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Calvin Jackson Papers
MSS 0028
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Table of contents
Creator:
Jackson, Calvin
Title: Calvin Jackson Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1940-1980
Extent:
23.25 linear feet
(13 archives boxes and 95 oversize folders)
Abstract: Papers of Calvin Jackson (1919-1985), jazz pianist, composer, arranger, ensemble leader, and host of radio and television
programs featuring jazz music and performers. The material consists of manuscript scores and instrumental parts for Jackson's
own compositions, his arrangements of the music of other composers, and photocopies of scripts and playlists for radio programs
that Jackson hosted in Canada and the United States. The Calvin Jackson Papers are arranged in three series: 1) COMPOSITIONS
BY JACKSON, 2) ARRANGEMENTS BY JACKSON and 3) PLAYLISTS AND SCRIPTS FOR RADIO PROGRAMS.
Repository:
University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library.
La Jolla, California 92093-0175
Collection number: MSS 0028
Language of Material:
Collection materials in English
Collection is open for research.
Not Available
Calvin Jackson Papers, MSS 0028. Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD.
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
Calvin Jackson was born on May 26, 1919, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He studied music at the Juilliard School for a year
(1941), then went to California as assistant music director at the Hollywood studios of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In addition
to his film studio work, Jackson also arranged music for orchestra leader Harry James and recorded with Phil Moore's band.
He moved back to New York in 1947, where he was billed with Mildred Bailey at the Cafe Society. He continued to pursue a
career as arecording artist in his roles as arranger, pianist and ensemble leader, touring widely in North and South America
with a trio or quartet. Jackson moved to Toronto, Canada, in 1950. His quartet appeared regularly at the Park Plaza Hotel,
and he hosted a weekly program featuring jazz music on Canadian television. Jackson returned to the United States in 1957,
and in 1961 he moved back to Southern California, where he settled permanently. He became a part of musical life in Los Angeles
and San Diego, playing with small groups and presenting radio programs, including "Jazz with Jackson" on KOGO-FM and "Just
Jazz" on KCBA.
Calvin Jackson died in Encinitas, California, in 1985.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Calvin Jackson Papers consist of manuscript music scores and instrumental parts for his own compositions, scores and parts
of his arrangements of works by American composers of popular music from the "Golden era," and composers from other periods
and traditions such as J. S. Bach and Dimitri Shostakovich. The collection also includes photocopies of Jackson's recorded
music playlists and commentaries for radio programs. Not all compositions and arrangements have both a score and a complete
set of parts.
The material, comprising 23.25 linear feet, dates from the 1940s to the 1980s. It is arranged in three series: 1) COMPOSITIONS
BY CALVIN JACKSON, 2) ARRANGEMENTS BY CALVIN JACKSON and 3) PLAYLISTS AND SCRIPTS FOR RADIO PROGRAMS.
SERIES 1: COMPOSITIONS BY CALVIN JACKSON
This series contains manuscript scores and instrumental parts for Jackson's compositions in song, suite, symphonic and other
forms, as well as his texts and music for a television program entitled MUSICAL ANTHOLOGY OF JAZZ. The materials are arranged
alphabetically by title.
SERIES 2: ARRANGEMENTS BY CALVIN JACKSON
This series reflects the range of Jackson's work as an arranger and leader of his own ensemble. While twentieth century North
American composers of jazz and popular music predominate, Jackson also re-interpreted folk melodies (GREENSLEEVES, SHENANDOAH)
as well as works by J. S. Bach, Georges Bizet, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Robert Schumann, and others. Two of his longer arrangements
are the "re-visit" to George Gershwin's RHAPSODY IN BLUE, and the anthology, THEME MEDLEY OF JAZZ BANDS. Manuscript scores
and parts are filed alphabetically, first by composer's name and then by title of piece. Anonymous works are interfiled by
title.
SERIES 3: PLAYLISTS AND SCRIPTS FOR RADIO PROGRAMS
This series contains photocopies of playlists that Calvin Jackson used for the radio programs that he hosted. The playlists,
or record logs, give titles, performers and running times for the selections. The scripts introduce the music and musicians,
give background information and comment on the performances.
SEPARATION NOTE:
Audio recordings received with the Calvin Jackson Papers have been separated from the collection and added to the UCSD Music,
Film and Video Library's holdings.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Jackson, Calvin, -- Archives
Big band music, Arranged -- Scores
Composers -- United States -- Biography
Composition (Music) -- 20th Century -- Scores
Jazz
Jazz -- History
Jazz musicians -- Biography
Music -- United States -- 20th Century
Jackson, Calvin. -- Carl Sandburg suite
Jackson, Calvin. -- I keep repeatin'
Jackson, Calvin. -- Profile of an American
Jackson, Calvin. -- Rhythm was all I had
Jackson, Calvin. -- Themes and explorations
Basie, Count, 1904- -- Selections; -- arr
Berlin, Irving, 1888- -- Selections; -- arr
Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974. -- Selections; -- arr
Gershwin, George, 1898-1937. -- Selections; -- arr
Kern, Jerome, 1885-1945. -- Selections; -- arr
McHugh, Jimmy, 1894-1969. -- Selections; -- arr