An Interview with Legendary Jazz Musician Milt Jackson completed as part of the Howard University Jazz Oral History Project. View More at library.howard....
In the early/mid-70's, when I was in architecture school at LSU, the student union committee brought the Modern Jazz Quartet to Baton Rouge to perform a concert on campus. In those days, we gained admittance to shows simply by presenting a student ID, so I went to the concert even though i didn't know a thing about them. I knew practically nothing about jazz back then. I thought I liked some of the fusion jazz artists, John Klemmer, Gato Barbieri, etc - artists whom I'm sure are talented in their own right, but whose music I now have no interest in. I still remember that concert as being to me, at the time, an overwhelming, exotic experience. Milt was playing an instrument I'd never seen anyone play, and he played it with indescribable beauty. The chemistry among the players was telepathic. After graduating from college, I moved to New Orleans, after that to New York, and then to Los Angeles. In these cities, I had the opportunity to study up close the American art form known as jazz. It became an obsession. I'd hate to think of what my life would be today if it weren't for jazz. It's not just an art form, it's a way of life. A philosophy. In retrospect, I think my journey began the night I saw the MJQ perform. I feel fortunate to have seen Milt perform at the height of his abilities. A few years past their prime days perhaps, but not far removed. RIP, Milt.
This was fantastic. The portion of the interview about 42 minutes in where Mr. Jackson conducts a mini-workshop with his instrument is pure gold. An absolute gem from the archive. Thank you for making available. Bravo.
I had the pleasure of seeing Milt play three times, and this is the first time I have heard him speak, other than to introduce tunes. His early musical upbringing was typical of many in those days, which gave him a solid background for development. Rather like comedians doing hard club work for years to hone their skills, rather than today's "instant fame". A superb talent sadly missed.
The man is awesome! One of the best nights of my life was seeing him at the Brooklyn Conservatory. The set ended only because he played so hard he broke one of his bars. He apologized. No need! Great show!!!Great eve!!!
This is so cool. 1. I've never seen an interview of Milt Jackson or heard him talk (maybe on a live recording). But this interview was done during the time my favorite album of his was made: It Don't Mean A Thing If You Can't Tap Your Foot To It; and you can hear it through his demonstrations here. Also very cool, him mentioning Cedar Walton, also on that album. Thank you for sharing this. Too cool.
i had the mistaken opinion that Bags was a grim kind of person. looks can be deceiving. as the interview goes on, Jackson loosens up and often smiles. but what he has to say is fascinating, especially his owning up ("taking the weight") for the brief breakup of the MJQ. he says many kind things about john lewis, giving him credit for his composing skills. i wish the interviewer had questioned Bags about his remarkable photographic memory. wish i had that.
Incredibly interesting! Thanks for posting this. Aside from this, the Max Roach and Philly Joe Jones interviews, are there any others yet to be released?
It's unfortunate thing that musician as great as Milt Jackson, who is one of my idols, is so hung up on race (this character flaw comes up again and again in his other interviews). I always thought the music is one place we can escape divisiveness and racial injustice. Sad!.......
Dude stop you are being very deceptive. So are you saying that Milt Jackson was not affected by racism? So apparently he is lying. Looks like you need to find some new "idols". And you have the audacity to call this a "character flaw"? White privilege at its best.
To me it's rather unfortunate, how you seem to turn a blind eye on problems that affected not only this musicians life, but a whole community in the american population. Or else, if you haven't informed yourself about the circumstances under which this musician came up, i seriously question you calling him your idol.
In the early/mid-70's, when I was in architecture school at LSU, the student union committee brought the Modern Jazz Quartet to Baton Rouge to perform a concert on campus. In those days, we gained admittance to shows simply by presenting a student ID, so I went to the concert even though i didn't know a thing about them. I knew practically nothing about jazz back then. I thought I liked some of the fusion jazz artists, John Klemmer, Gato Barbieri, etc - artists whom I'm sure are talented in their own right, but whose music I now have no interest in. I still remember that concert as being to me, at the time, an overwhelming, exotic experience. Milt was playing an instrument I'd never seen anyone play, and he played it with indescribable beauty. The chemistry among the players was telepathic. After graduating from college, I moved to New Orleans, after that to New York, and then to Los Angeles. In these cities, I had the opportunity to study up close the American art form known as jazz. It became an obsession. I'd hate to think of what my life would be today if it weren't for jazz. It's not just an art form, it's a way of life. A philosophy. In retrospect, I think my journey began the night I saw the MJQ perform. I feel fortunate to have seen Milt perform at the height of his abilities. A few years past their prime days perhaps, but not far removed. RIP, Milt.
This was fantastic. The portion of the interview about 42 minutes in where Mr. Jackson conducts a mini-workshop with his instrument is pure gold. An absolute gem from the archive. Thank you for making available. Bravo.
I had the pleasure of seeing Milt play three times, and this is the first time I have heard him speak, other than to introduce tunes. His early musical upbringing was typical of many in those days, which gave him a solid background for development. Rather like comedians doing hard club work for years to hone their skills, rather than today's "instant fame". A superb talent sadly missed.
The man is awesome! One of the best nights of my life was seeing him at the Brooklyn Conservatory. The set ended only because he played so hard he broke one of his bars. He apologized. No need! Great show!!!Great eve!!!
Great to hear Milt Jackson talk and play. He's one of the giants of jazz.
Milt Jackson. He told me that MJQ in the Modern jazz quartet stood for "Milt Jackson Quartet" then he winked.
It did originally when it was first formed.
@@jibsmokestack1 Yeah he seemed as though he was serious & I didn't question him further.
One of the gems on UA-cam.
For anyone who wants to study and understand, this is how.
Mr. Milt Jackson is such an amazing artist and human being. Fantastic and important historical interview.
An Eternal Master. Bags Lives!
Most excellent, thank you.
Thank you for this posting. This is gold.
This is so cool. 1. I've never seen an interview of Milt Jackson or heard him talk (maybe on a live recording). But this interview was done during the time my favorite album of his was made: It Don't Mean A Thing If You Can't Tap Your Foot To It; and you can hear it through his demonstrations here. Also very cool, him mentioning Cedar Walton, also on that album. Thank you for sharing this. Too cool.
Thanks for posting this 👏🏼
Milt is a genius with the vibraharp. I can feel the beautiful sounds in my soul.
I met Milt Jackson at Jazz mobile during at school 90’s.
i had the mistaken opinion that Bags was a grim kind of person. looks can be deceiving. as the interview goes on, Jackson loosens up and often smiles.
but what he has to say is fascinating, especially his owning up ("taking the weight") for the brief breakup of the MJQ. he says many kind things about john lewis,
giving him credit for his composing skills. i wish the interviewer had questioned Bags about his remarkable photographic memory. wish i had that.
Incredibly interesting! Thanks for posting this. Aside from this, the Max Roach and Philly Joe Jones interviews, are there any others yet to be released?
@@MSRCtv DEFINITELY going to check out ALL of these. This is VERY important history.
Superb!!
Yes...
Zxthanks for post.
So true. Duke Ellington set the standard.
1984
Invaluable..clones take notes!
what year was this recorded?
When was this interview done?
Does anyone know the date of this interview?
WHAT YEAR WAS THIS INTERVIEW?
It's unfortunate thing that musician as great as Milt Jackson, who is one of my idols, is so hung up on race (this character flaw comes up again and again in his other interviews). I always thought the music is one place we can escape divisiveness and racial injustice. Sad!.......
This was a great interview by a very knowledgeable interviewer. I heard nothing about race except in regard to exposure to classical music.
Dude stop you are being very deceptive. So are you saying that Milt Jackson was not affected by racism? So apparently he is lying. Looks like you need to find some new "idols". And you have the audacity to call this a "character flaw"? White privilege at its best.
saying a black person is hung up on race is like saying a drowning man is hung up on air.
james morton On point.
To me it's rather unfortunate, how you seem to turn a blind eye on problems that affected not only this musicians life, but a whole community in the american population. Or else, if you haven't informed yourself about the circumstances under which this musician came up, i seriously question you calling him your idol.