Benjamin Clarence Jackson

b. April 22nd, 1919 in Cleveland (Ohio)

d. July 31st, 1989 in Cleveland (Ohio)

CHRONOLOGICAL 1945 - 1947

Classics

August 1945 - August 1947

CHRONOLOGICAL 1947 - 1950

Classics

September 1947 - September 1950

CHRONOLOGICAL 1950 - 1953

Classics

September 1950 - May 1953

Il joue d'abord du violon mais s'oriente rapidement vers le saxophone. Son premier groupe - formé alors qu'il est encore étudiant - se nomme The Harlem Hotshots. Recruté par Lucky Millinder en 1943, il est affublé du surnom de "Bull Moose". Grâce à Millinder, il signe un contrat d'enregistrement avec Syd Nathan, dirigeant du label Queen et King. Il forme alors son propre groupe, The Buffalo Bearcats. Dans un style Jump-Blues accrocheur, il compose une suite de morceaux entrainants et excitants : "Bull Moose Jackson blues", "Honeydripper", "Hold him Joe", "Shorty's got to go", "Badman Jackson that's me" dans lesquels brille le son chaud et épais de son saxophone. Il donnera aussi "I know who threw the whiskey in the well", une réponse au célèbre "Who threw the whiskey in the well" de Wynonie Harris. Cette période est particulièrement riche et dense avec le puissant "Jammin' and jumpin'" (et l'immense solo de batterie de David "Panama" Francis) puis "Moose on the loose". Enfin, "I love you yes I do" - un titre dans lequel "Bull Moose" Jackson se fait crooner - reste son plus gros succès bien qu'il soit beaucoup moins convaincants que ses précédents morceaux. D'ailleurs, il a produit beaucoup de pièces romantiques qui, aujourd'hui, paraissent vraiment vieillies. En parrallèle, d'excellents titres voient le jour : "Fare thee well Deacon Jones", "Moosey", "Why don't you haul off and love me", "Big fat mamas are back in style again" (une reprise du musicien country Wayne Ramey), "Cherokee boogie", "Nosey Joe", "Bootsie", "Big ten inch record" (repris plus tard par le groupe de hard-rock Aerosmith), "I wanna hug ya kiss ya squeeze ya". La trilogie CD produite par Classics reprend l'intégralité de sa production jusqu'en 1953.

He first played the violin but quickly turned to the saxophone. His first band - formed while still a student - is The Harlem Hotshots. Recruited by Lucky Millinder in 1943, he is nicknamed "Bull Moose". Thanks to Millinder, he signed a recording contract with Syd Nathan, the Queen and King labels manager. He then forms his own band, The Buffalo Bearcats. In a catchy Jump-Blues style, he composes a series of engaging and exciting tracks : "Bull Moose Jackson blues", "Honeydripper", "Hold him Joe", "Shorty's got to go", "Badman Jackson that's me" in which shines the warm and thick sound of his saxophone. He will also give "I know who threw the whiskey in the well", an answer to Wynonie Harris' famous "Who threw the whiskey in the well". This period is particularly rich and dense with the powerful "Jammin' and jumpin'" (and the impressive drum solo of David "Panama" Francis) then "Moose on the loose". Finally, "I love you yes I do" - a title in which "Bull Moose" Jackson became a crooner - remains his bigger success though it is much less convincing than his previous tracks. Moreover, he produced many romantic pieces which, today, really appear old-fashioned. In the meantime, some excellent titles saw the light of the day : "Fare thee well Deacon Jones", "Moosey", "Why don't you haul off and love me", "Big fat mamas are back in style again" (A cover of country musician Wayne Ramey), "Cherokee boogie", "Nosey Joe", "Bootsie", "Big ten inch record" (later covered by the hard-rock band Aerosmith), "I wanna hug ya kiss ya squeeze ya". The CD trilogy produced by Classics compiles the entirety of his production until 1953.

CHESS RHYTHM & ROLL

MCA - Chess

December 1955

En 1955, le label King ne renouvelle pas son contrat et "Bull Moose" Jackson arrive chez Chess. Chess souhaite l'enregistrer sur sa nouvelle marque Marterry. Malheureusement, Marterry ne verra pas jamais le jour (deviendra rapidement Argo) et la collaboration ne durera pas longtemps. Un seul titre a finalement émergé de cette collaboration, le puissant "Heavyweight baby". Après Chess, une séance pour Encino (l'entrainant "Watch my signals") puis Warwick et 7 Arts (pour une reprise de "I love you yes I do"). Au milieu des années 50, fatigué des tournées, il se retire et trouve un emploi dans une entreprise de restauration. Il ne joue plus alors que pour son propre plaisir ou lors de fêtes privées.

In 1955, the King label did not renew his contract and "Bull Moose" Jackson arrived at Chess. Chess wants to record him on his new Marterry brand. Unfortunately, Marterry will never see the day (will soon become Argo) and the collaboration will not last long. A single title has finally emerged from this collaboration, the powerful "Heavyweight baby". After Chess, a session for Encino (the stirring "Watch my signals") then Warwick and 7 Arts (for a cover of "I love you yes I do"). In the mid-1950's, tired of touring, he retired and found a job in a catering business. He then plays only for his own pleasure or at private parties.

MOOSEMANIA

Bogus

November 1983 - 1985

THE FINAL RECORDINGS

Bogus

November 1983 - 1986

Sous l'impulsion de Carl Grefenstette qui le convainc de retourner à la musique, "Bull Moose" Jackson reprend du service avec un certain succès. Ce come-back réussi lui permettra d'ailleurs de graver un disque complet, "Moosemania". Accompagné des Flashcats, il enregistre un album dans lequel il fait revivre son West Coast R&B. Bien qu'il ne joue pas de son saxophone ici, sa présence au chant réhausse parfaitement l'excellence des musiciens. On remarque notamment "Time bomb", "Hey Moose hey miss" et "Get off the table Mable". Il y a deux morceaux captés sur une scène de Pittsburgh. La version CD est enrichie de deux pistes supplémentaires ("Vodka & lime"). Mais ce retour sera finalement de courte durée car on lui diagnostique un cancer du poumon en 1987. Il est malheureusement de se retirer définitivement au printemps 1988 et décède quelques mois plus tard.

Under the impulse of Carl Grefenstette who convinces him to return to music, "Bull Moose" Jackson resumes music with some success. This successful comeback will allow him to cut a complete disc, "Moosemania". Accompanied by the Flashcats, he recorded an album in which he revived his West Coast R&B. Although he does not play his saxophone here, his singing presence perfectly enhances the excellence of the musicians. We note in particular "Time bomb", "Hey Moose hey miss" and "Get off the table Mable". There are two tracks captured on a Pittsburgh stage. The CD version is enhanced with two additional tracks ("Vodka & lime"). But, his come-back will ultimately be short-lived because he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1987. Sadly, he retired permanently in the spring of 1988 and died a few months later.