Paul Jackson Jr.

Occupation(s)Instrument(s)Years active1976–presentLabelsWebsitepauljacksonjr.com

Paul Milton Jackson Jr. (born December 30, 1959)^[1] is an American fusion/urban jazz composer, arranger, producer and guitarist.

In addition to being a recording artist in his own right, Jackson is also a session player, with a career spanning multiple decades. He has supported artists ranging from Michael Jackson (no relation)^[2] (on the albums Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, HIStory and Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix) to the Temptations, Whitney Houston,^[2] Alexander O'Neal, Five Star (on the album Silk and Steel), Howard Hewett, Thomas Anders, Patti LaBelle and Luis Miguel, to rockers such as Chicago and Elton John, to jazz-oriented players such as George Duke, George Benson, Dave Koz, Al Jarreau, David Benoit, Marcus Miller and Kirk Whalum, and to Christian artists such as Leon Patillo and Don Moen.

In 2013 it was revealed he contributed to several tracks on the album, Random Access Memories by Daft Punk and UK based singer songwriter Birdy's second album Fire Within. He also played guitar on Lisa Stansfield's 2014 album, Seven.

Jackson can be seen playing guitar in a wide variety of styles on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and American Idol.^[3]

Discography

As leader

• I Came to Play (1988, Atlantic)
• Out of the Shadows (1990, Atlantic)
• A River in the Desert (1993, Atlantic)
• Never Alone: Duets (1996, Blue Note)
• The Power of the String (2001, Blue Note)
• Still Small Voice (2003, Blue Note)
• Lay It Back (2008, Branch)
• Stories from Stompin' Willie (2016, Branch)

With 'Jazz Funk Soul' (Jeff Lorber/Everette Harp/Paul Jackson Jr.)

• Life and Times (2019, Shanachie)
• Forecast (2022, Shanachie)

Session musician credits

With Oleta Adams

• All the Love (Pioneer Entertainment, 2001)

With Anastacia

• Not That Kind (Epic, 2000)

With Jon Anderson

• In the City of Angels (Columbia, 1988)

With Paul Anka

• Somebody Loves You (Polydor, 1989)

With Patti Austin

• Patti Austin (Qwest/WB, 1984)
• Gettin' Away with Murder (Qwest/WB, 1985)
• On the Way to Love (Warner Bros., 2001)
• Sound Advice (Shanachie, 2011)

With Joan Baez

• Recently (Gold Castle, 1987)

With Philip Bailey

• The Wonders of His Love (Myrrh, 1985)
• Triumph (Word, 1986)

With Anita Baker

• The Songstress (Elektra, 1983)
• Rapture (Elektra, 1986)
• Giving You the Best That I Got (Elektra, 1988)
• Rhythm of Love (Elektra, 1994)
• My Everything (Blue Note, 2004)

With George Benson

• 20/20 (Warner Bros., 1985)
• While the City Sleeps... (Warner Bros., 1986)
• Twice the Love (Warner Bros., 1988)
• Standing Together (GRP, 1998)
• Songs and Stories (Concord, 2009)
• Guitar Man (Concord, 2011)

With Stephen Bishop

• Sleeping with Girls (Big Pink, 1985)

With Michael Bolton

• All That Matters (Columbia, 1997)

With Laura Branigan

• Self Control (Atlantic, 1984)

With Peabo Bryson

• Straight from the Heart (Elektra, 1984)
• All My Love (Capitol, 1989)
• Can You Stop the Rain (Columbia, 1991)
• Unconditional Love (Private Music, 1999)
• Missing You (Peak/Concord, 2007)

With Solomon Burke

• The Definition Of Soul (Point Blank/Virgin, 1997)

With Donald Byrd

• Thank You...For F.U.M.L. (Funking Up My Life) (Elektra, 1978)

With Irene Cara

• Carasmatic (Elektra, 1987)

With Belinda Carlisle

• Live Your Life Be Free (Virgin, 1991)

With The Stanley Clarke Band

• Up (Mack Avenue, 2014)

With Chicago

• Chicago 17 (Full Moon/Warner Bros., 1984)

With Leonard Cohen

• The Future (Columbia, 1992)

With Natalie Cole

• I'm Ready (Epic, 1983)
• Dangerous (Atco, 1985)
• Everlasting (Elektra, 1987)
• Good to Be Back (Elektra, 1989)
• Holly & Ivy (Elektra, 1994)
• Stardust (Elektra, 1996)
• Leavin' (Verve, 2006)

With Randy Crawford

• Windsong (Warner Bros., 1982)
• Abstract Emotions (Warner Bros., 1986)
• Through the Eyes of Love (Warner Bros., 1992)
• Don't Say It's Over (Warner Bros., 1993)

With Céline Dion

• Unison (Columbia, 1990)
• A New Day Has Come (Columbia, 2002)

With George Duke

• Thief in the Night (Elektra Records, 1985)

With Sheena Easton

• Best Kept Secret (EMI, 1983)
• No Strings (MCA, 1993)

With José Feliciano

• José Feliciano (Motown, 1981)
• Ya Soy Tuyo (RCA, 1985)
• Te Amaré (RCA, 1986)

With Five Star

• Silk & Steel (RCA, 1986)

With Roberta Flack

• Oasis (Atlantic, 1988)

With Aretha Franklin

• Aretha (Arista, 1980)
• What You See Is What You Sweat (Arista, 1991)
• This Christmas, Aretha (DMI, 2008)

With Michael Franks

• Dragonfly Summer (Warner Bros., 1993)

With Glenn Frey

• Soul Searchin' (MCA, 1988)

With Gloria Gaynor

• Gloria Gaynor (Atlantic, 1982)

With Amy Grant

• Unguarded (A&M, 1985)

With Thelma Houston

• Thelma Houston (MCA, 1983)

With Whitney Houston

• I'm Your Baby Tonight (Arista Records, 1990)

With The Jackson 5

• Destiny (Epic, 1978)^[4]
• Triumph (Epic, 1980)^[4]

With Michael Jackson

• Thriller (Epic, 1982)^[5]
• Bad (Epic, 1987)^[6]
• Dangerous (Epic, 1991)^[7]

With Bob James and David Sanborn

• Double Vision (Warner Brothers, 1986)

(Bob James and David Sanborn album)

With Al Jarreau

• High Crime (Warner Bros., 1984)
• Heart's Horizon (Reprise, 1988)
• Tomorrow Today (GRP, 2000)
• All I Got (GRP, 2002)
• My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke (Concord, 2014)

With Jewel

• Spirit (Atlantic, 1998)

With Elton John

• Duets (Rocket, 1993)

With Ron Kenoly

• Sing Out with One Voice (Integrity, Hosanna! Music, 1995)
• Welcome Home (Integrity, Hosanna! Music, 1996)
• Majesty (Integrity, Hosanna! Music, 1998)
• We Offer Praises (Integrity, Hosanna! Music, 1999)

With Chaka Khan

• Chaka Khan (Warner Bros., 1982)

With B.B. King

• Take It Home (MCA, 1979)

With Carole King

• Love Makes the World (Rockingale, 2001)

With Patti LaBelle

• Winner in You (MCA, 1986)

With Kenny Loggins

• Vox Humana (Columbia, 1985)
• Leap of Faith (Columbia, 1991)

With Cheryl Lynn

• In Love (Columbia, 1979)
• Start Over (Manhattan/EMI, 1987)
• Whatever It Takes (Virgin, 1989)

With Madonna

• True Blue (Warner Bros., 1986)

With Melissa Manchester

• Mathematics (MCA, 1985)

With Barry Manilow

• If I Should Love Again (Arista, 1981)
• Here Comes the Night (Arista, 1982)
• Manilow (RCA, 1985)
• Swing Street (Arista, 1987)

With Teena Marie

• Robbery (Epic, 1983)

With Amanda Marshall

• Tuesday's Child (Epic, 1999)

With Michael McDonald

• Blink of an Eye (Reprise, 1993)

With Glenn Medeiros

• Not Me (Mercury, 1988)
• Glenn Medeiros (Mercury, 1990)

With Idina Menzel

• Holiday Wishes (Warner Bros., 2014)

With Bette Midler

• Bette (Warner Bros., 2000)

With Luis Miguel

• Soy Como Quiero Ser (WEA Latina, 1987)
• Busca una Mujer (WEA Latina, 1988)
• 20 Años (WEA Latina, 1990)
• Aries (WEA Latina, 1993)
• Segundo Romance (WEA Latina, 1994)
• Amarte Es Un Placer (WEA Latina, 1999)
• Mis Romances (WEA Latina, 2001)
• 33 (WEA Latina, 2003)
• Navidades (WEA Latina, 2006)

With Stephanie Mills

• I've Got the Cure (Casablanca, 1984)
• Stephanie Mills (MCA, 1985)

With Don Moen

• Let Your Glory Fall (Integrity, Hosanna! Music, 1997)
• God Is Good – Worship with Don Moen (Integrity, Hosanna! Music, 1998)

With Aaron Neville

• The Grand Tour (A&M, 1993)
• Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas (A&M, 1993)

With Jeffrey Osborne

• Jeffrey Osborne (A&M, 1982)
• Stay with Me Tonight (A&M, 1983)
• Don't Stop (A&M, 1984)
• Emotional (A&M, 1985)
• One Love: One Dream (A&M, 1988)
• Something Warm for Christmas (Koch, 1997)
• A Time for Love (Saguaro, 2013)

With Ray Parker Jr.

• Sex and the Single Man (Arista, 1985)
• After Dark (Geffen, 1987)

With Billy Preston

• Late at Night (Motown, 1979)
• The Way I Am (Motown, 1981)

With Billy Preston and Syreeta Wright

• Billy Preston & Syreeta (Motown, 1981)

With Corinne Bailey Rae

• The Heart Speaks in Whispers (Virgin, 2016)

With Lionel Richie

• Lionel Richie (Motown, 1982)

With Minnie Riperton

• Love Lives Forever (Capitol, 1980)

With Kenny Rogers

• Christmas (Liberty, 1981)
• Love Will Turn You Around (Liberty, 1982)
• We've Got Tonight (Liberty, 1983)
• What About Me? (RCA, 1984)
• The Heart of the Matter (RCA, 1985)

With Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton

• Once Upon a Christmas (Elektra, 1984)

With Jennifer Rush

• Heart Over Mind (Epic, 1987)

With Brenda Russell

• Get Here (A&M, 1988)

With Carole Bayer Sager

• Sometimes Late at Night (Boardwalk, 1981)

With David Sanborn

• Close Up (Reprise, 1988)

With Boz Scaggs

• Other Roads (Columbia, 1988)

With Lalo Schifrin

• No One Home (Tabu, 1979)

With Lisa Stansfield

• Seven (Edel, 2014)

With Steely Dan

• Two Against Nature (Giant/WB, 2000)

With Rod Stewart

• Vagabond Heart (Warner Bros., 1991)
• Soulbook (J Records, 2009)

With Maureen Steele

• Nature of the Beast (Motown, 1985)

With Barbra Streisand

• Emotion (Columbia, 1984)
• Till I Loved You (Columbia, 1988)

With Donna Summer

• Bad Girls (Casablanca, 1979)
• Cats Without Claws (Geffen, 1984)
• All Systems Go (Geffen, 1987)

With Frankie Valli

• Heaven Above Me (MCA, 1980)

With Luther Vandross

• Give Me the Reason (Epic, 1986)
• Any Love (Epic, 1988)
• Power of Love (Epic, 1991)
• Never Let Me Go (Epic, 1993)
• Your Secret Love (Epic, 1996)
• I Know (Virgin, 1998)
• Luther Vandross (J Records, 2001)
• Dance with My Father (J Records, 2003)

With Dionne Warwick

• How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye (Arista, 1983)
• Finder of Lost Loves (Arista, 1985)
• Friends Can Be Lovers (Arista, 1993)

With Deniece Williams

• I'm So Proud (Columbia, 1983)
• Let's Hear It for the Boy (Columbia, 1984)
• Hot on the Trail (Columbia, 1986)
• So Glad I Know (Sparrow, 1986)
• As Good as It Gets (Columbia, 1988)
• Special Love (MCA, 1989)

With Bill Withers

• Watching You Watching Me (Columbia, 1985)

With Syreeta Wright

• Syreeta (Tamla, 1980)
• Set My Love in Motion (Tamla, 1981)
• The Spell (Tamla, 1983)

With Paul Young

• The Crossing (Columbia, 1993)

References

External links

• official site