These are some photos taken a couple of years ago at the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii conference in Honolulu. So many ukes, so little time.

On Friday, April 22 I’ll be doing a 20 minute set as part of the Java Jam Coffeehouse series. Roe Osborn will be joining me on bass. The event starts at 7PM and features other wonderful local musicians, as well. Hope to see you there!

HJT Arts Center
265 Sisson Road
Harwich, MA

$5 at the door
Hot drinks and baked goods
Sponsored by Buckies Biscotti

There’s an album in the works with some great players, including Roe Osborn on bass and Kareem Sanjaghi on drums. It includes several originals, including one by Roe, plus a couple of old favorites. Being a Bertism, you know it will be different. Our target is to have it ready sometime in Spring 2011.  Send me an email if you’d like to be kept up-to-date!

A little holiday nostalgia…

Having a conversation with a music friend about phrasing synths (guitar in this case) like other instruments, and recalled this piece I recorded in 1988 using a Roland GM-70 guitar synthesizer with an MKS-50 sound module. I wasn’t trying to sound like another specific instrument, just playing with that particular patch sound (Lead Synth 1 as I recall).

Imaginary Journey was a tune I wrote in 1982 after a particularly mind-bending hangout in St. John.

All tracks recorded by me using a Tascam 4-track

Roland GM-70 Guitar Synth
Ibanez GB-10 hollow-body guitar (the usual)
Fender Precision bass (yes, that is me popping-who knew)
Roland TR-707 Rhythm Composer

Trying out a bit of gypsy-like style for Autumn Leaves. Very fast-some drummers I know would love this (you know who you are)! Two acoustic guitar tracks (lead & rhythm) plus bass and drums from Band in a Box.

This past summer I had the opportunity to work with the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival and volunteered at many of the concerts, including the premier of “The Cape Cod Files” composed by Cuban jazz and classical master Paquito D’Rivera. After the concert the staff and musicians went out for a late dinner, including Paquito himself, who was on hand. It was one of those truly special evenings, with musicians sharing stories (including Paquito telling off-color jokes). I was buzzing when I finally got home and immediately picked up the guitar. An hour or so later most of this was done. It was refined over the next week or so, but 90% came that evening. So, thanks, Paquito, this one’s for you.

Title: Paquito
Composer: Bert Jackson
Guitar (Martin acoustic): Bert Jackson

All one track, no overdubs

One of my fav Antonio Carlos Jobim tunes (but they are ALL favs). This is me on lead and rhythm guitars, with bass and drums provided by the ever reliable Band-in-a-Box.

Title: How Insensative
Composer: Antonio Carlos Jobim
Guitars (Ibanez GB-10 hollowbody): Bert Jackson
Bass, Drums: BIAB
Recorded: Nov 9, 2009

Two guitar tracks plus BIAB

I’ve been playing around with the new live sample tracks in Band-in-a-Box and thought I try another recording of this classic jazz tune. “Softly…” was written in the 1920′s by Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein II for the musical “New Moon”. It has been recorded in a number of styles throughout the years, including bebop. My version is sort of bebopish. This is one of my all-time fav jazz tunes to play.

Title: Softly as in a Morning Sunrise
Composers: Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein II
Guitar (Ibanez GB-10 hollowbody): Bert Jackson
Piano, Bass, Drums: BIAB
Recorded: Nov 8, 2009

One guitar track plus BIAB

My latest tune is a fast jazz in 3/4 called “Warm Luke”, named after a friend’s dad who left this life this past week. This is a short draft, the guitar parts are just two takes each. Hope to have a more evolved version soon.

Title: Warm Luke
Composer: Bert Jackson
Guitars (Ibanez GB-10 hollowbody): Bert Jackson
Bass, Drums: BIAB
Recorded: Nov 7, 2009

Two guitar tracks plus BIAB