David Jackson (rock musician)

David Jackson
Saxophonist, flautist and composer David Jackson
Background information
Birth name David Nicholas George Jackson
Also known as Jaxon
Born (1947-04-15) April 15, 1947
Stamford, Lincolnshire
Origin England
Genres Progressive rock
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments Saxophone, flute
Years active 1969–present
Associated acts Van der Graaf Generator, Judge Smith, Osanna, Peter Hammill
Website jaxontonewall.com
Notable instruments
Simultaneous alto and tenor saxophones.

David Nicholas George Jackson (born 15 April 1947), nicknamed Jaxon, is an English progressive rock saxophonist, flautist, and composer. He is best known for his work with the band Van der Graaf Generator and his work in Music and Disability.[1][2] He has worked with artists including Peter Gabriel, Keith Tippett and Howard Moody.

Van der Graaf Generator

Jackson was a member for most of the 1970s and for their 2005 reunion tour. His specialty was then electric saxophones, using octave devices, wah-wah and powerful amplification.

Style

His saxophone-playing is characterized by the frequent use of double horns, playing two saxophones at the same time, a style he copied from Rahsaan Roland Kirk (whose style and technique influenced Jackson).[3] He also plays flutes and whistles. In the NME reviewer Jonathan Barnett called David Jackson "the Van Gogh of the saxophone – a renegade impressionist, dispensing distorted visions of the world outside from his private asylum window".[4]

David Jackson

Other work

In addition to his work in Van der Graaf Generator, Jackson has collaborated with other musicians (frequently with other members of Van der Graaf Generator, as on The Long Hello project). He collaborated on a number of projects with Van der Graaf Generator co-founder Judge Smith. Jackson works often with Italian rock musicians, most particularly Alex Carpani Band from Bologna and Osanna from Naples.

Jackson attended the University of St Andrews, reading psychology,[5] and University of Surrey, Roehampton, studying teaching. He has worked as a mathematics teacher for primary children in the UK.[6]

He has also worked with physically and mentally disabled people, enabling them to make music through the use of a technology known as Soundbeam.[7][8] He is also a Soundbeam trainer, system designer and builder.[9] A documentary about his work with autistic children was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1998.

Tonewall is the name for his idea. Apart from Soundbeams this also features Echo-Mirrors and Jellybean Eye. Jackson works together with groups of people of all levels of ability and even profound disability to create music together on stage, accompanied by musicians from diverse styles, such as orchestral and jazz musicians, Caribbean music, and much more.[9]

In 2012 and 2013 he toured the European and American continents with the Italian Alex Carpani Band.

Personal life

David Jackson was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire. His daughter is singer Dorie Jackson, who works with Chris Difford, Francis Dunnery and William Topley among others. His son is recording engineer Jake Jackson.[10]

Discography

Van der Graaf Generator

Solo

DVD

With Peter Hammill

With The Long Hello

With Judge Smith

Other collaborations

References

  1. ↑ Music on my mind, in SEN Magazine, 23 October 2009, accessed 14 April 2012
  2. ↑ Meldreth Music Day – Disability Charity, on Scope UK, accessed 27 Sept 2011
  3. ↑ Christopulos, J. & Smart, P. (2005) Van der Graaf Generator – The Book (Published by "Phil and Jim") ISBN 0-9551337-0-X
  4. ↑ Van der Graaf Generator – David Jackson – Jaxon, page about David Jackson on the Van der Graaf Generator fansite, accessed 15 Sept 2011
  5. ↑ Christopulos, J., and Smart, P.: "Van der Graaf Generator – The Book", page 52. Phil and Jim publishers, 2005. ISBN 0-9551337-0-X
  6. ↑ An interview with David Jackson by Mick Dillingham, accessed 13 Sept 2011
  7. ↑ Soundbeam (website in Italian), accessed 15 Sept 2011
  8. ↑ David Jackson Interview 2001, by Tim Locke, accessed 13 Sept 2011
  9. 1 2 David Jackson's WebHome, accessed 15 Sept 2011
  10. ↑ Jake Jackson, Film Scoring and Recording Engineer Video Feature and Interview at Recordproduction.com, accessed 18 Sept 2011
  11. ↑ "luup". Luup.experimedia.net. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
  12. ↑ "Mr Averell at home". Averell.nl. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
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