Oliver Jackson


Oliver Jackson, also known as Bops Junior, was an American jazz drummer.

Biography

Jackson was born in Detroit, where he played in the 1940s with Thad Jones, Tommy Flanagan, and Wardell Gray, and had a variety show with Eddie Locke called Bop & Locke. After working with Yusef Lateef from 1954–56 he moved to New York, where he played regularly at the Metropole in 1957–58. Following this he worked with Teddy Wilson, Charlie Shavers, Buck Clayton, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Kenny Burrell, Earl Hines and the JPJ Quartet with Budd Johnson. Later in life he played with Sy Oliver, Oscar Peterson, and George Wein's Newport All-Stars. As a bandleader, Jackson led a 1961 date in Switzerland and recorded at least five albums for Black & Blue Records between 1977 and 1984.
His brother, bassist Ali Jackson, performed with him both at the beginning and towards the end of their careers. His nephew, Ali Jackson Jr., is a jazz drummer.
Jackson died from heart failure in New York City at the age of 61.

Discography

As leader

With Ray Alexander
With Gene Ammons
With Ray Bryant
With Kenny Burrell
With Buck Clayton
With Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
With Dexter Gordon
With Johnny Hodges
With Major Holley and Slam Stewart
With Illinois Jacquet
With Etta Jones
With Paul Gonsalves
With Hank Jones
With King Curtis
With Yusef Lateef
With Gildo Mahones
With Billy Mitchell
With Joe Newman
With Billy Strayhorn
With Joe Thomas and Jay McShann