It has been three years since composer/pianist/educator Darrell Grant
visited the Café at Artichoke Music. He’s so busy and prolific it seems like we could have him on once a month.
Of course he is still a tenured professor of Jazz Studies and Associate Director of the School of Music at Portland State University, but I also like to think of him in the true New Orleans use of the word “professor,” when it comes to pianists, one of great respect.
He released a new album this week called Our Mr. Jackson, honoring not only the Modern Jazz Quartet and Milt Jackson but beloved Portland drummer, the late Carlton Jackson who plays on the album along with Marcus Shelby and Mike Horsfall.
The album release concert takes place at Hallowed Halls on Thursday October 12.
It’s a beautiful album. Let’s find out all about it.
Listen to Versailles from the album at the end of our conversation.

Darrell Grant: A new album for and with Modern Jazz Quartet and Carlton Jackson CC#398

We’re not at the Café at Artichoke Music this time. We’re in Seaside Oregon at the Seaside Jazz and Blues Festival on March 16rh for a very special occasion .
We told composer/pianist Gordon Lee that we wanted to talk to him onstage about the set he was about to play and also his new album.
In reality we were going to present to him the first annual award in the name of the late beloved drummer and teacher Carlton Jackson for Excellence in Musical Education and Musicianship.
Gordon, a friend and long-time musical collaborator with Carlton did not know anything about it. We surprised him. It was quite a moment.

New tracks tagged #Carlton Jackson