Cliff Jackson (musician)

Cliff Jackson
Cliff Jackson at the piano in 1947, photo by William P. Gottlieb
Background information
Birth name	Clifton Luther Jackson
Born	(1902-07-19)July 19, 1902 Culpeper, Virginia, U.S.
Died	May 24, 1970(1970-05-24) (aged 67) New York City, U.S.
Genres	Jazz
Occupation	Musician
Instrument	Piano

Clifton Luther Jackson (July 19, 1902 – May 24, 1970)[1] was an American stride pianist.

Career

Jackson was born in Washington, DC, United States.[1] After playing in Atlantic City, Jackson moved to New York City in 1923,[2] where he played with Lionel Howard's Musical Aces in 1924, and recorded with Bob Fuller and Elmer Snowden.[1] He led his own ensemble, the Krazy Kats, for recordings in 1930, and following this group's dissolution he played extensively as a solo pianist in nightclubs in New York.[2] During this time he also accompanied singers such as Viola McCoy, Lena Wilson, Sara Martin, Martha Copeland, Helen Gross, and Clara Smith.[1] He recorded with Sidney Bechet in 1940-41,[2] and recorded as a soloist or leader in 1944-45, 1961, and 1969. As house pianist at Cafe Society from 1943 until 1951 he was a success;[1] he also toured with Eddie Condon in 1946. He also played with Garvin Bushell (1950), J.C. Higginbotham (1960), and Joe Thomas (1962).

Musical style

As shown by many of his 1944-1945 solo piano recordings, such as "Limehouse Blues", Jackson was one of the most powerful stride piano players.[2] His style was also marked by a contrapuntal-like bass work.^[citation needed] His many left hand techniques are found explained in detail in Riccardo Scivales's method, Jazz Piano: The Left Hand (Bedford Hills, New York: Ekay Music, 2005), ISBN 978-1929009657.

Personal life

Jackson was married to the singer Maxine Sullivan from 1950, until his death from heart failure in 1970.[2]

Discography

As leader

• Uptown and Lowdown (Prestige, 1961)
• Carolina Shout! (Black Lion, 1973)
• Cliff Jackson and His Crazy Kats 1930 (Retrieval, 1981)
• Recorded in New York 1926–34 (Jazz Oracle, 2003)

As sideman

• Sidney Bechet, Bechet of New Orleans (RCA Victor, 1965)
• Bunny Berigan, 1935–1936 (Classics, 1993)
• Eddie Condon, The Eddie Condon Concerts (Chiaroscuro, 1972)
• Eddie Condon, The Town Hall Concerts Vol. Four (Jazzology, 1989)
• The Delfonics, La La Means I Love You (Philly Groove, 1968)
• Helen Gross, 1924–1925 (Document, 1988)
• Coleman Hawkins, Years Ago (Prestige, 1964)
• Rosa Henderson, Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order Vol. 4 (Document, 1995)
• Alberta Hunter, Lucille Hegamin, Victoria Spivey, Songs We Taught Your Mother (Prestige, 1962)
• Lonnie Johnson, Idle Hours (Prestige, 1987)
• Jimmy Rushing, The Jazz Odyssey of Jimmy Rushing (Philips, 1957)
• Al Sears, Things Ain't What They Used to Be (Swingville, 1961)
• Elmer Snowden, Harlem Banjo (Riverside, 1960)

References

1. Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 222. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
2. Scott Yanow. "Cliff Jackson | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-09-25.

Bibliography

• Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler, The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. Oxford University Press, 1999, ISBN 978-0195320008, p. 345.