Willis Jackson

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Willis "Gator" Jackson (born April 25, 1932 in Miami , Florida , † October 25, 1987 in New York City ) was an American jazz musician ( tenor saxophonist ).

Willis "Gator" Jackson played at the beginning of his career from 1949 in the sextet of Cootie Williams after Eddie Vinson had discovered him. In the 1950s he was involved in many rhythm and blues and jazz record sessions (from his first as Leader, Gator Tail in 1950, he had his nickname, Gator being an abbreviation for alligators ), he also toured as the leader of the backing band Singer Ruth Brown , with whom he was married, through the United States. From 1959 he recorded a number of soul jazz- style albums under his own name for the jazz label Prestige Records , mostly tenor / organ, such as the LP "Please Mr. Jackson" with Jack McDuff and Tommy Potter , later also with the guitarist Pat Martino ("Gravy", 1963). In the 1970s he still recorded for the label "Muse Records", such as the album "Bar Wars" with Pat Martino. Willis Jackson's main influences were Lester Young and Illinois Jacquet . Willis Jackson died a week after heart surgery in October 1987 at the age of 55 in New York City.

Discographic notes

  • 1950 - Call of the Gators (Delmark) compilation of his R&B recordings from 1950
  • 1959 - Please Mr Jackson (Prestige / OJC) Jack McDuff, Tommy Potter, Alvin Johnson, Bill Jennings
  • 1960 - Legends of Acid Jazz (Prestige, 1959/60) Compilation of the LPs “Blue Gattor” and “Cookin 'Sherry” with McDuff, Jennings, Wendell Marshall , Milt Hinton
  • 1962 - Legends of Acid Jazz - Keep On A Blowin ' (Prestige, 1960/62) Compilation of the LPs "Keep On A Blowin'" and "Thunderbird" with McDuff, Freddie Roach , Potter, Marshall, Hinton Ray Barretto
  • Gravy (Prestige) Compilation of the LPs "Grease 'n' Gravy" and "The Good Life", with Pat Martino, Leonard Gaskin
  • Nuther'n Like Thuther'n (Prestige, 1963/64) Compilation of the LPs "More Gravy" and "Boss Shoutin '" with Martino, Sam Jones , George Tucker
  • Willis Jackson with Pat Martino (Prestige, 1964)

literature

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personal data
SURNAME Jackson, Willis
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Jackson, Gator (nickname)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz musician (tenor saxophonist)
DATE OF BIRTH April 25, 1932
PLACE OF BIRTH Miami , Florida
DATE OF DEATH October 25, 1987
Place of death New York City