Ali Jackson - Amalgamations (2014)

The great New York-born, Detroit-raised, drummer Ali Jackson has carved a place for himself alongside the greatest musicians of his generation by being a fantastic instrumentalist and tremendous ensemble member. On his new recording, Amalgamations, Jackson looks to his influences, both musical and personal, to create a program of wide-ranging and exploratory pieces featuring a tremendous cast of his talented friends. Jackson began playing professionally at the age of eleven with his bassist father. Later Wynton Marsalis became an important part of the youngster s life as a mentor, friend and, later, employer, with whom Jackson has performed as a member of Marsalis s small ensembles and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Marsalis is present here along with the constellation of extraordinary talent that Jackson has surrounded himself with from his earliest days behind the kit. Among the other highlighted artists are trombonist Vincent Gardner, saxophonists JD Allen and Ted Nash, pianists Aaron Goldberg, Eldar Djangirov and Jonathan Batiste, and bassists Omer Avital and Carlos Henriquez. Amalgamations presents a variety of musical settings in which Jackson leads ensembles ranging in size from a duo to a quintet. The leader s design is to provide a 'musical canvas' on which his brilliant collaborators can showcase their talents. The compositions were either written or selected to allow the musicians the best setting to really let loose and express themselves.

Tracklist:

1. Ali's Got Rhythm 4:19
2. Cachita 5:29
3. Done Tol' You Fo' Five Times 5:35
4. Praise 6:26
5. Cherokee 4:28
6. Just A Closer Walk With Thee 5:20
7. I Love You 5:04 £
8. Thelonius 4:07
9. Kentucky Girl 3:13
10. Fee Fi Fo Fum 4:25
11. Inner Urge 5:42

Personnel:

Ali Jackson - drums
Wynton Marsalis - trumpet
JD Allen - tenor sax
Ted Nash - alto sax
Vincent Gardner - trombone
Jonathan Batiste - Fender Rhodes
Shedrick Mitchell - organ
Aaron Goldberg - piano
Eldar Djangirov - piano
Omer Avital - bass
Carlos Henriquez - bass
Phillip Keuhn - bass
Bobby Allende - percussion