Ronald Shannon Jackson
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Ronald Shannon Jackson (born January 12, 1940) is an American jazz drummer. He was born in Fort Worth, Texas.
Jackson is notable for his unusual approach to his instrument, which draws as much inspiration from military and parade bands as from traditional jazz drumming. He is perhaps the only person to have recorded and performed with the three prime shapers of free jazz: pianist Cecil Taylor, and saxophonists Ornette Coleman and Albert Ayler.
In 1979, he founded his own The Decoding Society, playing what has been dubbed free funk: a blend of funk rhythm and free jazz improvisation. Its recordings include Eye on You, Mandance, Street Priest, Barbeque Dog, and When Colors Play. Vernon Reid (Living Colour), and Melvin Gibbs (Harriet Tubman, Rollins Band) both started their careers with Jackson. Both played and recorded extensively with Jackson.
Together with Sonny Sharrock, Peter Brötzmann, and Bill Laswell, he was a member of the quartet Last Exit. He recorded also with Bill Frisell, James Blood Ulmer, Billy Bang, Albert Mangelsdorff, Robin Eubanks, Byard Lancaster, Eric Person, and James Carter.
His most recent tours included performances in Europe with Wadada Leo Smith, and John Lindberg on one hand, and with Melvin Gibbs, Joseph Bowie, Vernon Reid, and James Blood Ulmer on the other.
