Franz Jackson

by Scott YanowOne of the last survivors of the pre-swing era, Franz Jackson (a fine tenorman and clarinetist) remained active into the next century, recording for Parkwood with Marcus Belgrave, and enjoying the release of a 2000 performance on Delmark. He worked in the Chicago area starting in 1926, including with Albert Ammons, Carroll Dickerson (1932 and 1934-1936), Jimmie Noone (1934), Roy Eldridge (1937), and Fletcher Hendersons orchestra (1937-1938). Jackson traveled to New York with Eldridge (1938-1939), played in California with Earl Hines orchestra (1940-1941), and then worked with Fats Waller (1941) and the Cootie Williams big band (1942). Stints with Frankie Newton (1942-1943) and Wilbur DeParis (1944-1945) followed, and he played in the Pacific on several USO tours. In the mid-50s, after returning to Chicago, Franz Jackson formed his Original Jazz All Stars, a group that lasted for around 20 years. He recorded for Riverside in 1961, Delmark, and for his own label Pinnacle; Jackson also recorded with Art Hodes in 1974. He continued playing regularly in the Chicago area during the next several decades.