Ali Jackson

Ali Jackson Jr. (born April 3, 1976) is an American drummer, musician, composer, arranger, educator, and percussionist.

Son of Ali Jackson.

Jackson started playing drums at the age of 2.

Jackson's natural ability and passion for music bloomed and by the age of 11 his aptitude flourished as a result of a steady stream of lessons and mentoring from an all-star lineup of music legends, including Max Roach, Milt Hinton, Dr. Donald Byrd, Betty Carter, Aretha Franklin and James Mtume.

During one lesson when he was 12, Ali met Wynton Marsalis and impressed the trumpet virtuoso and future collaborator with his maturity and his advanced knowledge of the piano and music theory — skills rare among drummers.

Jackson graduated as a music major with high honors from Detroit’s prestigious Cass Technical High School, a program with a rich legacy of consistently producing the country’s top musicians.

As a student at the New School University for Contemporary Music in New York City, he was privileged to study with Max Roach and Elvin Jones.

He attended college on a full academic scholarship, earning an undergraduate degree in music composition.

In 1994, Jackson was selected as the guest soloist for the Beacons of Jazz program honoring legendary jazz drummer Max Roach.

The Thelonious Monk Institute and Jazz Aspen selected him to participate in the first annual Jazz Aspen for gifted and talented musicians.

Jackson was also the first recipient of the state of Michigan’s prestigious Artserv Emerging Artist award in 1998, a program with a rich legacy of consistently producing the country’s top musicians.

Jackson is from Detroit.

A reviewer for The New York Times in 2009 wrote that "Jackson generates a subtle but irresistible force when he plays, making even the smallest gestures advance his agenda of locomotion."

Ali is the father of professional soccer player Aziel Jackson.

With Buster Williams

With Craig Handy

With Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra

With Wynton Marsalis

With Joshua Redman

With Kurt Rosenwinkel

With others