HISTORY and BIO

Los Angeles Times longtime Jazz Music critic Don Heckman once wrote of Carlton Jackson's drumming as being "intensely musical..." 

The description perfectly describes Carlton, as he has been associated with various areas within the musical world, and continues to be a first call musician in the performance and recording industry. His flowing, incisive style & a firm respect for the inherent tradition of various music genres has made him a natural choice for local, national, and international projects. This awareness has led to his performances appearing in feature films, television and radio.

Celebrating the diverse musical community which continually engages him, Carlton brings his distinctive style to each musical endeavor. A native of Portland, Oregon, his well-documented work with contemporary jazz pianists Tom Grant and Dan Siegel, guitarists Dan Balmer and Terry Robb, Blues/R&B singers D.K.Stewart and Curtis Salgado, country-pop singer Toni Land and iconoclastic composer Jon Newton, have solidified his performer status as engaging and versatile.

A further sampling of the artists whom Carlton has worked with includes the legendary "Father of the Jazz Walking Bass" Leroy Vinnegar, as well as other greats such as Billy Eckstine, Bo Diddley, Jerry Hahn, Maryann Price, Mark Isham, Jim Pepper, Bobby Torres, James Cotton, Houston Person, actor Bruce Willis, Melissa Walker, Dianne Schuur, Larry Coryell, Danny Barnes, Bill Frisell, and Gordon Lee (in Trio & Big Band settings.)
 

In addition to jazz, blues, rock, country and other contemporary styles, Carlton has also worked under the batons of symphonic and orchestral direction by such conductors as Pete Rugolo, Norman Leyden and James DePreist (Oregon Symphony Orchestra.)

The CJ/DM Big Band, legendary Pete Rugolo conducting.

Carlton is currently a member of the teaching faculty roster with the award-winning Western Oregon University/Mel Brown Jazz Workshop. He teaches privately at Trade Up Music in Portland, and is engaged in many facets of music education at the grade, high school, and college levels.

His current musical focus is co-direction of an 18 piece big band with the talented and prolific composer/arranger Dave Mills in the Portland area. The Carlton Jackson/Dave Mills Big Band has performed at many prestigious events & venues including the PDX Waterfront Blues Festival, The Mt. Hood Festival Of Jazz, The Oregon Symphony, and The Rose Festival. In addition, the group was featured in a program by Oregon Public Broadcasting which profiled the band and it's co-leaders. 

Carlton is a multiple award winner of the Cascade Blues Association "Muddy Award", and has been honored by other prestigious musical associations, in past years.

Carlton is currently is an endorsee of Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, Aquarian Drumheads and is proud to use Allegra Drum Crafters of Oregon and their wonderful Snare Drums. He has also played Drum Workshop Drums since 1992.

For information regarding booking or instruction, please contact Carlton Jackson at cjackson@teleport.com | phone: 503.249.5754