Yesterday, on October 1, 2003, the jazz world lost one of the sweetest and loving practitioners of his art, Chubby Jackson. Whether as a sideman or as a leader, his infectious spirit and good nature made anything he played, from Woody's Big Band to Bebop with Red Rodney, feel happy, spirited and very much alive. Playing music, for Chubby, was to have a good time and it always rubbed off on the other musicians and the listener as well.
As a kid I used to listen to remote pickups over the radio. When Woody's first and second herd were broadcasting I wouldn't move from place in my Brooklyn New York kitchen. I'd close my eyes and pretend to be there listening and watching this band perform live. There is no doubt that Chubby Jackson was their driving force, cheerleader and spark plug for that band. Chubby ignited the rhythm with his strong driving bass and occasional shouts of encouragement for the soloists.
Even thought I didn't physically meet Chubby until my moving to California in 1997, I felt close to him through his music throughout the years. Actually getting to know and speak with Chubby has been a high point in my life. Not just because of Chubby the musician, but rather the kind of warm, generous and loving person this man truly was. In the few years that I got to know Chubby and speak with him, either by phone or at the Tapatia Restaurant in Escondido, never once have I heard him speak a bad word about another musician. Evidence of this came through when I interviewed him with the help of his loving daughter, Jaijai for The Jazz Zine, Chubby Jackson Interview.
Although the last few years of Chubby's life were filled with health problems, he never let this cloud his wonderful attitude toward life. He always kept his sense of humor, and his wisdom sharp. His memory on his golden days that passed was always in focus and he would always share these with me whenever we spoke. I'm going to dearly miss our occasional chats by phone. But everything Chubby has ever shared with me will stay with me. This was his gift to me that I'll always keep in my heart and forever cherish.
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