Remembering Anthony Jackson
June 23, 1952 – October 19, 2025
A tribute to the influential electric bassist and inventor
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Bassist Anthony Jackson passed away on Oct. 19, 2025 at the age of 73.
He was born on June 23, 1952 in New York City and early on played piano and guitar before switching permanently to electric bass.
Jackson first gained recognition as a session musician on r&b dates and for his work in the Billy Paul band of the early 1970s; he would appear on a countless number of recordings.
A versatile electric bassist, Jackson recorded with such jazz notables as Buddy Rich (1974), Lionel Hampton, Chick Corea (The Leprechaun), Michael Urbaniak, Al DiMeola, Grover Washington Jr, Stephane Grappelli, John Scofield, Michel Camilo, Michel Petrucciani, Steve Khan, Bireli Lagrene, Dave Liebman, and Hiromi.
Health problems forced his retirement in 2017.
Anthony Jackson also made a strong impact by inventing the six-string contrabass guitar.
From the classic 2000 film Calle 54, Anthony Jackson performs with pianist Michel Camilo and drummer Horacio (El Negro) Hernandez.
-Scott Yanow
Click here if you have a memory of this artist that you’d like to share
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