Frank Jackson June 20, 2008

Frank Jackson
Legendary pianist/vocalist

Frank Jackson is a giant of the Bay Area jazz scene. For more than 50 years, Frank has been serving up his impeccable, elegant piano style, smooth warm vocals and unique phrasing.

Jackson's place in San Francisco jazz history was recently solidified even more visibly, as he was prominently featured in Harlem of the West, the recent best-selling book about the Fillmore Street jazz era.

As a traditional jazz musician and one of the most accomplished interpreters of the Great American Songbook, Frank Jackson is a consummate entertainer, able to fulfill practically any request. He has an astonishing knowledge of the length and breadth of the jazz repertoire, and as enthusiastic audiences know, if you’re looking for an obscure standard, Jackson is the man to hear.

Frank Jackson's jazz education accelerated during his years as the house pianist at San Francisco's legendary "Bop City." Musicians travelling up and down the West Coast would drop in at "Bop City" to jam after their gigs or just to see who was in town. Being in the house band, Frank got the chance to associate with practically everyone: Charlie "Bird" Parker, Billie Holiday, Frank Foster, Ben Webster, Ella Fitzgerald, Harold Land, Joe Comfort, Erroll Garner, Art "God" Tatum, Nat "King" Cole (who had a major influence on Frank's career), Chet Baker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, and the list goes on.

In addition to these legends, Frank has performed over the years with such jazz luminaries as Lionel Hampton, Gerald Wilson, Cal Tjader, Lester Young, Ben Webster, Ruth Brown, T-Bone Walker, Jimmy Witherspoon, Ernestine Anderson, Ernie Andrews, Harold Jones, Omar Clay, Rufis Reid, Jeff Chambers, Larry Vuckovich, Noel Jewkes, Mary Stallings and many more.

Read about Frank's most recent CD, New York After Dark, including info and reviews.

WebLinks
Artist or Label Web Site: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=15612

Official Website: http://www.jazzatpearls.com/jazz