A very expressive player, Jackson differentiated himself from other vibraphonists in his attention to variations on harmonics and rhythm. He was particularly fond of the twelve-bar blues at slow tempos. He preferred to set the vibraphone's oscillator to a low 3.3 revolutions per second (as opposed to Lionel Hampton's speed of 10 revolutions per second) for a more subtle vibrato. On occasion, Jackson would also sing and play piano professionally.
He was discovered by Dizzy Gillespie, who hired him for his sextet in 1946. He quickly acquired experience working with the most important figures in jazz of the era, including John Coltrane, Woody Herman, Howard McGhee, Thelonious Monk, and Charlie Parker. In the Gillespie big band one of his jobs was to play in a quartet with John Lewis, Percy Heath, and Kenny Clarke while the horn section took a break from the demanding high-register horn parts. This group became the Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ), which had a long independent career of 20 years until disbanding in 1974 over financial problems (though it reformed in 1981). Jackson then toured alone, performing in various small combos.
From the mid-70s to the mid-80s, Jackson recorded for Norman Granz's Pablo Records, including the classic, "Jackson, Johnson, Brown & Company" (1983), featuring Jackson with J.J. Johnson on trombone, Ray Brown on bass, backed by Tom Ranier on piano, guitarist John Collins, and drummer Roy McCurdy.
He also guested on recordings by many leading jazz, blues and soul artists, such as B.B. King, Ray Charles, etc.
His composition "Bags' Groove" ("Bags" was his nickname, from the 'bags' under his eyes from staying up late) is a jazz standard. He has been featured on the NPR radio program Jazz Profiles.
Centerpiece
Milt Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The more I feel my love increase
I'm building all my dreams around you
My happiness will never cease
But nothing's any good without you
Cause baby you're my centerpiece
I buy a house and garden somewhere
A little cottage on the outskirts
Where we can really find release
But nothing's any good without you
Cause baby you're my centerpiece
Hey baby come and go
[Repeat first and second verse]
The lyrics of Milt Jackson & John Coltrane’s song “Centerpiece” revolve around the idea of love and devotion towards a significant other. The persona emphasizes that being with their significant other strengthens and increases their love. This love becomes the foundation of the persona’s hopes and aspirations, and they aim to build their dreams around their significant other. The persona also highlights that their happiness is directly correlated to their significant other's presence in their life. Without them, nothing else has any value or meaning. They consider their significant other to be the centerpiece of their life, around which everything revolves.
The second verse deals with the persona's desire to create a perfect little world for their significant other and themselves. They depict a house and garden in the countryside where they can find true release from the world's problems. However, even this dream is incomplete without their significant other, who they address as "baby." The persona then invites their significant other to come and go as they please, reiterating the freedom and ease of their relationship.
Overall, the lyrics emphasize the importance of love, devotion, and companionship in a person's life. The persona prioritizes their significant other above all else and aims to create a life around them.
Line by Line Meaning
The more I'm with you pretty baby
Each moment spent with you, my dear
The more I feel my love increase
My love for you continually grows and intensifies
I'm building all my dreams around you
You are the foundation of all my aspirations
My happiness will never cease
Being with you brings me perpetual joy
But nothing's any good without you
Nothing in this world matters if you're not with me
Cause baby you're my centerpiece
You are the heart and soul of my life
I buy a house and garden somewhere
I'll purchase a charming home with a lovely garden
Along a country road a piece
Somewhere scenic and peaceful in the countryside
A little cottage on the outskirts
A cozy cottage on the edge of town
Where we can really find release
A place where we can relax and unwind
Hey baby come and go
Come and go with me, my love
[Repeat first and second verse]
Repeating the idea that being with you makes my love grow stronger
Lyrics © MUSIC & MEDIA INT'L, INC., BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry E. "sweets" Edison, Harry Edward Edison, Jon Hendricks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind