Certified Jazz Guitar™ Volume One was recorded on three
dates in March and April, 2000 at "Rose's Lounge" a private club in
Middletown, NY. The recording engineer was Paul Hirsch. The performance was recorded
live to a two-track digital minidisk recorder. There were no punch-ins or punch-outs,
no multitracking or tweaking. "What you hear on the CD is what we played,"
Mike says.
MIKE
SAYS THANKS
Special thanks to drummer Ernie Colon. Without his gentle prodding these performances
would never have been recorded. Ernie's sympathetic yet "ass kicking"
drums were just what the date needed too. Thanks also to bassist Harvie Swartz
who is strong enough to anchor the QE2. Thanks to Lou Scott who stepped in on
short notice to sub for Harvie on one date; his playing on "Back at the Chicken
Shack" (the first tune on the CD) and "Recordame" was outstanding.
And thanks to Bertha Hope for her thoughtful, layed-back "New York"
sound. Last but not least, thanks to Paul Hirsch for allowing us to grace his
establishment and for handling the recording end. - MJ
Mike Jackson - Guitar
Ernie Colon - Drums
Bertha Hope - Piano
Harvie Swartz - Bass
Lou Scott - Bass*
CERTIFIED JAZZ GUITAR™ VOLUME ONE
The CD
contains eleven tunes including two Mike Jackson originals:
"This
Smoke is Killin' Me"© Download mp3
Mike says this tune is a tribute to every little smoke-filled joint he ever played.
"It is also a special tribute to those loyal fans who stand next to the bandstand
and put cigarettes and drinks on top of your amp and then want to carry on a conversation
with you while you're trying to take a solo," he quips. The tune itself is
also smokin'; it's based on the chord changes of a Miles Davis' jazz standard
"So What."
"Calypso
Trane"© Download mp3
Mike says this tune is an attempt to combine the Grant Green groove with John
Coltrane's chord changes. The tune - consisting of chords moving in minor thirds
and fourths in the bridge - creates a backdrop for some lively and creative solos
by Mike and Bertha hope.
The remaining
nine tunes are jazz classics all rendered in a fresh new way by this swinging
quartet. The group cooks on every cut.
"Back
at the Chicken Shack"*
"I Can't Get Started"
"Cherokee"
"In Your Own Sweet Way"
"Everything Happens to Me"
"Recordame"*
"High Fly"
"The Way You Look Tonight"
"SKJ"
CERTIFIED JAZZ GUITAR™ VOLUME TWO
Certified Jazz Guitar™ Volume Two was recorded in August, 2009 at Urban Studios in Maywood, New Jersey. This CD was made at the request of many fans who wanted a recording of the some well-known "light jazz" and "pop" tunes that they know and love. This CD is also an experiment in the use of electronic music - apart from the guitar parts played by me, all other musical accompaniment on Volume Two was generated electronically. Thanks to Todd Urban for his contribution to this project as recording engineer and his assistance with sampling, formatting midi files, and other electronic wizardry. Thanks to Tom Venable for mastering the final product.
The CD includes 11 tunes including two original tunes by Mike Jackson.
"The Days of Wine and Roses"
"Samba One"© Download mp3
"Round Midnight"
"Aquanetta's Dream"© Download mp3
"The Shadow of Your Smile"
"Stand by Me"
"The Girl from Ipanema"
"Green Onions"
"Little Sunflower"
"Put It Where You Want It"
"Blue Bossa"
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