A seminal figure in modern Black American music, Brian Jackson is a visionary composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer whose work redefined the intersection of jazz, soul and spoken word. As the co-creator and musical engine behind his legendary partnership with the late Gil Scott-Heron, Jackson co-wrote and arranged a timeless catalog that soundtracked the social and political movements of the 1970s.
Providing the rich harmonic foundations, iconic flute and keyboard riffs, and soulful arrangements beneath Scott-Heron’s urgent poetry, Jackson helped forge a sound that transcends generations. Their joint body of work remains a cornerstone of contemporary music, serving as vital sample material and inspiration for hip-hop pioneers and modern icons alike, including 2Pac, Common, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar.
Under the banner Gil Scott-Heron By Brian Jackson & Yasiin Bey, Jackson reunites the spirit of this legendary catalog with rap icon and conscious hip-hop pioneer Yasiin Bey. Celebrated for his razor-sharp lyricism and socio-political depth, Bey joins Jackson on stage to honour, re-interpret and carry forward the electric chemistry, message and rich live sound of Scott-Heron and Jackson’s enduring legacy.
