Widely regarded as one of the early architects of the neo-soul era, Brian Jackson's enduring sound is capturing the hearts and souls of yet another generation. Today, Brian is not only a respected jazz artist but also a frequent collaborator with emerging artists who carry on the Tradition of inspiring and informing the masses through conscious music.
The Tradition started in 1970 when the Brooklyn-born producer, composer, and musician Jackson began writing songs with another prodigy, 20-year-old Lincoln University classmate and poet Gil Scott- Heron.
Jackson remembers his first encounter with Gil, "He had this way with words and I thought to myself, 'People have to hear this stuff.' What I had to offer was the music and I figured if we can take his words and make this tribal knowledge rhythmic and musical, we can draw people to hear it."
Their partnership produced some of the most fiercely poignant, politically charged, and significantly soulful albums of the seventies. Pieces of a Man, Free Will, Winter in America, First Minute of a New Day, From South Africa to South Carolina, Bridges, Secrets and 1980 are coveted by collectors and conscious-minded music fans alike. Tracks like The Bottle, Johannesburg, It's Your World, Angel Dust, Willing, and 95 South (All the Places We've Been), while highly relevant back-in-the-day, have taken on heightened new relevance today by serving as an inspirational and musical Rosetta stone for the neo-soul movement.
Having produced ten top-selling albums with Gil, Brian decided to continue evolving his musical talents in the eighties by collaborating with Kool and the Gang, Phyllis Hyman, George Benson, Gwen Guthrie, and Roy Ayers. In 1988, Brian co-produced Will Downing's self-titled and UK gold-selling debut album.
Brian welcomed the turning of a century with his long overdue first solo album, gotta play. "No one could have told me when I was recording my first album, Pieces of a Man (with Gil Scott-Heron), that it would be the 21st century before I recorded a solo album. But this collection of music represents my offerings of new friendship, fresh perspective, and a new life."
With his rekindled spirit to continue the Tradition and reach a new generation, Jackson, for his next album, is collaborating with new voices and translating their lyrical visions into powerful neo-soul musical statements. For his next new-day-making-change album, Jackson is soulfully aligning with Ladybug Mecca on her release, "Trip the Light Fantastic" while touring with Digable Planets as guest artist through 2006; Radio Free Brooklyn's Pete Miser, whose 2005 release "Camouflage is Relative" had Brian peppering the cut, 'Table Scraps,' poet/singer-songwriter Masauko of South Africa's Blk Sonshine (Brian also appears on his upcoming release), as well as with other lyrically gifted new artists worldwide.
Asked about his motives, Brian reflects, "This music isn't mine and the minute I start trying to own it, it's all over. It's my responsibility to pass on what I've learned. That's living the Tradition".
Hi Brian, hope all is well! Saw Gil Scott last night @ Carnegie & he told a little story about Song for Bobby Smith. Beautiful nite. Enjoy your summer!
All hail the legends that inspire me and my show. LUV you, Brian. The collabs between you and Gil are unmatchable. "Soul School Cafe" exudes and carries on the spirit that it is definitely "more than music." Always much luv and soul...and thanks for the brilliant music.
Welcome to my humble space in this corner of the galaxy and I wish for you and yours many blessings of love, joy, peace, happiness, success and above all good health. Thanks for friendship.
The real world awaits its true identity which is hidden in the creativity of all our human family. "ARTISTS" musicians, painters, poets and writers. I hope that, that part of all humanity will become awaken, and come alive to live the true meaning of our "CREATOR'S" purpose. The force which is bigger than all of us, in whom all truth exist.
* The brain and all its body parts (Human) is only a machine which the mind manipulates. Everything else comes from within as (energy). The different functions only interpret the energy in its own unique capacity for which it was developed. Art, Science, Philosophy and Spirituality..... are the result of the mind concept, from its interpretation of the energy field. The interpretations are only the impression from what is gleaned by those instruments.
A MOMENT FOR REFLECTION What a terrible way we humans are using these functions. We totally lost the abilities to use them to serve the all, as the universe had intended. It is up to us as artists, to turn that around, teaching the masses how to use them; the way they were meant to be use. They were meant to serve the better cause of humanity and to sustain all life force and not just the chosen few who use them for a greedy cause. Support my charity: TTDA Gift Shop below.
had to just pause on ur page 2 leave ur player goin - really like that can't kill the art - meaning can't kill the soul so can't kill the truth - really feel'n u mr brian jackson - bright music 1love Mali
Thanks so much for your friendship, John
