New CD ESP 3028 Michael Gregory Jackson - Clarity


Overview

Before his career defining records on Arista/Novus in the 80s and 90s, jazz and fusion guitarist Michael Gregory Jackson recorded his debut for ESP-Disk'. The sessions, recorded in New York, Connecticut and Los Angeles in the summer of 1976 are wildly meditative and personify the seventies laid-back vibe. A trio of soft, lilting melodies set the mood; David Murray on tenor sax, Oliver Lake on flute, and the album's leader, Michael Gregory Jackson on acoustic guitar. The unfolding stream of ideas make these improvisations vital today; arhythmic strumming, an enchanted R&B vocal from Mr. Jackson, avant percussive clatter, processed electric guitar, and fiery horn lines over timpani and flute. Composer and trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, cited as a major influence by Mr. Jackson himself, is featured on the album.

Personnel

Tracks 1-7:
Leo Smith (tp, stp, flh, Indian fl -5,7)
Oliver Lake (fl, ss, as, talking d, cowbell)
David Murray (ts -1,2,4,5,7)
Michael Gregory Jackson (ac-g, vo, el-g, el-mand, bamboo fl, timp, mar, per)
NYC & Hartford, CT, August 11 & 14, 1976

Track 8:
Michael Gregory Jackson (ac-g, vo, el-g, el-mand, bamboo fl, timp, mar, per)
live in Los Angeles, CA, 1976

Track Listing

1. Clarity
2. A View Of This Life
3. Oliver Lake
4. Prelueoionti
5. Ballad
6. Clarity (4)
7. Ab Bb 1-7-3‹
8. IOMI

(ESP-Disk')