Milt Jackson

Jackson credited the music that came from his church as being what formulated his open, relaxed and impromptu soul sound. Though starting at age 7 on guitar, by the time he was 11 he had moved onto percussion, namely piano. In high school, he sang in the choir, played violin, timpani, drums and was singing professionally with a touring gospel quartet, the Evangelists. In 1945 he saw a Benny Goodman concert and, after hearing Lionel Hampton play, he committed to the vibraphone by joining with Dizzy Gillespie. Jackson’s skills matured around such talents as: Woody Herman, Howard McGhee, Thelonious Monk, and Charlie Parker. In 1950, pianist John Lewis, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Kenny Clarke along with Jackson, formed the Milt Jackson Quartet (MJQ). In 1952, after replacing Ray Brown with Percy Heath, MJQ was renamed the Modern Jazz Quartet,(1952 – 1974). They reformed in 1981, playing together until 1993, when Jackson went solo: Jackson still participating in the occasional Modern Jazz Quartet reunions. Jackson recorded on Pablo Records, as “Jackson, Johnson, Brown & Company”, in 1983, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music.

At the age of 76 Jackson died in Manhattan. He was named “Bags” due to the bags under his eyes.