Cliff Jackson

Clifton Luther (Cliff) Jackson was born in Culpeper, Virginia, in 1902. In contrast to his generally laid-back demeanor (he referred to himself as "just a lazy old piano-player"), he was nonetheless nicknamed "The Menace" and "The Terror" -- and not without cause, for Jackson was an outstanding pianist.

Influenced by the piano-roll work of James P. Johnson, Jackson began cutting piano rolls and soon after formed his own band, His Crazy Kats, in Harlem. He was a participant in recording sessions with a virtual Who's Who of jazz: Pee Wee Russell, Bunny Berigan, Sidney Bechet, J.C. Higginbotham and, in his later years, Dizzy Gillespie. Stride artist Joe Turner said of Jackson, "Cliff's reputation as New York's greatest band pianist was unquestioned."

Jackson's work is represented in my stride piano library by his arrangements of "Crazy Rhythm", "Royal Garden Blues" and "Happy Birthday To Pat."