Veteran San Diego Jazzman Reintroduced to Big Horn

Saxophonist Daniel Jackson unveiled his Real Jazz Band last New Year’s Eve at Croce’s, but the real news in Jackson’s career didn’t come until last month.

It happened when fluegelhorn player Art Farmer was in town to work Elario’s, and the club’s talent coordinator asked Jackson to play a tenor sax for the dates. Just one problem. Jackson didn’t own a tenor, and hadn’t played one in more than 15 years.

Old friends Bob Magnusson and Jim Plank, who were backing Farmer on bass and drums, convinced Jackson to take a crack at it, and good things happened.

“That was a fantastic experience,” Jackson said. “It was trying, but on the last night, I was talking to Art and I said, ‘I have this

composition I’d like to try.’ He said, ‘Do the guys know it?’ I said, ‘No, they’ve never seen it before.’ He said, ‘Maybe.’ Well, for the third tune, he calls my song, ‘Perfect Peace.’ We play it, and it comes off great.

“He likes it. He says, ‘Hey, man, I’d like to have this tune in my book!’ ”

Not only will Farmer add the song to some sets as he tours, but there’s always a possibility he will record it.

Jackson was born in La Jolla in 1937 and attended San Diego High School, where he played in the band. He has served as a mentor to many local and national jazz talents, including former San Diegans Arthur Blythe and James Zollar and local reeds player Turiya.

He began his jazz career on tenor sax but later switched to piano and alto sax as he worked during the ‘60s and ‘70s with drummer Lenny McBrowne’s quintet, Ray Charles’s Orchestra, Buddy Rich’s Big Band and percussionist Willie Bobo’s large Latin ensemble.

After his recent reintroduction to the big horn, he decided he had to own one. In a pawn shop, a student of Jackson’s located a 1962 Selmer Mark VI, the same model and vintage played by John Coltrane.

“Believe me, it has the vibration. I’ve been working on it since 6 this morning,” Jackson said.

The Real Jazz Band got its name when Jackson decided to focus on the “real jazz feeling I remember from the ‘60s and ‘70s. We leave a lot of room for expression and improvisation.” The group also includes Burnett Anderson on trumpet and fluegelhorn, Dave Marr on bass and Chuck McPherson on drums.

Jackson plays a lot of new original material and thanks Ingrid Croce for giving him the chance to hone the group at her club, Croce’s.

This month, Jackson and the band will keep a high profile: tonight, at Croce’s; Friday night, at Kelly’s Pub in Old Town, and Sunday afternoon from 3 to 5, at an outdoor concert in Martin Luther King Park on Skyline Drive in San Diego, presented by the San Diego Jazz Society. Jackson also plays solo piano at Saturday and Sunday brunches and Sundays from 10 to 2 at Croce’s, and at Cafe Lautrec in La Jolla from noon to 3:30 on May 23, 25, 30 and 31.

Through several weeks on the road, San Diego saxman Hollis Gentry has apparently built a long-term musical relationship with jazz guitarist Larry Carlton. Gentry first got the call to tour with Carlton last September. His most recent gig with Carlton was an Earth Day celebration last month at Ventura State Beach. Next up is a set at Saturday’s Pacific Jazz Festival in the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa.

Although Gentry didn’t play on Carlton’s last album, he said he expects to record with the guitarist soon.

“He’s committed to producing my next album and playing on it. We’ve talked about writing together.”

Gentry’s own group, Neon, continues to work local venues while searching for a new recording deal, with help from Carlton’s management, Gentry said. Carlton records for MCA/GRP.

Next Wednesday, the group appears for one of the regular “Jazz Trax” concerts at the Catamaran Resort Hotel on Mission Bay.

Aug. 22 will be a highlight, a homecoming of sorts for Gentry, when he plays with Carlton at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay in San Diego. Gentry expects to see several fans, friends and family members in the audience.

RIFFS: Sun Ra sprained his ankle prior to last Wednesday night’s two shows at Elario’s, and was brought to the stage in a wheelchair. . . .

Jazz/blue organist Jimmy McGriff plays shows Saturday night at 8 and 10 at the Hyatt Regency in La Jolla. . . .

Trumpeter Freddie Hubbard plays Elario’s through Sunday, with shows at 8:30 and 10:30 tonight and Sunday night, and at 9, 10:30 and midnight Friday and Saturday nights. Those who can’t make it to the club can catch Hubbard on KPBS-TV’s “Club Date” program Saturday night at 11, and again Monday night at 11:30. . . .

Local jazz guitarist Peter Sprague teams up with Los Angeles flutist Steve Kujala, his frequent recording partner, for a concert this Saturday night at Words & Music bookstore in Hillcrest. Admission is $10 and reservations are recommended: 298-4011. . . .

Light jazz artist Ric Flauding plays the B St. Cafe & Bar in downtown San Diego tonight through Saturday night. . . .

Pianist Mike Wofford plays solo piano today from noon to 3:30 at Cafe Lautrec in La Jolla. . . .

Jazz, French style, can be heard this Sunday night from 7 to 8, when KSDS-FM’s (88.3) “Le Jazz Club” features the Daniel Goyone Quartet, recorded at the French club “Sceaux What”. . . .