Bobby Jackson

  Jazzhead Great Bobby Jackson Dies at Age 57

The world and jazz community has suffered a great and sudden loss.  Although Bobby grew up in the Bronx we claim him as our own.  Bobby died suddenly at his home in Cleveland, Ohio Monday December 9th common era 2013.

Jackson leaves his wife Lisa Jean and his 10-year-old son, Xavier. The family is welcoming support through donations to the Bobby Jackson Memorial Fund. Send donations to Key Bank, 3266 Steelyard Drive, Cleveland, OH 44109.
Here is the obit from Jazz Times.

Memorial Service and Celebration

A funeral service for Bobby will be held this coming Monday, December 16 at 11AM at the University Circle United Methodist Church,  1919 E.107th Street.

Also Monday  evening the 16th  at 7PM at Nighttown, Sean Jones, the artistic director of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, on whose board Jackson served, will lead area jazz musicians in a celebration of Jackson’s life. There is no admission, donation to the Bobby Jackson Memorial Fund are be welcomed.

The family is also inviting anyone who has a story about or memory of Jackson to share it at his website, The Jazz Mind. www.thejazzmind.com/

 

Bobby Jackson muy sauve

I will also remember Bobby.  He was wonderfully funny and had a penchant for pulling his expressive face into the act. I marveled and still do at his intimate relationship with jazz greats like Percy Heath, Christian McBride, Janis Seigel of Manhattan Transfer and on and on.  These folks were more than just a day at work to Bobby.  There was nobody he couldn't call up 'out of the clear blue.'
He could make lemonade out of lemons faster than most.  He was warm, engaging, honest, straight forward and authentic and boy did he love his family.. yeah and he was the ultimate jazzhead..

Quote from Monday:" Bobby Jackson is kickin' it with Miles and Mandela this morning. " Makes me smile.

The Intersection of Jazz and Social Protest... does it happen today?

Nina Simone's Mississippi Goddam sung in protest of Medgar Evers assassination

"NPR -America's cultural cauldron produced music, which criticized segregation with candor, sadness, and humor.  Farai Chideya speaks with Robert O'Mealy. He's the Zora Neale Hurston Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University, and founder and former director of the Center for Jazz Studies."

I am wondering what Jazz musicians are doing with their music for protest in these decades year 2000 through this 2012.  I've read about musicians protesting the Grammys, the musician's union and I even read about a musician setting himself on fire as a protest but what are today's Jazz musicians doing in society?  What are Cleveland Jazz musicians doing in the wake of the Wall Street and housing debacle and Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Cleveland, Occupy the Hood and Occupy the Kitchen Sink?  Send it in and we'll blog and maybe even vlog it. 

Meanwhile in this NPR interview cuts of:Mississippi Goddamned- Nina Simone,Strange Fruit- Billy Holiday and,

here is the complete Black and Blue by Louis Armstrong from 1929 and 1965.  Interestingly enough, to me, the 1965 rendition has a lot more pathos and pain in Louie's voice, let me know if you agree.

Why Am I So Black and Blue- Louis Armstrong- New York, 22.07. 1929 (youtube)

 Why Am I So Black and Blue- Louis Armstrong - Budapest 1965 (youtube)