Milt Jackson

Milt Jackson was one of the all-time jazz greats on the vibraphone.  First, he was an innovator bringing this esoteric instrument to the bebop revolution of Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker.  Additionally, he possessed superb musicality that added to the popularity of the instrument.  Beyond utilizing the percussion role of the vibes, Jackson played with fleet, free flowing lines suitable to modern jazz.  He was a master of a soulful, piercing, driving sound.  While at slower tempos, with notes elaborated and sustained for romantic effect, he would play ballads or the blues that communicated with the listener to the core.

Milt Jackson was born in Detroit on January 1, 1923.  His father was an auto worker but also a musician who played several instruments.  The family was raised in the gospel church where they all  played music.  Young Milt exhibited proficient musical talent at an early age, and he played several instruments, including piano, guitar and drums, and also sang.  He attended Miller High School which had an excellent music department [in a de facto segregated African American school in Depression era America], and he played these, and other instruments, in their bands.  When he was still a teenager, his father bought him a set of vibes. Jackson served in the Armed Forces during World War II, then upon discharge to civilian life in 1944 he began a career as a professional musician in earnest, focusing on the vibes.

Jackson drew the attention of Dizzy Gillespie and moved to New York in the fall of 1945 to join the trumpeter’s band.  Significantly he joined Dizzy and Charlie Parker on their seminal tour of the West Coast in December 1945.

Nicknamed “Bags”, Jackson was ubiquitous during the founding years of bebop, playing not only with Diz, frequently, and Bird, but also most of the other young turks.  Bags also had a notable and sympathetic association with Thelonious Monk and appears on many of his early recordings.

By the early 1950's Jackson was a star.   He served in many small combos, performed frequently, and recorded numerous memorable and swinging recordings as a leader.  Additionally, in small groups he teamed up with pianist John Lewis and bassist Percy Heath and drummers first Kenny Clarke, and then Connie Kay, to produce a refined chamber jazz sound in a quartet setting.  This eventually became a formal group, the “Modern Jazz Quartet” (MJQ), which transcended musical barriers.  With their touch of elegance, the MJQ became an international attraction which toured and performed regularly into the 1970's.

Thereafter, Bags renewed pursuit of an individual career, made notable records for CTI and Pablo Records, led his own touring groups often backed by the band of Mike LeDonne, Bob Cranshaw, and Mickey Roker, and reunion appearances with the MJQ.

Jackson died of cancer in October 1999 at the age of 76.

 

originally broadcast January 15, 2023

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