Michael Gregory (jazz guitarist)
Michael Gregory (Jackson) (born August 28, 1953 as Michael Gregory Jackson in New Haven, Connecticut) is an American jazz, blues and rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, composer, poet, educator and producer.[1] As of 2013 Michael returned to using his fullname, Michael Gregory Jackson when performing.
Michael Gregory (Jackson) began playing guitar at the age of seven. Early in his career, he was known as Michael Gregory Jackson, (in 2013 he returned using his full name) Michael Gregory Jackson and worked with avant-garde jazz musicians in the late 1970s and early 1980s, such as Pheeroan akLaff, Oliver Lake, and Baikida Carroll. Michael worked with Obie Award Winner playwright, author and poet Ntozake Shange (Where The Mississippi Meets The Amazon 1977 Directed by Oz Scott), author and poet JessicaHagedorn (Mango Tango 1978 Directed by Regge Life and Where The Mississippi Meets The Amazon 1977 Directed by Oz Scott), and with author and poet Thulani Davis (Where The Mississippi Meets The Amazon 1977 Directed by Oz Scott) at The Public Theatre, NYC. Following this he began working more in the realms of rock, jazz fusion and R&B. He worked with Walter Becker of Steely Dan. In 1983 Producer Nile Rodgers produced Michael Gregory, Situation-X for Island Records, Michael's first recording using the name Michael Gregory. Since 1983, he only released records as Michael Gregory to avoid confusion with musician Michael Jackson. Michael rehearsed, playing guitar with Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger's solo band in 1987. He is currently (as of 1995) producing various projects, in a multitude of genres, working with trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith as producer and guitarist, with Oliver Lake's Trio and with his newly formed (2009) trio cLarity-<3 featuring the Danish musicians bassist Niels Praestholm and drummer Kresten Osgood. In 2013 Michael formed Michael Gregory Jackson's Clarity Quartet and Michael Gregory Jackson's Clarity TRiO. Michael's ensembles have included musical luminaries Wadada Leo Smith, Marty Ehrlich, Ra-Kalam Bob Moses, Pheeroan aKLaff, Oliver Lake, Baikida Carroll, Will Calhoun, Anthony Davis, Julius Hemphill, David Murray, Mark Helias, Jerome Harris and Mark Trayle to name a few.
Discography
As leader
- "After Before" Michael Gregory Jackson Clarity Quartet (Golden, 2015)
- Clarity, Circle, Triangle, Square (ESP-Disk, 1976 and 1990)
- Karmonic Suite (Improvising Artists, 1978 and 1994)
- Gifts (Arista/Novus, 1979)
- Heart and Center (Arista/Novus, 1979)
- Cowboys, Cartoons and Assorted Candy (Enja, 1982)
- Situation X (Island, 1983)
- The Way We Used to Do (Enja, 1982) 1991
- What to Where (Jive/Novus, 1987)
- Towards the Sun (Golden, 2003)
- Red (Orchard, 2000)
- High Up Where the Breezes Blow (In-Respect) 1992
- Wildflower Jazz Loft Sessions
- I Never Meta Guitar (Clean Feed, 2010) (on 1 track)
As sideman
With Art Ensemble Syd
- Liberty (EME, 2013)
With Wadada Leo Smith
- Spiritual Dimensions Cuneiform 2009
- Hearts Reflections, Cuneiform 2011
With Oliver Lake
- Zaki
- Shine
- Life Dance of Is
- Holding Together (Black Saint, 1976)
- Wild Flower Loft Jazz Sessions
With Anthony Braxton
- Wild Flower Loft Jazz Sessions
With Nona Hendryx
- The Heat
With Pheeroan aKlaff
- Fits Like a Glove Gramavision
With Amina Claudine Myers
- Amina
With Clyde Criner
- Behind the Sun Arista/Novus
With the Coyote Sisters
- Women and Other Visions
With Viva Monroe
- Rock' N' Roll Party
With Seth Glier
- Sojourn
With Paul Muldoon & RACKETT
- Resistance
With Stephen Allen
- Making the Move: Music to Poems by Paul Muldoon
References
External links
- Ron Wynn, Michael Gregory formerly known as Michael Gregory Jackson at Allmusic
- Michael Gregory at Allmusic
- Biography of Michael Gregory at sonicbids.com
- Michael Gregory at MySpace Music
- Biography of Michael Gregory (Jackson) at allaboutjazz.com
- Biography of Michael Gregory (Michael Gregory Jackson) at the Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians