MICHAEL GREGORY JACKSON is an African-American composer, innovator, guitarist, improviser, sound explorer, educator and poet. Upon his arrival in NYC, and since his early 20's, he is widely considered one of the most innovative guitarists to emerge from New York’s avant-garde loft scene of the 70s. Michael is a pioneer of a new movement in which genres and sounds were suddenly mixed in new and inventive ways. Michael embodies the nature of a true and natural artist, perpetually cultivating new ideas and directions. He has served as a critical influence, name-checked by Bill Frisell, Vernon Reid, Marc Ribot, Brandon Ross, Elliot Sharpe and Mary Halvorson. Michael has worked and/or recorded with luminaries across the musical spectrum including Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake, Wadada Leo Smith, Nile Rodgers, Anthony Braxton, Will Calhoun, Nona Hendryx, Jack Dejohnette, Steve Winwood, David Murray, Walter Becker, Buster Williams, Carlos Santana, Marcus Miller, Henry Threadgill, Omar Hakim and Vernon Reid to name a few. His recent credits as a producer include Pulitzer Prize finalist Wadada Leo Smith, for whom he produced two critically acclaimed discs, “Spiritual Dimensions,” (disc two) Cuneiform 2009 and “Heart’s Reflections,” Cuneiform 2011. Michael taught at California Institute for the Arts, New England Conservatory of Music, Copenhagen Conservatory of Music, DK, 
Hampshire College, and is a guiding artist at The Creative Music Studio, Woodstock, N.Y. - Sal Cataldi