D.D. Jackson: Poetry Project

Emmy-winning composer/pianist D.D. Jackson’s ambitious new album Poetry Project features 13 original songs set to texts by acclaimed Canadian poets, curated by former Canadian Poet Laureate George Elliott Clarke.

The album features eight vocalists, saxophonists Kelly Jefferson and Jane Bunnett, a string quartet, and even the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, all anchored by a rhythm section featuring Snarky Puppy drummer Larnell Lewis.

Supported by a Canada Council grant, the project marks Jackson’s highly anticipated return to jazz recording after years of award-winning television composition (including two Emmy Awards for PBS’s Peg+Cat) and collaborations with Questlove and The Roots.

“My goal was to let the poetry dictate what stylistic approach to take, and I felt confident that, regardless of perceived style, the sum total of the album would still somehow feel like me.”

For the full EPK, visit Press Kits/Press Releases.

Emmy-Winning Pianist/Composer D.D. Jackson’s Highly Anticipated Reunion with Tenor Sax Legend for Two Nights Only at Historic D.C. Club

[Nov 1/23, for immediate release]: D.D. Jackson is excited to be re-uniting with his longtime mentor and colleague David Murray for two nights only at Washington D.C.’s historic jazz venue Blues Alley.

Night 1 (on Tues. Nov. 7th) will feature both Jackson and David Murray sitting in as special guests of D.C. staple violinist Dave Kline, for which several Jackson compositions will be featured with Murray.

Night 2 (on Wed. Nov. 8th) shifts to Jackson leading his own band composed of D.C. luminaries Eric Kennedy on drums and Obasi Akoto on bass, with Murray once again taking center stage and featuring a rich cross-section of Jackson’s compositions.

“Working with David has been one of the most formative experiences of my life,” Jackson reflects. “After my mentor Don Pullen first introduced us, David helped launch my career when he had me sub for John Hicks at the Montreal Jazz Festival, leading to my signing with Justin Time Records.” Jackson’s first album yielded the title tune “Peace-Song”, which he would go on to perform with Murray all over the world and which he plans to re-visit in D.C. on Night 2, along with many more.

Since their past work together, Murray has continued with his breakneck recording career and touring schedule. Jackson meanwhile found himself settling down and eventually went on to win Emmy Awards writing for television, including children’s shows like The Wonder Pets and Peg+Cat (with his kids becoming his new “fans”!), doing collaborations with The Roots, and becoming increasingly involved in education (including at Jay-Z’s new Roc Nation school at LIU Brooklyn).

The pianist of late, however, has picked up the jazz mantle once more, including a large-scale album project slated for a Spring/24 release entitled “Poetry Project” featuring 8 singers, and instrumentation ranging from symphony orchestra and string quartet to a rhythm section featuring Snarky Puppy drummer Larnell Lewis. Jackson himself also sings on two tracks, and plans to do the same for his Nov. 8th Blues Alley leader date. “I don’t consider myself a singer by trade, but the two songs I plan to premiere were so close to my heart that I couldn’t resist!” he remarked.

It should be a two-night Blues Alley residency — and musical reunion — not to be missed.

[Aug. 15/19, for immediate release]: Canadian-born, New York area-based D.D. Jackson’s new CD Live at Freedom of Sound captures a recent solo piano performance that took place at the Montclair-based festival organized by drummer Pheeroan Aklaff’s Seed Artists. “I had actually just gotten off a plane from L.A. after winning an Emmy Award the night before and was definitely tired. However, something that evening just clicked, and the performance became an enjoyable and surprisingly effective representation of where my solo piano playing is today!”

That journey has taken him from a career that’s included 12 CD’s as leader or co-leader (including two for the major label BMG), performing all over the world with prominent artists ranging from David Murray, Jack DeJohnette, and Billy Bang, to MacArthur Genius Grant drummer Dafnis Prieto and James Carter. But why the long gap since his last jazz recording as leader?

“The making of my last CD (Serenity Song, 2007 Justin Time Records) was right around the time I began settling down and raising a family, and it was appealing to finally be in one place for extended periods of time instead of constantly on the road touring,” Jackson states. “At the same time, I was also gaining an increasing fascination with technology and began writing more and more for media, which was a perfect gig for a homeward-bound dad!”

Jackson’s work, in fact, culminated in his 2nd Emmy Award as a television composer just this past May (among his 5 total Emmy nominations to date), and he also struck up a regular working relationship with New York-based The Roots on various projects (and appeared on two of their most recent CD’s, participating as arranger, pianist, and producer on different tracks). Jackson has also been passionate about teaching during this period, first as an award-winning professor at Hunter College; at the Harlem School of the Arts (where he taught jazz prodigy Matthew Whitaker and the “The Voice” finalist We’ McDonald, among many); and now at Brooklyn College, where he’s been helping with their new Global Jazz Masters degree and also teaching Media Scoring.

All the while, though, Jackson continued playing and performing. “It’s always been in the back of my mind to do a new CD,” he muses, “and frankly, Trump’s shocking ascendancy finally gave me just the emotional ‘breaking point’ I needed to dive in musically, initially just as a means of ‘venting’!”

Live at Freedom of Sound is a tight set of 5 compositions, ranging from re-imaginings of older material (including “For Don” — originally written by Jackson in tribute to his late mentor, the jazz pianist/composer Don Pullen, now re-dedicated to another great influence on Jackson, the late baritone saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett; and “Richard’s Tune” — a Don Pullen composition Don originally wrote for Muhal Richard Abrams), to brand new pieces that serve as a reaction to Trump (“Better Angels”, “Homecoming” — a meditation on his hometown of Ottawa and Canada in general during these stressful times, and the more up-tempo “D.D.’s Bounce”, which Jackson states is intended to provide an “upbeat sort of catharsis”).

Jackson says there are more pieces in the pipeline, and more recording plans to come.

[Jan. 18/18, for immediate release]: On Tues., Feb. 13th at 8 pm, Emmy-winning jazz pianist/composer D.D. Jackson will be joined by critically-acclaimed tenor saxophonist/composer James Brandon Lewis for a special, one-night-only duo concert, featuring originals culled from both of their books, plus at-the-moment improvisations. The concert will take place at the Zürcher Gallery located at 33 Bleecker St., New York, NY — an intimate art gallery space that has built an increasing reputation for its relaxed, inviting setting and the open-minded, no-holds-barred attitude of its performers.

The concert will represent a continued return for Jackson to jazz performance and to the writing and premiering of original jazz compositions, following a detour the past several years as he delved more into the world of composing for television and film (culminating in his 4 Emmy nominations, and his first Emmy Award win as composer in 2016).

As Jackson states: “After settling down and raising our two kids, I found myself wanting to be more in one place and to challenge myself in new creative directions, and writing for t.v. and media has filled the role perfectly for the past several years, even as I continued to occasionally perform jazz. However, I was ‘jarred’ out of my jazz complacency by the confluence of a few notable events. First, I began playing out again increasingly, including with tenor saxophonist David Murray at the Village Vanguard this past May, and prior to this with James Brandon Lewis for the first time in a group led by the great baritone sax player Hamiet Bluiett. James’ fiery energy, his inventiveness as composer, and his ability to incorporate contemporary rhythms while still maintaining a passionate ‘edge’ — all of this really inspired me to want to find a way to work with him at the earliest opportunity!”

“The other (odd!) source of inspiration was definitely the frustrating ascendancy of Donald Trump, which has renewed in me a desire to ‘vent’ and to more than ever truly express myself creatively, resulting in a string of new jazz compositions, several of which will be given their NYC premiere at the performance, along with James’ own pieces. I’m really looking forward to it!”

Juno and Emmy Award-Winning D.D. Jackson to Give First Public Jazz Performances in His Ottawa Hometown After Almost 10 Years, with Special Appearance by John Geggie

[May 8/17, for immediate release]: On May 18 and 19, 2017, New York-based, Juno and Emmy award-winning jazz pianist/composer D.D. Jackson will return to perform in his hometown of Ottawa for the first time in almost 10 years, joined in part by bassist John Geggie (formerly of the popular “Geggie Concert Series” of NAC Fourth Stage).

First, on Thursday May 18th at 7:30 pm, Jackson will be the special guest of the Highlights Concert of the Ottawa Kiwanis Music Festival, performing solo piano.

When asked to participate, Jackson leapt at the chance. “I have so many fond memories of playing in the Festival (back when it was called the ‘Ottawa Music Festival’!), and can legitimately say that it’s truly where I first got my start as a performer, from an extremely young age into high school. It’s satisfying to see the Festival continue to thrive, and I’ll be excited to premiere some new material I’ve been working on lately in anticipation of recording a new jazz album soon!”

Then, after a masterclass at Canterbury High School the morning of Friday, May 19th (closed to the public), Jackson is excited to perform with his former bandmate and Ottawa jazz bassist John Geggie, in a special, intimate concert at the 45-seat “GigSpace”, featuring solo piano originals, as well as some duos with Geggie as his special guest.

The performances will mark a return for Jackson to the writing and premiering of original jazz compositions, following a detour the past several years as he delved more into the world of composing for television and film (culminating in his 4th Emmy nomination last month, and his first win last year, for the 7 Emmy-award-winning PBS show Peg+Cat).

“After settling down and raising our two kids, I found myself wanting to be more in one place and to challenge myself in new creative directions, and writing for t.v. and media has filled the role perfectly for the past several years, even as I continued to occasionally perform jazz. Two events, however, have really combined to rekindle in me a passionate desire to express myself again more fully in the jazz sphere. The first was the return to New York of the great tenor saxophonist David Murray, with whom I just completed a successful week at the Village Vanguard. The second (oddly!) is the frustrating ascendancy of Donald Trump, which has renewed in me a desire to ‘vent’ and to more than ever truly express myself creatively, resulting in a string of new jazz compositions, many of which I plan to premiere at the two performances!”