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

Career

Jackson was born in

Washington, DC Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and Federal district of the United States, federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from ...

, United States. After playing in

Atlantic City Atlantic City, sometimes referred to by its initials A.C., is a Jersey Shore seaside resort city in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Atlantic City comprises the second half of the Atlantic City- Hammonton metropolitan sta ...

, Jackson moved to

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

in 1923, where he played with Lionel Howard's Musical Aces in 1924, and recorded with Bob Fuller and Elmer Snowden. 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

nightclub A nightclub or dance club is a club that is open at night, usually for drinking, dancing and other entertainment. Nightclubs often have a Bar (establishment), bar and discotheque (usually simply known as disco) with a dance floor, laser lighti ...

s in New York. During this time he also accompanied singers such as Viola McCoy, Lena Wilson,

Sara Martin Sara Martin (June 18, 1884 – May 24, 1955) was an American blues singer, in her time one of the most popular of the classic blues singers. She was billed as "The Famous Moanin' Mama" and "The Colored Sophie Tucker". She made many recordings, ...

, Martha Copeland, Helen Gross, and Clara Smith. He recorded with

Sidney Bechet Sidney Joseph Bechet ( ; May 14, 1897 – May 14, 1959) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. He was one of the first important Solo (music), soloists in jazz, and first recorded several months before trumpeter Louis Ar ...

in 1940-41, 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; 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. His style was also marked by a contrapuntal-like bass work. 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), .

Personal life

Jackson was married to the singer Maxine Sullivan from 1950, until his death from

heart failure Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is a syndrome caused by an impairment in the heart's ability to Cardiac cycle, fill with and pump blood. Although symptoms vary based on which side of the heart is affected, HF ...

in 1970.

Discography

As leader

* 1926–34 - ''Recorded in New York 1926–34'' (Jazz Oracle, 2003) * 1930 - ''Cliff Jackson and His Crazy Kats 1930'' (Retrieval, 1981) * 1930-45 - ''The Chronological'' (Classics, ?) * 1961.07 - ''Uptown and Lowdown'' (Prestige, 1961) Cliff Jacksononly the last four tracks, rest of LP see Dick Wellstod (1961) * 1961-62 - ''Carolina Shout!'' (Black Lion, 1973) piano solos * 1965 - ''Hot Piano'' (R1 Disc, ?) * 1966 - ''Manassas Jazz Festiva''l (Jazzology, ?) * 1968 - ''Parlor social piano'' (Fat Cat's Jazz, ?) * 1969 - ''Master Jazz Piano Vol''. 1 (Master Jazz Recs., ?)

As sideman

, ''Bechet of New Orleans'' (RCA Victor, 1965) *

Bunny Berigan Roland Bernard "Bunny" Berigan (November 2, 1908 – June 2, 1942) was an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader who rose to fame during the swing era. His career and influence were shortened by alcoholism, and ended with his early demise at the ...

, ''Chronological1935–1936'' (Classics, 1993) * Eddie Condon, ''The Eddie Condon Concerts'' (Chiaroscuro, 1972) * Eddie Condon, ''The Town Hall Concerts Vol. Four'' (Jazzology, 1989) *

The Delfonics The Delfonics were an American R&B/soul vocal group from Philadelphia. The Delfonics were most popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their most notable hits include " La-La (Means I Love You)", " Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)", "Bre ...

, ''La La Means I Love You'' (Philly Groove, 1968) * Helen Gross, ''1924–1925'' (Document, 1988) *

Coleman Hawkins Coleman Randolph Hawkins (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969), nicknamed "Hawk" and sometimes "Bean", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.Yanow, Scot"Coleman Hawkins: Artist Biography" AllMusic. Retrieved December 27, 2013. One of the first ...

, ''Years Ago'' (Prestige, 1964) * Rosa Henderson, ''Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order Vol. 4'' (Document, 1995) *

Alberta Hunter Alberta Hunter (April 1, 1895 – October 17, 1984) was an American jazz and blues singer and songwriter from the early 1920s to the late 1950s. After twenty years of working as a nurse, Hunter resumed her singing career in 1977. Early life Hu ...

, Lucille Hegamin, Victoria Spivey, ''Songs We Taught Your Mother'' (Prestige, 1962) * Lonnie Johnson, '' Idle Hours'' (Prestige, 1987) *

Jimmy Rushing James Andrew Rushing (August 26, 1901 – June 8, 1972) was an American singer and pianist from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S., best known as the featured vocalist of Count Basie's Orchestra from 1935 to 1948. Rushing was known as " Mr. Five by ...

, ''The Jazz Odyssey of Jimmy Rushing'' (Philips, 1957) * Al Sears, ''

Things Ain't What They Used to Be "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" is a 1942 jazz standard with music by Mercer Ellington and lyrics by Ted Persons. Background In 1941 there was a strike against the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, of which Duke Ellingt ...

'' (Swingville, 1961) * Elmer Snowden, ''Harlem Banjo'' (Riverside, 1960)

References

Bibliography

Leonard Feather Leonard Geoffrey Feather (13 September 1914 – 22 September 1994) was a British-born jazz pianist, composer, and producer, who was best known for his music journalism and other writing. Biography Feather was born in London, England, into an u ...

and Ira Gitler, ''The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz''.

Oxford University Press Oxford University Press (OUP) is the publishing house of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world. Its first book was printed in Oxford in 1478, with the Press officially granted the legal right to print books ...

, 1999, , p. 345. {{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Cliff 1902 births 1970 deaths American jazz pianists American male jazz pianists People from Culpeper, Virginia 20th-century American pianists Jazz musicians from Virginia 20th-century American male musicians Black Lion Records artists