Greig Stewart "Chubby" Jackson (October 25, 1918 – October 1, 2003)[1] was an American jazz double-bassist and band leader.

(From left:) Dave Lambert, John Simmons, Chubby Jackson, George Handy, and Dizzy Gillespie, in William P. Gottlieb's office, New York, c. July 1947
Organist Wild Bill Davis and double-bassist Chubby Jackson performing at the 1976 or 1979 North Sea Jazz Festival

Biography

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Born in New York City, Jackson began at the age of seventeen as a clarinetist, but quickly changed to bass in the mid-1930s.[2]

Jackson performed and/or recorded with Louis Armstrong, Raymond Scott, Jan Savitt, Henry Busse, Charlie Barnet, Oscar Pettiford, Charlie Ventura, Lionel Hampton, Bill Harris, Woody Herman,[1] Gerry Mulligan, Lennie Tristano and others.[2] He is perhaps best known for his spirited work both with the Herman bands, and as a leader of his own bands, big and small.[2]

In the 1950s, Jackson worked as a studio musician, freelanced, and hosted some local children's TV shows:[2] Chubby Jackson's Little Rascals,[1] which was seen weekday mornings on WABC TV Ch. 7 in New York from March 23, 1959, to July 14, 1961, and The Chubby Jackson Show, Saturday afternoons also on WABC TV Ch.7, from July 22, 1961, to August 5, 1961. Jackson hosted his last two children's TV shows for WOR TV Ch.9 in New York Space Station Nine, which was seen weekday evenings from January 1, 1962, to January 26, 1962, and he briefly served as the fourth and last emcee of WOR TV's Looney Tunes Show/The Chubby Jackson Show weekday afternoons. The last series was aired from January 12, 1962, to June 14, 1962.

In 2000, Jackson was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame. He died in Rancho Bernardo, California at the age of 84.[1]

Discography

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As leader

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  • Chubby Jackson and his All Star Band (Prestige, 1951)
  • Chubby's Back! (Argo, 1957)
  • Chubby Takes Over (Everest, 1958)
  • I'm Entitled to You!! (Argo, 1958)
  • Jazz from Then Till Now (Everest, 1958)
  • Chubby Jackson Discovers Maria Marshall (Crown, 1961)

As sideman

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  • Louis Armstrong, Town Hall Concert Plus (RCA Victor, 1957)
  • Charlie Barnet, Cherokee (Everest, 1958)
  • Bill Harris, Bill Harris Herd (Norgran, 1956)
  • Woody Herman, The Herd Rides Again (Everest, 1958)
  • Woody Herman, Hey! Heard the Herd? (Verve, 1963)
  • Wooyd Herman, The 40th Anniversary Carnegie Hall Concert (RCA Victor, 1977)
  • Jackie and Roy, Jackie and Roy (Regent, 1957)
  • Marty Napoleon, Marty Napoleon and His Music (Stere-o-Craft, 1958)
  • Flip Phillips, A Melody from the Sky (Bob Thiele, 1975)
  • Charlie Ventura, Jumping with Ventura (EmArcy, 1955)
  • Charlie Ventura, East of Suez (Regent, 1958)
  • Ben Webster, Ben and the Boys Jazz Archives, 1976)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Jazz Bassist and Scat Singer Chubby Jackson Dies in Rancho Bernardo". All About Jazz. October 7, 2003. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 221/2. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
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