Paul Jackson -

Paul Jackson (March 28, 1947 — March 18, 2021) was an American jazz-funk bassist from Oakland, best known for his work with Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters. He also recorded the 1978 solo album Black Octopus.

Background

Paul Jerome Jackson Jr. was born March 28, 1947, in Oakland, California. Jackson started double-bass lessons at age nine and also played piano and bassoon. At fourteen, he performed with the Oakland Symphony Orchestra. He subsequently studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Jackson made his earliest known recordings with guitarist Eddie Fisher in St. Louis. He played bass on The Third Cup, recorded at Saico Studio in February 1969, and returned for Eddie Fisher & the Next One Hundred Years in 1970. Back in the Bay Area, Jackson entered the Latin-rock circuit around percussionists Coke and Pete Escovedo. Coke recruited him for Azteca, the large San Francisco ensemble formed in early 1972. Jackson played on Azteca and Pyramid of the Moon, with co-writing credits on “Mazatlán” and “Whatcha Gonna Do” for the second album.

Herbie Hancock reorganized his working band in 1973 and hired Jackson on electric bass. The new quintet played low-profile dates around Los Angeles and the Bay Area that summer, then recorded Head Hunters for Columbia. Jackson received a co-writing credit on “Chameleon.” He remained with Hancock on Thrust and Man-Child, followed by appearances on Flood and Secrets.

Jackson also continued with the Hancock rhythm unit as the autonomous Headhunters. The group recorded Survival of the Fittest for Arista in 1975 and Straight from the Gate two years afterward. Jackson sang lead on “God Make Me Funky” and shared the composition credit with the other Headhunters. A Japanese tour with Hancock preceded Jackson’s first album under his own name.