Ron Jackson

Standards and My Songs

Roni Music

Ron Jackson is the master of the 7-string jazz guitar, a rarely played instrument that’s not unique to but the center of Jackson’s domain, one that he’d like to broaden to other guitarists. On Standards and My Songs, his ninth as a leader on his own label, he leads a trio of bassist Ben Wolfe and drummer Willie Jones III.  His clean tones guitar tones resonate deeper, with a ‘fullness’ not found in the conventional six-string. The album is a sequel to his 2019 outing Standards and Other Songs. This one differs from its predecessor in that it has originals, and the standards lean more to softer rock and R&B tunes such as the opening “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” and Quincy Jones’ “Secret Garden,” both of which add organist Brian Ho.  Jackson’s original, “Roundabout” adds trombonist Clark Gayton. Jackson closes the album solo with a sublime version of the standard “Time After Time.”

Jackson’s hollow body guitar sound draws influences from Wes Montgomery and George Benson but even more directly traces to those he studied with, the late Pat Martino and Bucky Pizzarelli, both of whom Jackson pays tribute to on the album. In fact, it was Pizzarelli who encouraged Jackson to take up the 7-string a decade ago. “This Nearly Was Mine” nods to Pizzarelli while “For Pat” is a ballad loosely drawn from Martino’s own ballad, “Country Road.”

The repertoire here is widely encompassing, from the radio hit “Brandy” to his own rapid running post bop “Walk Fast” to the hard-bop Freddie Hubbard-like “From Dusk to Dawn,” a showcase for the energetic traps of Jones III. That’s just the first three. After the reverent Martino tribute, Jackson flies at breakneck speed through Charlie Parker’s “Moose the Mooche,” updated with a bit of hip hop groove.  Jackson then dramatically downshifts into a tender, 5/4 reading of the Hammerstein/Rodgers “This Nearly Was Mine” for Pizzarelli.

The Quincy Jones tune is subtitled “The Seduction Suite” and with organist Ho aboard, it has that bluesy, late night smoky club vibe but it gradually builds to a boiling point at the three and half minute mark before returning to its simmering state, peppered by some stinging guitar runs.  Jackson takes flight on “Will You Still Be Mine” picking a blinding series of notes but rendering them all cleanly. He digs into soul and blues on “She Is Love,” co-written with his wife Michelle Etwaroo before engaging in calypso on another original, “Roundabout” which features trombonist Gayton. This one links not just to the famous Sonny Rollins style but more to Jackson’s past work with St. Thomas-born Ran Blake and Reuben Rogers.

Jackson calls this is best album yet. If this is your introduction to Jackson and to the 7-string sound, that makes you that more fortunate.

• Jim Hynes

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