Paul Jackson Jr.

Paul Jackson Jr.
Paul Milton Jackson Jr. (born December 30, 1959) 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) (on the albums Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, HIStory and Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix) to the Temptations, Whitney Houston, 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.
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 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)
Triumph (Epic, 1980)
With Michael Jackson
Thriller (Epic, 1982)
Bad (Epic, 1987)
Dangerous (Epic, 1991)
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
African-American jazz musicians
American jazz guitarists
Smooth jazz guitarists
American session musicians
American rock guitarists
Lead guitarists
American funk guitarists
American soul guitarists
American rhythm and blues guitarists
Jazz musicians from California
1959 births
Living people
USC Thornton School of Music alumni
The Tonight Show Band members
Guitarists from Los Angeles
20th-century American guitarists
African-American guitarists
20th-century African-American musicians
21st-century African-American people