Biography
Armand "Jump" Jackson's path began in New Orleans before landing him in Chicago, where his life story and the evolution of the blues backbeat became nearly indistinguishable. The distinctive fat, greasy sock rhythm that defined countless Chicago blues recordings from the late '40s and '50s originated with Jackson himself, who often devised it while mentally arranging tours for his ensembles. During the late '40s he served as bandleader for recording dates on Columbia, Specialty, and Aristocrat, providing backing for vocalists including St. Louis Jimmy, Roosevelt Sykes, Sunnyland Slim, and Baby Doo Caston. He also supplied drums on no fewer than a dozen landmark urban blues albums, supporting figures as prominent as John Lee Hooker and as underrecognized yet exceptional as Robert Nighthawk.
Beyond performance, Jackson held credentials as a booking agent and extended his preference for managing business operations into his own recording activities. In 1959 he established La Salle Records, releasing his own material alongside sides by Eddie Boyd, Eddy Clearwater, Little Mack Simmons, and longtime collaborator pianist Slim. Jackson supplied the stage name Eddy Clearwater to performer Eddy Harrington, whose admiration for Muddy Waters prompted the choice; the blues public proved receptive to both clear water and muddy, allowing the rechristening to propel the artist's trajectory forward. In 1962 Jackson was selected as drummer for the inaugural American Folk Blues Festival tour of Europe, even as he sensed the chill of advancing tastes amid Chicago's winds. The swing-era drumming approach he had helped establish gradually yielded to a sharper, harder-edged backbeat exemplified by Fred Below.
Beyond performance, Jackson held credentials as a booking agent and extended his preference for managing business operations into his own recording activities. In 1959 he established La Salle Records, releasing his own material alongside sides by Eddie Boyd, Eddy Clearwater, Little Mack Simmons, and longtime collaborator pianist Slim. Jackson supplied the stage name Eddy Clearwater to performer Eddy Harrington, whose admiration for Muddy Waters prompted the choice; the blues public proved receptive to both clear water and muddy, allowing the rechristening to propel the artist's trajectory forward. In 1962 Jackson was selected as drummer for the inaugural American Folk Blues Festival tour of Europe, even as he sensed the chill of advancing tastes amid Chicago's winds. The swing-era drumming approach he had helped establish gradually yielded to a sharper, harder-edged backbeat exemplified by Fred Below.