Eldredge Jackson

“Working with Wayman Tisdale was a comfortable and exciting creative experience, one I will never forget.”
- Eldredge Jackson

New Orleans born saxophonist, Eldredge Jackson simmers like a pot of hot, spicy gumbo when performing on stage. This multitalented musician is bringing new flavor to the music scene with his blend of traditional and smooth jazz peppered with a dash of gospel.

Although a native of New Orleans, Jackson’s musical talent was infused with gospel and R&B while growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and performing at his father’s church. The encouragement he received from this large congregation helped him hone his skills as a musician and composer while performing on keyboards, piano, drums, bass, guitar and of course, the sax. Jackson’s influences also stemmed from the soulful jazz style of legends he’s admired such as: David Sanborn, Grover Washington, Jr. and Dexter Gordon.

Named El-Jack by his fans, Jackson has opened for or shared festival stages with a talented cross-section of urban jazz and R&B greats: Wayman Tisdale, Najee, Howard Hewett, Jeffrey Osborne, Angela Winbush, Stanley Jordan, Dru Hill, Shirley Murdock, SOS Band, Con-Funk-Shun, Tom Braxton and fellow Tulsans Charlie Wilson and The GAP Band. Recently he performed on the national Soul Food Festival Tour, bringing his trademark sound and sultry spontaneity to audiences as the sole instrumentalist on a bill with R&B legends Peabo Bryson and The Whispers. The tour made stops in Jacksonville, Kansas City, Baton Rouge and Nashville.

Jackson enjoys sharing his unique style with jazz fans throughout the country. Recently he gigged at the Long Beach Jazz Festival, the Red Cat Jazz Café in Houston, the Brooklyn Jazz Café in Dallas, Humphreys in San Diego and Blues Alley in D.C. In Oklahoma, Jackson is well known for his regular gigs at Tulsa hotspots, and his Winelight Jazz shows along with headlining at casinos such as River Spirit, Cherokee, Osage Million Dollar Elm, and RiverWind. He’s also a huge draw at Mayfest, Tulsa’s largest outdoor festival. The heavy gigging saxophonist has exhilarated audiences at nearly every jazz event in Oklahoma including The Charlie Christian Jazz Festival and the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame Jazz Fest.

One of the highlights of his career was collaborating with the late great Wayman Tisdale, on his debut album. The duo had been friends since middle school and watched each other develop musically over the years. One summer when Tisdale was between seasons in the NBA, he sat in with Jackson’s band at the local Greenwood Jazz Festival, and by 2008, their friendship had come full circle with the release of Listening Pleasure.

Unfortunately the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of famer Wayman Tisdale passed away shortly after the official release of the album, but his protégé continues to keep his spirit alive by paying tribute to his jazz contributions and their friendship during every live performance.

The making of Listening Pleasure…

“Wayman was not my first choice to work with, he was my only choice. His immense talent
and experience in the industry coupled with our mutual respect for one another made him the best fit for my project.” - Eldredge Jackson

The saxman’s highly acclaimed project has people in the industry talking…

“Rarely has a recording ever been so appropriately titled, as that of Master saxophonist Eldredge Jackson. I was totally absorbed and mesmerized by his phenomenal, soulful artistry exhibited on every track. “Listening Pleasure” is not only appropriately named – it is also a masterpiece!” - Gary Hines, Music Director/Producer of the Grammy Award-Winning Sounds of Blackness

The core of Listening Pleasure was the full-on collaboration between Jackson and the late superstar bassist, Wayman Tisdale who produced 10 tracks on the CD. The duo co-produced the album and laid many of the tracks at the late bassist’s home studio The Bassmint. Tisdale penned the first single I Like That—and it always brings that response after the first few notes.

Listening Pleasure marked Jackson’s emergence onto the national scene. Among the collection’s 13 powerhouse tracks are soulful, passionate covers of two iconic R&B songs, Lionel Richie’s “Hello” and Michael Jackson’s Rock With You, produced by Brian Jones and famed R&B/urban jazz producer Preston Glass whose superstar resume includes Aretha Franklin, Kenny G, Kirk Whalum, George Benson and Earth, Wind & Fire.

While the ten tracks on Listening Pleasure may be new to listening audiences nationwide, three of them are longtime, highly requested set pieces of his live show. Jackson charms the ladies every time with an extended improvisational version of the wistful and sensual ballad, Git Wit It (a co-write with Tisdale) and the sensuous, strings-enhanced Love You Eternally.

The saxophonist calls the easy-grooving, retro-soul flavored Island Nights, his “super romantic, walking in the sand along the shore” tune, while