Background
His mother, a classical pianist, taught him piano and how to read music at the age of four. His father, bass player Ali Jackson, Senior, taught him music theory and gave him drum lessons from rudiment books
His mother, a classical pianist, taught him piano and how to read music at the age of four. His father, bass player Ali Jackson, Senior, taught him music theory and gave him drum lessons from rudiment books
Jackson attended Detroit"s prestigious Cass Technical High School. He then attended The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, earning a Bachelor in composition.
Jackson has performed and recorded with musicians including Wynton Marsalis, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, James Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Harry Connick Junior., KRS-1, Marcus Roberts, Cyrus Chestnut, Joshua Redman, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Diana Krall. He is currently the drummer for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. With Wynton Marsalis Two Men with the Blues featuring Willie Nelson Plane, Trane and a Chicken Wing From the Plantation to the Penitentiary With Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra Congo Square Orchestra and O"Dada With Joshua Redman Back East.
