Anthony Jackson - which tracks in particular have inspired you?

[miles'tone]

I understand the love the bass world holds for AJ but I've never really studied his work and I think it's about time to dive in there.
He's known for classic P bass playing (totally my thing) right up to developing the 6 string.

But what is the essential AJ? All of it? Where to begin?

Need some fresh inspiration in my life, help!

Edited December 21, 2014 by miles'tone

[skidder652003]

pleased to meet you and welcome to basschat!!

[zero9]

I like his playing on some of the earlier Al Di Meola stuff.

[blamelouis]

Might be better in GD ?

[miles'tone]

Pleased to meet you too! I have been here a long time though and I appear to have stumbled into the wrong room.
Mods can you show me the way back to General Discussion please.
(This has nothing to do with mulled wine. Honest.)

Edited December 21, 2014 by miles'tone

[JapanAxe]

Has Anthony Jackson joined Basschat as a newb?

[Jazzjames]

I'm pretty sure he was on a J bass rather than a P for most of the older stuff he's recorded on. EDIT: Although the Lee Ritenour song below sounds pretty P bass like to me! Never heard that one.

Obviously there's all the early Chaka Khan stuff, there's some amazing playing on those albums.

If you go on Lucas Pickford's website he's got a load of transcriptions and comments about AJ and what's he's been on. A good place to visit even if you have no intention of playing the transcriptions.

Also, on youtube there is a long interview between AJ and cliff almond (drummer) that's interesting. Search Anthony Jackson Interview.

Edited December 22, 2014 by Jazzjames

[BetaFunk]

There is so much to choose as he has worked on so many sessions (just look at a list of who has played with) but this is a good place to start......

http://youtu.be/Ll3uipTO-4A

[Telebass]

IIRC, he got his first writing credit for that bassline.

[miles'tone]

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1419163864' post='2637080']
There is so much to choose as he has worked on so many sessions (just look at a list of who has played with) but this is a good place to start......

http://youtu.be/Ll3uipTO-4A
[/quote]

Thanks. I think this is the only AJ track I was aware of initially. Killer phaser tone here!

I do intend to YouTube the hell out of him to find more. I'm just wondering which tracks in particular may have inspired my fellow basschatters...

A title change methinks!..

[BetaFunk]

[quote name='Telebass' timestamp='1419194693' post='2637507']
IIRC, he got his first writing credit for that bassline.
[/quote]
Yes, not bad either to have a writing credit with legends like Gamble & Huff when you're only 21.

[lowdown]

Always a good time for this.
http://youtu.be/tZOCdrwGch4

[BetaFunk]

[quote name='miles'tone' timestamp='1419196415' post='2637538']
I do intend to YouTube the hell out of him to find more. I'm just wondering which tracks in particular may have inspired my fellow basschatters...

A title change methinks!..
[/quote]
Good luck with your search. Anthony Jackson has played on hundreds of sessions over the years and albums some of which would have used more than one bass player which makes it harder to work out who played on what.
In the early Sigma Sound Studios days he played on numerous Philadelphia International and Gamble & Huff sessions including The O'Jays, Three Degrees, Billy Paul, MFSB and many more. Of course he's played on sessions by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, Ashford & Simpson, Steely Dan, Donald Fagen, Madonna, Simon & Garfunkel etc but he can be heard on some great albums by Lee Ritenour, Al Di Meola, Norman Connors etc etc.
[media]http://youtu.be/_YZE8Vz00dc[/media]

[media]http://youtu.be/a6skDt0ZEGI[/media]

http://youtu.be/3-MRnhWcImE

Edited December 21, 2014 by BetaFunk

[miles'tone]

Wow thanks! Just what I was looking for.
That's my tomorrow sorted then!

[Sonic_Groove]

Caught him in London this year playing with Hiromi, FANTASTIC!!!

Also, that Al Di Meola album (Elegant Gypsy -- but Anthony plays on a few Al albums) is a must

B

[Sonic_Groove]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR8HinFaQhk[/media]

Edited December 22, 2014 by Sonic_Groove

[Drax]

[quote name='Sonic_Groove' timestamp='1419212719' post='2637708']
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR8HinFaQhk[/media]
[/quote]
Missed opportunity video. We want to see his left hand, not his jazz / (jizz) face!

[lowdown]

[quote name='Drax' timestamp='1419232617' post='2637723']

Missed opportunity video. We want to see his left hand, not his jazz / (jizz) face!
[/quote]

Yer, but what a great opportunity to see his monster music stand!

[Spoombung]

The Elegant Gypsy album had some of his best stuff.

Saw him recently with Hiromi and didn't really enjoy his flabby, piezo pickup tone on his new Fodera bass.

[Gareth Hughes]

Check out the live video of 'Waterways Flow Backwards Again' by Akiko Yano. Things get very interesting around the 1:37 mark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsX48p1oc-w

[Sonic_Groove]

[quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1419247475' post='2637891']

Saw him recently with Hiromi and didn't really enjoy his flabby, piezo pickup tone on his new Fodera bass.
[/quote]

Oh I thought it sounded superb! But hey ho you have saved yourself GASsing for 30 grands worth of Axe! LOL

Brendan

[Bilbo]

I had heard AJ with Al DiMeola on 'Land Of The Midnight Sun' and 'Casino' but, for the me, the 'woah!!' moment came when I bought a sale LP (yes, vinyl) from HMV in Oxford St. of a band called 'French Toast'. The band included AJ, Michel Camilo, Stve Gadd/Dave Weckl, Lew Soloff (trumpet), Peter Gordon (french horn), Jerry Dodgion – alto sax, Sammy Figueroa – percussion and Gordon Gottlieb – percussion. For the uninitiated, that's one HELL of a band. The LP included the track 'Why Not' performed with horns and a tune I transcribed called Joe Cool. A massively tight band. I then got Camilo's Suntan trio recording and that was AJ at his best. Strangely, I recently got hold of a double live cd of Steve Khan, AJ and Dennis Chambers called The Suitcase which has some major AJ work including some rare solos.

The best I think I ever heard from him, though, is a youtibe video of a young (27-28?) AJ with Sadao Watanabe Live at The Boudokan with a Dave Grusin led Jazz orchestra. The quality of the video is appalling but Jackson plays an absolute blinder. His solo starts at around 5.40 and you can see that AJ is really 'in the zone' and we are wondering what would have happened to the bass if he had been less reticent.

[ezbass]

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1419199044' post='2637575']
[media]http://youtu.be/a6skDt0ZEGI[/media]
[/quote]Off topic, but just how lush is Al DiMeola's Les Paul tone on this? Makes me want to trade in my Tele for an LP.

[Sonic_Groove]

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1419260693' post='2638092']
Off topic, but just how lush is Al DiMeola's Les Paul tone on this? Makes me want to trade in my Tele for an LP.
[/quote]

I wouldn't mind "trading in" my clumsy podgy mitts for Al's dextrous digits!!!

B

[lowdown]

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1419257798' post='2638064']
The best I think I ever heard from him, though, is a youtibe video of a young (27-28?) AJ with Sadao Watanabe Live at The Boudokan with a Dave Grusin led Jazz orchestra. The quality of the video is appalling but Jackson plays an absolute blinder. His solo starts at around 5.40 and you can see that AJ is really 'in the zone' and we are wondering what would have happened to the bass if he had been less reticent.
[/quote]

I think it might be this.
During the solo Sadao Watanabe's face is pricelss.
Top, top band as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu7S8wRcRNU