Sunday, April 25, 2010

WILLIS "GATOR" JACKSON


Jazz tenor saxophonist Willis "Gatortail" Jackson, was born on April 25, 1932 in Miami, Florida. Jackson joined Duke Ellington alumnus Cootie William's band in 1949 as a teenager, after being discovered by Eddie Vinson.



During the fifties he participated in R&B and jazz recordings, primarily as a session musician, and also toured as leader of the backing band of singer Ruth Brown. Jackson joined Prestige Records in 1959 making a string of jazz albums which proved to an influence on the burgeoning soul jazz movement. During this era, Jack McDuff and Pat Martino became famous through association with Jackson. Jackson's main influences were Lester Young and Illinois Jacquet.


Gator passed away on October,1987.


Gator Jackson plays.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-joBISjtQ3M
Reference - Wikipédia

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