20/10/2025
The great Anthony Jackson, who literally and figuratively expanded the range of the electric bass, has died at the age of seventy-three. Maybe best known for the signature bassline in the O’Jays’ “For the Love of Money” (so essential to the song that Gamble and Huff cut him in on the copyright), Jackson played with an incredible range of R&B, pop, and jazz artists: Steely Dan, Donald Fagen, Quincy Jones, Pat Metheny, Chaka Khan, George Benson, David Sanborn, Diana Ross, Dave Grusin, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, Chick Corea, Al Di Meola, the Four Tops, Anita Baker, Lee Ritenour, Mike Stern, Gato Barbieri, Steve Khan, Joe Jackson, Roberta Flack, Billy Paul, Lou Rawls, Patti Austin, Eric Gale, Teena Marie, Dave Liebman, Sergio Mendes, Gerry Mulligan, Eumir Deodato, Stephane Grappelli, Lena Horne, Buddy Rich, many more. I got to witness his amiable, humble personality firsthand during Steve Bailey’s Covid-era Berklee Zoom summit for bassists and drummers who had played with Steely Dan over the years. RIP, AJ. Respect. —DB