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.
Deed I Do
Milt Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just to make my life a wonderful song
You brought sunshine just to brighten my loneliness
Is it any wonder in my happiness
I confess
Do I want you
Oh my, do I?
Do I need you?
Oh my, do I
Honey, 'deed I do
I'm glad that I'm the one who found you
That's why I'm always hangin' 'round you
Do I love you?
Oh my, do I?
Honey, 'deed I do
There are lots of others that I have met
Those you meet today, tomorrow forget
You're the only one who ever could stand the test
That's the reason why I choose you from the rest
You're the best
Do I want you
Oh my, do I?
Honey, 'deed I do
Do I need you?
Oh my, do I
Honey, 'deed I do
In "Deed I Do", Milt Jackson and Ray Charles sing about the transformative power of love. The song is a declaration of love and gratitude to a lover who has brought light to a previously gloomy life. The lyrics begin with the singer expressing their previous sadness but then praising the lover who has brought sunshine to their loneliness. The singer openly confesses that they want and need their lover, and explains that they have found something special in them that they haven't found in others they've met. The lyrics portray a sense of permanence in the love the singer feels, as they explain that their lover is the only one who could stand the test of time.
The song is a classic example of the Great American Songbook, popular in the 1920s and 1930s. The lyrics were written by Fred Rose, and the music was composed by Walter Hirsch. It was first popularized by Ben Bernie and His Orchestra in 1926. Since then, it has been covered by many artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Nat King Cole.
Line by Line Meaning
I was oh, so blue till you came along
I was sad and lonely until you came into my life.
Just to make my life a wonderful song
You made my life happier and more enjoyable.
You brought sunshine just to brighten my loneliness
You brought joy and happiness to my lonely life.
Is it any wonder in my happiness
It's no surprise that I'm happy because of you.
I confess
I admit
Do I want you
Oh my, do I?
Honey, 'deed I do
Do I desire you? Oh yes, I certainly do.
Do I need you?
Oh my, do I
Honey, 'deed I do
Do I require you? Oh yes, I certainly do.
I'm glad that I'm the one who found you
I'm happy that I met you and you became a part of my life.
That's why I'm always hangin' 'round you
That's why I'm always with you, because I value your presence.
Do I love you?
Oh my, do I?
Honey, 'deed I do
Do I love you? Oh yes, I certainly do.
There are lots of others that I have met
I have met many other people.
Those you meet today, tomorrow forget
Most people that you meet will be forgotten the next day.
You're the only one who ever could stand the test
You are the only one who has passed the test of time and proven to be special.
That's the reason why I choose you from the rest
That's why I chose you over everyone else.
You're the best
You are the best.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Fred Rose, Walter Hirsch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind