Renowned singer, composer and arranger Alexandra Jackson will perform at the 36th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival (main stage) at 5 p.m., on Sunday, May 26, at Piedmont Park.
Jackson is an Atlanta native and youngest daughter of Atlanta’s first African-American mayor, Maynard Jackson, who founded the Atlanta Jazz Festival 36 years ago. She will perform her new album “From The Start,” a jazz compilation of innovative tunes that represent the songstress’s understanding of traditional jazz music.
An in-demand vocalist, she has performed at various international and national jazz festivals, including the acclaimed Montreux Jazz Festival. She has worked with musical pioneers such as Wynton Marsalis at Lincoln Center for the Essentially Ellington concert series and recorded with guitarist Al McKay from Earth, Wind & Fire.
Jackson was inspired to expand her musical journey through the release of her new Jazz EP “From The Start.” Considered a traditional and contemporary studio compilation, this album gives music enthusiasts the opportunity to experience Jackson’s vocal range through a diverse mixture of harmonic tones.
An ode to Sarah Vaughan, Jackson’s leading single “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was,” captures rhythmic melodies, up-tempo pulsations and her signature syncopated tones.
Now living in Los Angeles, Jackson was able to return to her roots in Atlanta to record the album, “From The Start,” which is a sentimental album for her.
“Jazz became a large part of my life when I was younger. So I chose to return to my high school (The Lovett School) to record my first jazz album,” she says. “I thought it would be fitting for this project to be around the people who helped influence me musically at a young age; and then to record it with some of the incredible musicians with whom I had played for years.”
The album features musicians Geoffrey Haydon on piano, Moffett Morris on bass, Dave Frackenpohl on guitar, and Joel Morris on drums.
This year the Atlanta Jazz Festival will focus on “Generation Next,” highlighting the next era of future jazz stars, including Jackson, Meshell Ndegeocello, Jose James, Jacob Deaton, Julie Dexter, Gretchen Parlato, and many others.
Jackson will grace the stage with fellow musicians from Atlanta, as part of her quartet including Che Marshall on drums, Craig Shaw on bass and Gary Motley on piano. For more information about Jackson’s performance at the Atlanta Jazz Festival, visit www.atlantafestivals.com.