Over three decades of live performance — from recent highlights to a comprehensive career archive as bandleader, sideman, and more:
Jul 16 & 17, 2026
D.D. Jackson Trio at Blues Alley
Blues Alley, Washington D.C.
D.D. Jackson returned to Blues Alley with “Conversin’ With My Younger Self” — unreleased compositions from the start of his career, including works shaped by his studies with the late Don Pullen. Joined by Obasi Akoto on bass and Eric Kennedy on drums.
Jun 6, 2026
Zhi Chen — World Premiere Performance
Frederick Loewe Theatre, NYU
Delighted to participate on piano in the performance of one of my former NYU Steinhardt Screen Scoring and Brooklyn College jazz students Zhi Chen in his “concert for the ages.”
Feb 10, 2024
Saltwater Spirituals and Uppity Blues
Halifax Central Library, Nova Scotia
Sep 29 & 30, 2023
Standing on the Corner with Gio Escobar
MoMA PS1, NYC
Prepared piano performance.
Sep 6–11, 2017
Week of Performances in Columbus, OH
Multiple venues
With James Carter, Kidd Jordan, Debra James Tucker and The JazzPoetry Ensemble. Various shows at Natalie's, English Center, Capital University, Dick's Den, Hot Times Festival.
May 19, 2017
D.D. Jackson Solo Piano, with Special Guest John Geggie (bass)
GigSpace, Ottawa
7:30pm, 45-seat intimate concert.
May 2–7, 2017
David Murray and Class Struggle at the Village Vanguard
Village Vanguard, NYC
David Murray (saxophone), Craig Harris (trombone Fri & Sat), Mingus Murray (guitar), D.D. Jackson (piano), Rashaan Carter (bass), Russell Carter (drums).
Mar 12, 2017
SOMA Jazz Festival Children's Music Presentation [SOLD OUT]
Maplewood Theater, Maplewood, NJ
Live presentation of children's TV work with Carl Kissin.
Oct 28, 2016
Bluiett Music
Community Church of New York — AACM Concert Series
With Hamiet Bluiett, James Brandon Lewis, Reggie Nicholson, Luke Stewart. Also on bill: Muhal Richard Abrams Trio.
Sep 23–24, 2016
Yardbird Suite “Coltrane Weekend” (two nights)
Yardbird Suite, Edmonton, Alberta
D.D. Jackson (leader/piano/organ), Jim Brenan (tenor sax), Rubim de Toledo (bass), Jon McCaslin (drums).
Career Archive
A cross-section of live performances spanning 1991 to the present — as bandleader, sideman, in opera, and on radio & television.
with Milford Graves
Milford Graves Tribute, Visionfest, NYC, July 2021
Guelph Jazz Festival (with Kidd Jordan), Sept 2014
Sons d’Hiver Festival, Paris, France, Feb 2014
Vision Festival, NYC, June 2013
Vision Festival, NYC, June 2009
Harlem Jazz Shrines Festival at the Apollo Theater (NYC)
Special guest with then 11-year old prodigy student Matthew Whitaker, May 2012
D.D. Jackson solo piano
The Redwood Theatre, Toronto, Dec 2024
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, NYC, June 2023
Halifax Central Library, Feb 2024 & Feb 2026
Pheeroan Aklaff Percussion Festival, Glen Ridge NJ, May 2019
with dance company Momenta, Chicago, March 2007
CBC Radio’s “Fuse”, Ottawa, Dec 2006
Wakayama and Kobe, Japan, Dec 2004
Jarasum Jazz Festival, South Korea, Sep 2004
Toronto Jazz Festival, June 2004
7-city tour of Japan, April 2004
8-city tour of Japan, Feb–March 2003
Symphony Space, NYC, Feb 2003
JVC Toronto Jazz Festival (double bill with Brad Mehldau), June 2001
Hong Kong Jazz Club, May 2001
Jazz festival, Prague, Nov 2000
Chicago Jazz Festival, Aug 2000
Jazz festival, Berlin, June 2000
Jazz festival, Tel Aviv, Feb 2000
Yoshi’s, Oakland, Feb 2000
Jazz Gallery, NYC, Nov 1999, Aug 1997
Jazz venue, Pont-a-Mousson, France, Feb 1998
Jazz venue, Besancon, France, Feb 1998
Jazz venue, Zurich, Switzerland, Feb 1998
Aeolian Hall, London, Canada, June 1997
Guelph Jazz Festival, Sep 1996
Ottawa International Jazz Festival, July 1995
Montreal International Jazz Festival, July 1995
D.D. Jackson Octet (with James Spaulding, piano trio & Unity String Quartet)
Moravian College, Sep 2004
Blue Note, NYC, July 2003
D.D. Jackson & Dean Bowman Duo
Guelph, Canada (series of performances/workshops), Feb 2009
D.D. Jackson & Coco York Duo
U.S. Embassy, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Feb 2006
D.D. Jackson performing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue
Kobe City, Japan, Dec 2004
ProMusica Orchestra, Columbus, OH and Marietta, OH, Nov 2001
D.D. Jackson, Bluiett, Kahil El’Zabar Trio
Kuumba Jazz House, Santa Cruz, Aug 2002
Jazz Bakery, LA, Aug 2002
Eddie Moore fest, Oakland, Aug 2002
Hot House, Chicago, Aug 2002
Chicago African Arts Fest, Sep 2001
Bluiett Tribute Band
Roulette, Brooklyn, June 2019
Sista’s Place, Brooklyn, May 2019
Bluiett Memorial, St. Peter’s Church, NYC, June 2019
Rendall Memorial Presbyterian Church, NYC, June 2017
D.D. Jackson & Hamiet Bluiett Duo
Jazz at Lincoln Center “Jazz on the Hudson”
Ottawa Jazz Festival, July 1998
D.D. Jackson & Chris Potter Duo
Jazz Festival, Tel Aviv, Feb 2000
D.D. Jackson & James Carter Duo
Sal Gesu, Montreal, Jan 1998
Minetta Lane Theater, NYC, Nov 1997
D.D. Jackson & Michelle Rosewoman Duo
Jazz Gallery, NYC, Aug 1997
D.D. Jackson & Tracie Morris (poet) Duo
VisionFest, NYC, June 1997
with Kahil El’Zabar, Craig Harris, Hamiet Bluiett, Kelvyn Bell
Jazz Foundation of America Annual Loft Jazz Party, April 2016
James Carter Organ Trio
3-city tour of India (Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune), Oct–Nov 2014
with Milford Graves
Guelph Jazz Festival (with Kidd Jordan), Sep 2014
Sons D’Hiver, Paris, Feb 2014
Vision Festival, NYC, June 2013
with Craig Harris and the Saints & the Aint’s Brass Choir
Abyssinian Baptist Church, Harlem, June 2013
Bill Cosby “Cos of Good Music” All-Star Band
Playboy Jazz Festival, Hollywood, June 2010
Bluiett’s Bio-Electric
Vision Festival, NYC, June 2013
Sons D’Hiver, Paris, Jan 2009 (with Billy Bang, William Parker, Hamid Drake, Kidd Jordan)
James Carter Quartet
Jazz Foundation Gala, NYC, Oct 2013
Birdland, NYC, Feb & May 2008
Montreal Jazz Festival, July 2008 (broadcast on Bravo TV/CBC)
James Carter Group
Yoshi’s, Oakland, Aug 2007
Dean Bowman’s Vox Populi
Romania 3-city tour, April 2007
Chicago City Limits
Music Director, numerous NYC engagements, Sep 2003 – Mar 2008
Standing on the Corner / Gio Escobar
MoMA PS1, NYC, Sep–Oct 2023
MoMA PS1, NYC, June 2023
with Curtis Stewart
The Clemente, NYC, Oct 2021
Sam Newsome Quartet
Polish Consulate, NYC, Jan 2023
with Francisco Mora Catlett (AfroHorns)
NYC, Oct 2022
Craig Harris “Tribute to Ken McIntyre”
Merkin Concert Hall, NYC, June 2003
Hamiet Bluiett Group
Sweet Basil, NYC, Oct 1997
David Murray Quartet / Class Struggle
Blues Alley, Washington D.C., Nov 2022 & Nov 2023
Village Vanguard, NYC, May 2017
“Banished” PBS documentary, Nov 2006
Madrid, Spain, Oct 2001
European tour (Seville, Strasbourg), Nov 1998
Japanese tour, Aug 1998
European tour (Rouen, Le Mans, Bruges, Liège), Apr–May 1998
Japanese tour, May 1997
Village Vanguard, NYC, 1995
David Murray Big Band
European tour (Nevers, Berlin, Istanbul, Moers, Verona), May–Nov 1998
Black Arts Festival, Atlanta, July 1996
Knitting Factory, NYC, Monday nights 1995–1998
James Carter Electric Project
Boston Globe Jazz Fest, June 2001
Azore Islands, Portugal, Oct 2000
Yoshi’s, Oakland, Sep–Oct 2000
Willisau, Austria, Sep 2000
Newport Jazz Fest, Aug 2000
Sculler’s, Boston, Aug 2000
Blue Note, NYC, June 2000
World Saxophone Quartet
Iridium, NYC, Dec 2000
David Murray Octet
Visionfest, NYC, July 2021
Art Farm Recording, NYC, April 2021
“Octet plays ’Trane”, Iridium, Sep–Oct 1999
European tour (Lisbon, Utrecht, Brugge, Zurich, Munich, Annecy, Basel), 1999
European tour (Trento, Bologna, Cremona, Gronegan, Antwerp), April 1997
Celebrate Brooklyn, Prospect Park Bandshell, Aug 1996
Yoshi’s, Oakland, Jul–Aug 1996
with the Urban Bushwomen, New Victory Theatre, NYC, May 1996
What Is Jazz? Festival, Knitting Factory, July 1996
Dewey Redman Quartet
Blue Note, NYC, Nov 2001
Visiones, NYC, March 1993
Chico Freeman Quartet
Ethical Culture Society, NYC, May 2001
David Murray Creole Project
San d’Hiver Festival, Paris, Feb 1998
Andrew Cyrille Quartet
Ethical Culture Center, NYC, Sep 1998
Sweet Basil, NYC, March 1997
Ka-Tap (Indian music & Katchak dance with American jazz and tap)
Symphony Space, NYC, Dec 1998
Craig Harris “Nation of Imagination”
Jazz Gallery, NYC, Dec 1996
Sweet Basil, NYC, Nov 1996
City College, NY, Nov 1996
Craig Harris “The Jhetto Plays the Music of Sun Ra”
Ethical Culture Center, NYC, Sep 1996
Saalfelden, Austria, Aug 1996
Moers, Germany, May 1996
Carlos Ward Quartet
Sweet Basil, NYC, May 1995
Don Pullen’s African-Brazilian Connection with the Chief Cliff Singers and the Garth Fagan Dance Company — “Earth Eagle First Circle”
Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Aug 1995
Jane Bunnett Group
Chicago Jazz Fest, Sep 1993
Hildershein, Germany, May 1993
Sweet Basil, NYC, Feb 1993
European tour (Amsterdam, Dortmund, Leverkusen, Paris, London, Milano, Palma de Mallorca), Fall 1992
Canadian tour with Dewey Redman, Summer 1991
Dave Doran’s JazzRap
Boston and NYC (6 performances), Fall 1992
CONJURE conducted by Kip Hanrahan (with David Murray, Billy Bang, J.T. Lewis, Little Jimmy Scott)
6-city European tour, Summer 1992
Zhi (world premiere), Frederick Loewe Theatre, NYU, June 2026
5 Poets Breaking Into Song, NYC, Sep 2022
Hearth Star Festival (virtual), May 2020
Black No More (workshop & showcase), Signature Theatre, NYC, Feb 2019
Cecil Taylor Memorial, Roulette, Brooklyn, Dec 2018
Prince Symphonic Orchestra (arranger, performer), NYC, Sep 2018
Trudeau: Long March/Shining Path (theatrical premiere), Sir James Dunn Theatre, Halifax, June 2010
Quebecite (full concert), Moravian College, PA, Feb 2009
Trudeau: Long March/Shining Path (excerpts) and Quebecite (excerpts), Rochester Institute of Technology, Oct 2008
Trudeau: Long March/Shining Path, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, 2007
Trudeau: Long March/Shining Path (excerpts), Barrie Jazz & Blues Festival, June 2007
Quebecite, Vancouver East Cultural Centre, Oct 2003
John Lennon 75th Anniversary Birthday Concert on AMC (with The Roots), Dec 2015
2010s
The CBS Early Show, Harlem School of the Arts feature, Dec 28 2011
The Jimmy Fallon Show NBC with “The Roots”, Dec 6 2011
The Signal, CBC Radio, Trudeau opera excerpts, Oct 2010
2000s
Canada Live, “Jagged Little Pill: A Tribute to Alanis Morissette”, broadcast Nov 27 2008
In Performance, CBC Radio, Quebecite broadcast, Oct 10 2003
“D.D.: the Little Brother”, CBC Radio Sunday Edition, April 13 2003
Jazz Cafe, CBC Radio, D.D. Jackson Trio live in Vancouver, recorded June 25 2002
D.D. Jackson Trio on National Jazz Awards, CBC Radio, Feb 2002
Studio 2, TV Ontario, solo piano, Dec 2002
D.D. Jackson Group on “Live at the Knitting Factory”, BET on Jazz, Dec 2000
Macedonian TV broadcast, Bluiett/Jackson/El’Zabar in Skopje, Oct 2000
Japanese TV broadcast, D.D. Jackson Group, Osaka, Sep 2000
Studio 2, TV Ontario, D.D. Jackson Group, June 2000
Israel TV broadcast, D.D. Jackson/Chris Potter, Tel Aviv, Feb 2000
1990s
In Performance, CBC Radio, Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, Oct 1 1999
Studio 2, CBC Radio, duo with David Murray, Glenn Gould Studio, Feb 1998
Jazzset with Branford Marsalis, NPR, Detroit Jazzfest, Aug 1997
Marian McPartland’s PianoJazz, NPR, Nov 1997
“In the Key of Eh! Canadian Jazz Piano”, Bravo TV, Dec 1996
Jazz Cafe, CBC Television, D.D. Jackson Trio, Vancouver, June 1996
German TV broadcast, Leverkusen Jazz Festival, Violin Summit (with Billy Bang, Grappelli, Jean-Luc Ponty), Fall 1993
D.D. Jackson
