Music
Press
"D-Madness takes the concept of a one-man studio band to its next level by pulling it off on stage." -Robert Gabriel, The Austin Chronicle - The Austin Chronichle
"He (D-Madness) might play a cheek solo, a nearby beer bottle, or double-time his bass drum with the sticks (even Living Colour drummer Will Calhoun was baffled!)" -Dallas Morning News
Dallas Morning News Website link
<http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/spe/2006/sxsw/music/dmadness.html> - Dallas Morning News
"Drums? Check. Bass? Yup. Keys? Oh yeah. D-Madness (Dwayne Jackson) plays all that and then some, often at the same time. The one-man band better known as Austin’s Stevie Wonder..." -Thomas Fawcett, The Austin Chronicle - The Austin Chronicle
"Is there anything Dwayne 'D-Madness' Jackson cannot do, any groove he can't play, any beat he can't make swing and bounce and move like the one-man funkster he is? The answer is... no." -Joe Gross, Austin-American Statesman - Austin-American Statesman
Equinox/Funk Fest
As Bavu Blakes professed at D-Madness' farewell show in May, Washington, D.C.'s gain is Austin's loss. Fortunately, the local funk impresario/hip-hop mastermind left behind Equinox/Funk Fest, a double album of the one-man band's appropriately named "D-Funk." First disc Equinox holds as the collection's most complete side, jazz-laced hip-hop that slips seamlessly through fusion ("Feel Me?"), P-funk ("Why Don't People Understand"), and reggae ("True to Yourself"). Though for the bottom half's dexterity, Equinox remains loaded on the front end, "Precession" kicking off at double time before a suite of eternal reflections, which bring out the best of vocalist Yadira Brown on "Plenty," saxman Andrae Van Buren on "Take One," and Blakes on "The Fix." Less accessible but just as impressive, Funk Fest pits Madness with his bass guitar for a decathlon of "Salvation Funk." "Amazing Grace," absolutely.
BY CHASE HOFFBERGER
- Austin Chronicle
Discography
Equinox / Funk Fest - D-Madness (2009)
The Stew - Diasporic (2009)
Venom Within - Sean B (2009)
Music Box - S1 (2008)
Mass Appeal - Diasporic (2007)
It's Time - D-Madness (2006)
Funkstramentalist - D-Madness (2005)
Vex Dem - D-Madness (2004)
Shinsou: The Message At The Depth - DJ Krush (2003)
Create & Hustle - Bavu Blakes (2002)
Our Thing - Tribal Nation (1998)
Photos
Bio
D-MADNESS:
A fusion of all genres rhythmically crossing over Soul, Funk, Reggae, Jazz with a swing into Madness... His own style of music. He writes dance grooves, sings love ballads, wails reggae tunes, plays funky beats and may even drop a classic cover or standard, all of which inspire his audience. In June, D-Madness embarked on a new adventure...taking the nation's capital by storm! He recently relocated to Washington D.C. where he has been turning heads and dropping jaws since arriving on the scene.
On stage, the normal D-Madness set up is bass or electric guitar, drums, his production keyboard and a vocal mic. He might also play a cheek solo, a nearby beer bottle, or double-time his bass drum with the sticks (even Living Colour drummer Will Calhoun was baffled). It's an established musical act that has proven itself time after time playing for any sized crowd of every demographic. Headlining shows in auditoriums and at festivals as well as playing the D-Madness brand of genre-blending music for packed bars and clubs.
D-Madness aka Dwayne Jackson was playing in studios, churches and competitions as well as orchestras overseas all by his teens. He matured musically touring the world, including stops at both the Montreux and Montreal Jazz Festivals, in addition to traveling to New Orleans playing bass with Cyrille Neville. When Japan's DJ Krush first saw him play, he asked him to play bass guitar and drums on his next record. When Krush saw him play again, he insisted that D-Madness be added to the next day's show in the next town. When Erykah Badu saw him soundcheckin' at her Black Forest Theater (near his native Oak Cliff, Texas), she pushed him later in the schedule so Prince could see him. When Bernie Worrell saw him play in Austin in 2005, he demanded that D-Madness be added to the bill as opening act for him at the next day's show. In 2006, the D-Madness journey continued, opening for Anthony Hamilton and closing for Common at Stubb's in Austin. At the Austin, TX jazz staple, the Elephant Room, D-Madness took pleasure in playing bass for drummer Brannen Temple as part of Blaze. At Antone's Home of the Blues, D-Madness shared the stage with 'Honeydripper', Gray Clark Jr. as well as Grammy nominated Grupo Fantasma. D-Madness has also established himself n the world of 'Roots Reggae' sharing stages with the likes of The Wailers, Black Uhuru and Culture. The news of D's talent spread to the east coast during the SxSW music festival where he backed up Grammy nominated Wayna, Foreign Exchange's YahZara as well as MTV's Amanda Diva (2008&2009).
A well-deserved honor came on February 14, 2008, when Austin, Texas, Mayor Will Wynn proclaimed "D-Madness Day" in Austin. On the same day of the following year D released his "Equinox/Funk Fest" double CD at the Parish Room in downtown Austin. Meanwhile, he was called upon to travel to Shanghai, China, where he played bass as a member of the Brown Sugar Jazz Club and Restaurant's "All Stars" house band from November 2008 to January 2009.
Witness the universal melody that is D-Madness, making every performance more than just an event, it produces a truly amazing one-of-a kind, emotional and unforgettable experience. Enjoy and share in 'The D-Madness Experience'. Be part of the D-Madness movement.
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