album); it was gratifying to have "physical evidence" of the whole process that's been going on for the past year of preparing for these releases, getting a new setup established behind me, etc.....