Version 3 - May 17, 1998
This is a chronological discography of the drummer/composer Ronald Shannon Jackson, sometimes also refered to as simply Shannon Jackson. All of the following recordings have been in print at some point but many may currently be out of print; check your favorite store, record guide or website for more information.
If you have additions, corrections, comments or questions contact Steve Smith (ssmith36@sprynet.com). Please fill in any question marks ("????") that you can. I'll add a short biography sometime soon. (No, really.....!)
Three Ronald Shannon Jackson appearances have been brought to my attention recently, about which I have no details:
The format of the entries is as follows:
ARTIST CREDIT: RECORDING TITLE
Date and place of recording
Performer credits
Notes
For additions, corrections and advice thanks to:
1966 - ESP' Disk (USA) 1029 (LP)
198? - ESP' Disk (Germany) 1029 (CD)
Recorded February 22, 1966, New York City
Charles Tyler, alto saxophone; Charles Moffett, vibraphone; Joel Friedman,
cello; Henry Grimes, bass; Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums
1982 - Base (Italy) 3031 (LP)
1982 - DIW (Japan) 1001 (LP, CD)
???? - Magic Music (Italy) 10003 (LP), 30003 (CD) titled TRUTH
IS MARCHING IN
1994 - ESP' Disk (Germany) 3031 (CD)
???? - ESP' Disk (Germany) 3031/3032 (2 CD, packaged with below)
???? - Jazz Door (Germany) 1203 (CD) titled IN MEMORY OF ALBERT
AYLER and containing contents of both Slug's Saloon discs on one
disc
Recorded May 1, 1966 at Slug's Saloon, New York City
Albert Ayler, tenor saxophone; Donald Ayler, trumpet; Michel Sampson,
violin; Lewis Worrell, bass; Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums
1982 - Base (Italy) 3032 (LP)
1982 - DIW (Japan) 1002 (LP, CD)
???? - Magic Music (Italy) 10004 (LP), 30004 (CD) titled BLACK
REVOLT
1994 - ESP' Disk (Germany) 3032 (CD)
???? - ESP' Disk (Germany) 3031/3032 (2 CD, packaged with above)
???? - Jazz Door (Germany) 1203 (CD) titled IN MEMORY OF ALBERT
AYLER and containing contents of both Slug's Saloon discs on one
disc
Recorded May 1, 1966 at Slug's Saloon, New York City
Personnel as above
Note: According to the absolutely remarkable biography/discography
of Albert Ayler by Jeff Schwartz, the May 1, 1966 performance, despite
the clear-cut titles given, is actually a continuous medley, containing
themes from "Truth is Marching In," "Holy Ghost," "Infinite Spirit," "Bells,"
"Our Prayer," "Ghosts," "Auld Lang Syne," and three untitled themes that
do not appear on any other recordings. It should also be stated for
the record that the sound quality is generally terrible on these discs.
1975 - A&M Horizon (USA) SP722 (LP)
1988 - A&M (USA) 0807 (CD)
Recorded December 28, 1975 at Barclay Studios, Paris, except 3 recorded January 1973, Joujouka, Morocco
Ornette Coleman, alto saxophone; Bern Nix, guitar; Charlie Ellerbee,
guitar; Rudy McDaniel [Jamaaladeen Tacuma], bass; Ronald Shannon Jackson,
drums; Robert Palmer, clarinet (3 only); Master Musicians of Joujouka (3
only)
1978 - Artists House (USA) AH 9401 (LP)
1996 - Harmolodic/Verve (USA) 314 531 916-2
Recorded December 28, 1975 at Barclay Studios, Paris
Ornette Coleman, alto saxophone; Bern Nix, guitar; Charlie Ellerbee, guitar; Jamaaladeen Tacuma, bass; Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums
Note: There are discrepancies between the track timings given by the
Artists House LP and the Harmolodic CD, particularly relating to "European
Echoes" The first timing listed is Artists House, the second Harmolodic.
1978 - New World (USA) 201 (LP, CD)
Recorded April 3-6, 1978 at Columbia Recording Studios, New York City
Cecil Taylor, piano; Jimmy Lyons, alto saxophone; Raphe Mailk, trumpet;
Ramsey Ameen, violin; Sirone, bass; Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums
1979 - New World (USA) 303 (LP, CD)
Recorded April 6, 1978 at Columbia Recording Studios, New York City
Personnel as above
1979 - MPS (Germany) 0068.220 (LP)
1979 - Pausa (USA) 7053 (LP)
Recorded June 3, 1978 at Kirchzarten, Germany
Personnel as above
1980 - hat Hut (Switzerland) 3R02 (LP, track 4 only)
1981 - hat Art (Switzerland) 3011 (LP, track 4 only)
1991 - hat Art (Switzerland) 2-6090 (CD)
Recorded on June 14, 1978 at the Liederhalle, Mozartsaal, Stuttgart, Germany
Personnel as above
1980 - Rough Trade (UK) 16 (LP)
1981 - Artists House (USA) AH-14 (LP)
19?? - Base (Italy) ???? (LP)
1995 - DIW (Japan) 400 (CD)
Recorded January 17, 1980 at RCA Studios, New York City
James "Blood" Ulmer, guitar, vocal; Amin Ali, electric bass; Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums (except 4); G. Calvin Weston, drums (except 3 & 9); Olu Dara, cornet (4,5,7); Oliver Lake, alto saxophone (except 2,3,9,10); David Murray, tenor saxophone; William Patterson, rhythm guitar (4)
Note: Order and timings of tracks reflects 1995 DIW remastered reissue.
1980 - Moers Music (Germany) 01072 (LP)
199? - Moers Music (Germany) 01072 (CD)
Recorded in June 1980 at Studio 57, Dusseldorf, Germany
James "Blood" Ulmer, guitar, vocal; David Murray, tenor saxophone; Amin
Ali, electric bass; Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums
1980 - MPS (Germany) 15.572 (LP)
1993 - MPS/Polydor (Germany) 519 213-2 (CD) - part of MPS 2 CD set
THREE ORIGINALS
Recorded July 16, 1980 at the Casino Montreux, Montreux, Switzerland
Albert Mangelsdorff, trombone; Jean Francois Jenny-Clark, bass; Ronald
Shannon Jackson, drums
1980 - About Time (USA) AT-1003
Recorded in 1980 at Sound Ideas, New York City
Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums; Billy Bang, violin; Byard Lancaster,
alto and soprano saxophones; Charles Brackeen, tenor and soprano saxophones;
Vernon Reid, acoustic and electric guitar; Erasto Vasconcelos, percussion;
Melvin Gibbs, electric bass; Bern Nix, electric guitar
1981 - Moers Music (Germany) 01086 (LP)
Recorded March 23-27, 1981 at the Hit Factory, New York City
Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums; Vernon Reid, electric guitar; Lee Rozie,
soprano and tenor saxophones; Charles Brackeen, tenor and soprano saxophones;
Byard Lancaster, alto and baritone saxophones, piccolo flute; Khan Jamal,
vibraphone; Melvin Gibbs, electric bass; Bruce Johnson, electric bass
1981 - Moers Music (Germany) 01096 (LP)
19?? - Moers Music (Germany) 03002 (CD)
Recorded June 13-16, 1981 at Studio Nord, Bremen, Germany
Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums, flute on 4; Vernon Reid, electric guitar;
Zane Massey, saxophones, flute on 4; Lee Rozie, saxophones; Reverend Bruce
Johnson, electric bass; Melvin Gibbs, electric bass
1982 - Lovely Music (USA) VR-1201 (LP)
Recorded in 1982, New York City
Garrett List, trombone, piano, vocals; Byard Lancaster, alto and soprano
saxophones, flute, piccolo; Genie Sherman, vocals; Ronald Shannon Jackson,
drums, percussion, hand-drum; Youseff Yancy, trumpet, flugelhorn, theremin,
electronics
1982 - Antilles (USA) 1008 (LP)
1987 - Antilles/Polystar (Japan) J33D 20007 (CD)
1991 - Antilles (USA) 422 846 397-2 (CD)
Recorded June 1982 at Electric Lady Studios, New York City
Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums; Henry Scott, trumpet and flugelhorn (except
1, 2 & 6); Zane Massey, tenor, alto and soprano saxophones; Vernon
Reid, electric guitar, steel guitar, Roland guitar synthesizer, banjo;
Melvin Gibbs, electric bass; Reverend Bruce Johnson, electric bass; David
Gordon, trumpet (1, 2 & 6); Lee Rozie, tenor and soprano saxophones
1983 - Antilles (USA) 1015 (LP)
1992 - Antilles (USA) 422-848 817-2 (CD)
Recorded in March 1983 at Jam Recording, London, England
Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums, flute, bass flute, voice, Bertoia Sound
Sculpture; Zane Massey, tenor, alto and soprano saxophones, percussion,
voice; Henry Scott, trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion, voice; Vernon Reid,
electric guitar, steel guitar, Roland guitar synthesizer, banjo, percussion,
voice, coins; Melvin Gibbs, electric bass, electric piccolo bass, percussion,
voice; Reverend Bruce Johnson, fretless electric bass, percussion, voice
1983 - Elektra Musician (USA) 60221 (LP, CS)
1984 - Celluloid (USA) 5505 (CD)
Recorded in 1984 at OAO Studios, Brooklyn, New York
Bill Laswell, Steinberger bass, Fender fretless Precision bass, Music
Man Sting Ray bass, Fender 6 string bass, Ibanez 8 string bass; Michael
Beinhorn, Prophet 5 synthesizer, shortwave, tapes (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9);
Ronald Shannon Jackson: drums (1, 4, 5, 8, 9); George Lewis, trombone (1,
2, 5, 8); Ralph Carney, bass saxophone, contrabass clarinet (1, 2, 5);
Fred Frith, guitar, violin, Steinberger string console (4, 5, 8, 9); Daniel
Ponce, congas (2, 3, 6, 8); Martin Bisi, drums, percussion, Synare, metals
(3, 6, 7); David Moss, voice, non-metric percussion, steel drum (3, 9);
Philip Wilson, drums (2)
1984 - OAO/Celluloid (USA) 5011 (LP)
Recorded January 1984 in New York City
Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums and voice; Michael S. Harper, voice (5,
9); Onaje Allen Gumbs, solo piano (10)
1985 - Island (USA) 90247 (LP)
1987 - Island/Polystar (Japan) J33D-20010 (CD)
Recorded in 1985 at Electric Lady Studios, New York City
Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums, electronic drums, voice; Eric Person,
soprano and alto saxophones, voice; Robin Eubanks, trombone, voice; Akbar
Ali, violin, voice; Vernon Reid, electric guitars, Roland guitar synthesizer,
banjo; Onaje Allen Gumbs, Yamaha DX-7; Melvin Gibbs, electric bass, voice;
Reverend Bruce Johnson, electric bass, voice; Ann Boyle, David "D" Hershkovits,
Jim Grant, Abel Domingues, voice
1990 - Virgin Venture/Nation (UK) CDVE 47 (CD)
Recorded 1982-1985 at at Electric Lady Studio, New York City; Jam Studio, London, England; RPM Studio, New York City
Ronald Shannon Jackson, electric and acoustic drums, oboe, percussion, voice; Eric Person, alto, baritone and soprano saxophones (1); Zane Massey, alto and tenor saxophones (2-5); Lee Rozie, soprano saxophone (2); Henri Scott, trumpet (4, 5); David Gordon, trumpet (2); Robin Eubanks, trombone (1); Akbar Ali, violin (1); Vernon Reid, guitar; Onaje Allen Gumbs, Yamaha DX-7 (1); Bruce Johnson, electric bass; Melvin Gibbs, electric bass
Note: This collection is not very forthcoming with infomation about the recording dates, but judging entirely from personnel and studios, this appears to be a collection of outtakes from Man Dance, Barbeque Dog and Decode Yourself. In fact, saxophonist Eric Person has confirmed for me that "Mental Holiday" was definitely recorded during the Decode Yourself sessions. Most likely the only things recorded at RPM were Laswell's production embellishments, some time closer to 1990. Shannon's band would be significantly different on his next release, thus leading to the conclusion that this material was already recorded well before Taboo's 1990 release date.
One further clue comes from the inner sleeve of the Live
at the Caravan of Dreams LP recorded in 1986 with Twins Seven Seven
for Caravan of Dreams: it lists a recording called Mental Holiday
as "soon to be released," but no such record ever appeared. Presumably
the suite "Mental Holiday" on this album was recorded for this abandoned
album.
1986 - Caravan of Dreams (USA) 85005 (LP)
Recorded in 1986 at the Caravan of Dreams, Ft. Worth, Texas
Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums; Eric Person, alto and soprano saxophones;
Akbar Ali, violin and barriphone; Cary DeNigris, guitar; Reginal Washington,
electric bass; Twins Seven Seven, singer and backing vocalists, percussion,
talking drum (1, 3)
1990 - ITM (Germany) 1446 (CD)
Recorded February 12, 1986 in Cologne, Germany
Peter Brotzmann, tenor saxophone; Sonny Sharrock, guitar; Bill Laswell,
6 string bass; Shannon Jackson, drums, voice
1986 - Enemy (USA) 101 (LP, CD)
Recorded February 16, 1986 in Paris, France
Peter Brotzmann, saxophones; Sonny Sharrock, guitar; Bill Laswell, 6
string bass; Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums, voice
1987 - Caravan of Dreams (USA) 009 (LP, CD)
Recorded September 12-13, 1986 at Caravan of Dreams, Ft. Worth, Texas
Shannon Jackson, drums; Eric Person, soprano and alto saxophones; Zane
Massey, tenor and soprano saxophones; John Moody, bass; Cary DeNigris,
guitar; Masujaa, guitar
1987 - Enemy (USA) 103 (LP,CD)
Recorded October 2, 1986 at Parco Space Part 3 and * October 5, 1986 at Pit-Inn, Tokyo, Japan
Peter Brotzmann, tenor and baritone saxophones, tarogato; Sonny Sharrock,
guitar; Bill Laswell, 6 string bass; Shannon Jackson, drums, voice; Akira
Sakata, alto saxophone, B-flat clarinet; *Herbie Hancock, piano
1987 - Antilles "New Directions" (USA) 90627 (LP, CS, CD)
Recorded January 8-10, 1987 at Radio City Recording Studio, New York City
Bill Frisell, electric guitar; Melvin Gibbs, electric bass; Ronald Shannon
Jackson, drums, voice
1988 - Caravan of Dreams (USA) 012 (LP, CD)
Recorded April 9-11, 1987 at January Sound, Dallas, Texas
Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums; Masujaa (Hugh Riley), guitar; Cary DeNigris,
guitar; Zane Massey, soprano and tenor saxophones; Eric Person, soprano
and alto saxophones, flute; John Moody, bass
1987 - Elektra Nonesuch (USA) 79172 (LP, CD)
Recorded June 1987 at Radio City Recording Studios, New York City
Albert Collins, guitar, voice; Robert Quine, guitar; Big John Patton,
organ; Wayne Horvitz, piano, keyboards; Melvin Gibbs, bass; Ronald Shannon
Jackson, drums; Bobby Previte, drums, percussion
1987 - Terrapin/CBS Sony (Japan) 32DH 824 (CD)
Recorded July 27, 1987 at Inkstick Shibaura Factory, Tokyo, Japan
Bill Laswell, bass; Shankar, violin, voice; Ronald Shannon Jackson,
drums, voice; Aiyb Dieng, percussion; Samulnori Percussion Group (Kim Duk-Soo,
Lee Kwang-Soo, Choi Jong-Sil, Kang Min-Seok)
1988 - Enemy (Japan) 106 (LP)
1993 - Celluloid (USA) 5017 (CD)
Recorded July-August 1987 in Osaka, Tokyo and Fukuoka, Japan
Personnel as above
1988 - Enemy/Celluloid (USA) 8140 (LP)
1993 - Celluloid (USA) 6140 (CD)
1995 - Enemy (USA) 105 (CD) titled FROM THE BOARD
Recorded in 1987 in Copenhagen, Denmark; at the North Sea Festival, Den Haag; and in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Peter Brotzmann, alto, tenor and bass saxophones; Sonny Sharrock, guitar;
Bill Laswell, 6 string bass; Shannon Jackson, drums, voice
1987 - Blue Note (USA) 7 46755 (LP, CS, CD)
Recorded in 1987 at the Power Station, Quadrosonic and RPM Studios, New York City
James "Blood" Ulmer, guitar, vocal; Bill Laswell, 4, 6 & 8 string
basses; Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums; Nicky Skopelitis, 12 string guitar,
banjo; Bernard, Fred and Muriel Fowler, backing vocals
1990 - Virgin Venture/Nation (UK) CDVE 46 (CD)
Recorded on December 2-3, 1987 at Sorcerer Sound, New York City
Akira Sakata, alto saxophone; B-flat clarinet, piano, vocalism; Bill
Laswell, prepared fretless bass, 4, 6 & 8 string basses, sitar bass,
violin, ectar; Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums, percussion, scheollmie (schalmei)
1988 - DIW (Japan) 825 (LP, CD)
Recorded February 3-4, 1988 at A&R Recording, New York City
James "Blood" Ulmer, guitar; David Murray, tenor saxophone; Jamaaladeen
Tacuma, bass; Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums
1988 - Virgin Venture (USA) 91095 (LP, CS, CD)
Recorded in 1988 at B.C. Studio, Brooklyn, New York
Peter Brotzmann, reeds; Sonny Sharrock, guitar; Bill Laswell, bass;
Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums
1992 - Celluloid (USA) 6175 (CD)
Recorded on July 23, 29 and 31, 1988 in Nagoya, Ureshido and Tokyo, Japan
Akira Sakata, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, B-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, vocalism; Bill Laswell, basses; Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums, flute, schalmei; Kiyohiko Semba, percussion
Note: All instrumentation and its assignment to the personnel is guesswork,
particularly in in the case of Semba; no information is included with the
disc.
1989 - Jazz File (Italy?) 1006 (CD)
Recorded November 11, 1988 in Zurich, Switzerland
James "Blood" Ulmer, guitar, vocal; Bill Laswell, basses; Ronald Shannon
Jackson, drums
1990 - Axiom (USA) 539 872 (CD)
Recorded in November 1988 at Sorcerer Sound, Krypton Studios and Platinum Island, New York City
Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums; Jef Lee Johson, electric guitar; Stevie Salas, electric guitar, flute; Jack DeSalvo, electric guitar; Ramon Pooser, electric bass; Conrad Matthieu, electric bass
Note: The recording date is not given in the album's packaging.
However, guitarist Jack DeSalvo e-mailed to tell me that Red Warrior
was recorded in November 1988, just after a European tour. He adds,
"The best thing we recorded at those sessions was a piece where Shannon
played schalmei and I played mandolin. Unfortunately it was not included.
The live band at the time was much wilder than the record shows."
1993 - Muworks (USA) 1013 (CD)
Recorded in 1989 in Stockholm, Sweden and Munich, Germany
Peter Brotzmann, reeds; Sonny Sharrock, guitar; Bill Laswell, bass;
Shannon Jackson, drums
1990 - A&M (USA) 75021 5332 2 (CD)
1990 - Enemy (Germany) 118 (CD)
199? - Knitting Factory Works (USA) 100 (CD)
199? - Knitting Factory Works (USA) 12345 (5 CD BOX)
Recorded February 3, 1990 at the Knitting Factory, New York City
Peter Brotzmann, reeds; Sonny Sharrock, guitar; Bill Laswell, bass;
Shannon Jackson, drums
1992 - DIW (Japan) 862 (CD)
Recorded February 22-24, 1992 at Sorcerer Sound, New York City
Shannon Jackson, drums, flute, schalmei; Jef Lee Johnson, guitar; David
"Fuze" Fiuczynski, guitar; Dom Richards, bass
1993 - Plainisphare (Switzerland?) 1267-86 (CD)
Recorded in 1993 in Geneva and Pidoux, Switzerland and "at home"
Bertrand Gallaz, guitar; Thierry Simonot, bass; Herve Provini, drums
(except on 1, 8 and 10); Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums (1, 8 and 10)
1994 - Jazz a Go-Go (Poland) A-009 (CD)
Recorded in 1994 at the Akwarium Music Club, Poland
Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums, percussion, flute, schalmei; Jef Lee Johnson, guitar; James Carter, tenor saxophones; Ngolle Pokossi, bass
Note: All personnel aside from Jackson and Johnson is uncertain until
I receive verification, though this lineup seems highly likely given the
next disc listed. I have this disc, but without any liner notes or
other information. The first and second tracks on this disc are live
recordings of saxophonist Bill Evans.
1995 - DIW (Japan) 895 (CD)
Recorded December 11-12, 1994 at the Power Station, New York City
Ronald Shannon Jackson, drums, percussion, flute, boschhorn (schalmei);
Jef Lee Johnson, guitar; James Carter, soprano and tenor saxophones; Ngolle
Pokossi, bass; Martin Atangana, guitar (7)
1996 - DIW (Japan) 913 (CD)
1996 - Koch Jazz (USA) 7834 (CD)
Recorded March 19-20, 1996 at Future Audio, Dallas, Texas
Shannon Jackson, drums, sexhorn (schalmei); Jef Lee Johnson, guitar; Rachella Parks, soprano and tenor saxophones; Thomas Reese, keyboards; Ramon Pooser, bass
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