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.
Reverence
Milt Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I would never place wealth before my spirit
I fear it's unhealthy, the devil creep around you so stealthy stealthy
Til ya get bold, rush the gold an before ya time is over
Ya soul is sold, where's it gettin ya?
Competition start swearin ya, goldiggers setting you up
Do ya need a for instance?
I hafta admit admire your persistence in stickin to a game plan
That brings ya pain man
And at the end of the day nothin is gained
Listen to the voice within. I'll see ya later
Pay heed to the grand oral disseminator..
In Milt Jackson's song "Reverence," the lyrics suggest that the singer places more importance on their spiritual well-being than on accumulating wealth. The singer warns of the dangers of becoming too focused on acquiring material possessions, as this can lead to one losing sight of what really matters in life. The devil is portrayed as a devious force that preys on those who lust after gold and other symbols of success, slowly winding his way into their lives until they become consumed by their desire for riches. The singer suggests that those who fall into this trap will eventually find themselves alone and forgotten, wondering what they truly gained from all of their hard work and sacrifice.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of individualism; the singer suggests that they are "lookin after [themselves]," and are not prone to following the crowd. They urge listeners to "listen to the voice within" rather than getting swayed by the opinions of others. The final line, "Pay heed to the grand oral disseminator," could be interpreted as a call to pay attention to those who are spreading meaningful messages through music, or perhaps to Jackson himself, who was a master of his craft.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm cool. I'm lookin after myself
I am comfortable and prioritizing my own well-being
As I would never place wealth before my spirit
I value my inner peace and morals over material possessions
I fear it's unhealthy, the devil creep around you so stealthy stealthy
I am wary of the negative influences in life that can sneak up on you
Til ya get bold, rush the gold an before ya time is over
If you become too focused on wealth and success, you may miss out on other important parts of life
Ya soul is sold, where's it gettin ya?
If you compromise your morals for wealth, it ultimately leaves you empty and unfulfilled
Competition start swearin ya, goldiggers setting you up
When you become successful, there will be people who try to take advantage of you for their own gain
Soon be forgetting your existence
Those who take advantage of you will eventually move on to their next target
Do ya need a for instance?
Do you need an example to believe me?
I hafta admit admire your persistence in stickin to a game plan
I can appreciate your determination to stick to a strategy, even if it may not be the best for you
That brings ya pain man
However, that stubbornness can lead to personal suffering
And at the end of the day nothin is gained
Ultimately, staying true to a harmful game plan will result in no real success or satisfaction
Listen to the voice within. I'll see ya later
Trust your own intuition and inner wisdom. Goodbye for now
Pay heed to the grand oral disseminator..
Take note of those who share valuable knowledge and wisdom with you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEAN FRANK COCHOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
diegodobini2
Milt J̲a̲c̲k̲s̲o̲n̲ – R̲e̲v̲e̲r̲e̲n̲c̲e̲ A̲n̲d̲ C̲o̲m̲pa̲s̲s̲i̲o̲n̲
Label:Qwest Records – WPCR-29322
Series:Jazz Masters Collection 1200 –
Format:CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, SHM-CD
Country:Japan
Released:2017
Genre:Jazz
Style:Big Band
Tracklist:
1 Reverence 0:00:01
2 Young And Foolish 0:04:22
3 Little Girl Blue 0:09:06
4 This Masquerade 0:16:04
5 J.C. 0:23:18
6 Cedar Lane 0:30:14
7 How Do You Keep The Music Playing 0:34:13
8 Newest Blues 0:39:56
9 It Never Entered My Mind 0:43:11
10 Bullet Bag 0:47:44
11 Compassion 0:51:45
12 Here's That Rainy Day 0:56:13
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Jeff Clayton (3)
Arranged By [Horn Arrangements] – John Clayton
Arranged By [String Arrangement] – John Clayton (tracks: 4)
Arranged By [String Arrangements] – Jeremy Lubbock (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 12)
Art Direction, Design – Greg Ross
Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Jack Nimitz
Bass – John Clayton
Drums – Billy Higgins
Engineer [Assistant] – Bob Loftus, Eric Rudd
Engineer, Mixed By – Al Schmitt
Executive-Producer – Quincy Jones
Illustration – Ann Field
Mastered By – Doug Sax
Photography By – Jeffrey Scales
Piano – Cedar Walton
Producer – André Fisher
Tenor Saxophone – Ronald Brown
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Gary Foster
Trombone – George Bohanon
Trumpet – Oscar Brashear
Vibraphone – Milt J̲a̲c̲k̲s̲o̲n̲
Mr Told You
The close-out of "Here's That Rainy Day" is utterly beautiful.
Lorraine Vaughton
At last! I`ve been waiting for someone with the wit to put this incredible compilation of music on Youtube...especially my favourite `How do you keep the music playing`. First time I heard it (years ago) I just KNEW it would come back to haunt me...it never fails...
Cheri
All I can respond to this is with awe. Reverence and Compassion. THANK YOU. JULY 29, 20022❤️🔥❤️🐻🌹❤️
Stephen Legoabe
Cool music. The great Milt Jackson
Alfreda Darden
Fabulous
JOE SKOSANA
Can you please try to get hold of live videos. We prefer to see these 'Magicians' in real action.
Pat Lenza
Bags