Anthony Jackson (June 23, 1952 in New York City – October 19, 2025) was an American electric bassist of jazz, pop, and soul.

Life and Work

Anthony Jackson first learned to play the piano before switching to guitar and eventually to the electric bass; he learned guitar from Pat Martino. As he explained in a 1990 interview in Bass Player magazine, his influences include the well-known Motown bassist James Jamerson, Jefferson Airplane bassist Jack Casady, and composer Olivier Messiaen (for his use of the tritone interval).

At the age of 18, he began working as a session musician in New York, playing in Billy Paul's band. He became known in 1973 for (co-)composing and playing bass on The O'Jays' hit "For the Love of Money," while working for Gamble & Huff's record label.

Jackson He has appeared as a sideman on numerous recordings, including those with Michel Camilo, Al Di Meola (Elegant Gypsy), Donald Fagen (The Nightfly), Roberta Flack (Feel Like Making Love), Chaka Khan, Steely Dan (Gaucho), and Paul Simon (e.g., for The Concert in Central Park). Over the course of his career, he played alongside jazz greats such as Michel Petrucciani, Mike Stern, Chick Corea (Leprechaun), Pat Metheny, Till Brönner, Biréli Lagrène, Buddy Rich, Michal Urbaniak, and Hiromi Uehara.

Instruments: From 1981 onward, he used the six-string bass he developed, with six strings instead

Anthony Jackson. All his solos with Hiromi The Trio Project . Live at Marciac

Anthony Jackson and Steve Gadd solos - Stuttgart 1998

Anthony Jackson Bass (1990)

 

Just saw this too. RIP AJ. Heavy loss. October 19th will be the new International Bass Day.

 

Damn. An absolute legend. He was one of those key figures who played on pretty much every key track, along with folks like ”Ready” Freddy Washington, Will Lee, Marcus Miller, Abe Laboriel Sr.

 

OMG this a such a great loss! This man was for me one of the most incredible bass players around the globe. His performances with Hiromi were so exciting that sometimes I thought he was going into ecstasy. Oh man he was such a great musician!
R.I.P dear Anthony. We will miss you...