Brian Jackson is a musician, vocalist, composer and producer from the United States, with roots in Rochester, New York. He works in jazz and soul, and is also associated with flute and instrumental music.

Career

Jackson begins writing and recording with Gil Scott-Heron in 1970, after meeting him while both are at Lincoln University. Their partnership combines Jackson’s music with Scott-Heron’s poetry and produces a run of politically charged and socially conscious albums that become closely associated with the 1970s. These records include Pieces of a Man, Free Will, Winter in America, First Minute of a New Day, From South Africa to South Carolina, Bridges, Secrets and 1980.

The collaboration also yields tracks such as “The Bottle”, “Johannesburg”, “It’s Your World”, “Angel Dust”, “Willing” and “95 South (All the Places We’ve Been)”. These songs remain closely associated with conscious music and later feed into the development of neo-soul.

Later work

After working with Scott-Heron, Jackson continues in the 1980s with collaborations including Kool and the Gang, Phyllis Hyman, George Benson, Gwen Guthrie and Roy Ayers. In 1988, he co-produces Will Downing’s self-titled debut album, which becomes UK gold-selling.

He releases his first solo album, gotta play, in the 21st century, after previously being known mainly for his work with Scott-Heron. He describes the album as a collection shaped by new friendships, fresh perspective and a new stage in life.

Collaborations and ongoing work

Jackson continues to work with younger artists and describes his role as passing on what he has learned. He collaborates with Ladybug Mecca of Digable Planets, Radio Free Brooklyn’s Pete Miser, and Masauko of South Africa’s Blk Sonshine, as well as other artists internationally, as part of a continuing neo-soul approach.

He is widely regarded as one of the early architects of neo-soul, and his work remains influential for later generations of artists interested in conscious, rhythmically driven music.