This was a musical highlight for so many of you last year: we simply had to invite Brian Jackson back to perform!

One-half of the legendary duo Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson, Brian began his career at an early age, having recorded nine albums by his 27th birthday. He is widely thought of as one of the forefathers of neo-soul and modern hip hop, prompting New Yorker Magazine in a 2022 article to call him “a musical pioneer.” His latest albums include a collaboration with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, in 2021 and the 2022 release, This Is Brian Jackson (BBE Music), which has met critical acclaim, earning spots in Mojo magazine’s “Highest Rated Albums of 2022“ list and the New York Times’ February 2022 playlist.

Defying categorization, Brian works with artists as diverse as Ron Carter, Roy Ayers, Gregory Porter, Alabama 3, Digable Planets, Bobbi Humphrey and many others. Brian’s catalogue has been a source of sample material for decades, among them artists such as Tupac, Common and Kendrick Lamar. Brian sees himself as a student of what he calls “The Tradition,” a timeless set of mostly unspoken guidelines passed on for generations by West African griots. He continually makes the choice to put his music at the service of social and/or political messages, focusing on what brings us together rather than what separates us. His ultimate creative goal is to inspire younger artists to do the same. Brian holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Long Island University and has held professorships at both Long Island University and York College. He regularly offers masterclasses stateside and abroad.