Michael Gregory

The ambitious guitarist formerly known as Michael Gregory Jackson later adopted the shortened moniker of Michael Gregory to avoid confusion with pop star Michael Jackson. He recorded with some of the more ambitious modern and experimental jazz players in the late '70s and early '80s, including saxophonist Oliver Lake. As an acoustic and electric stylist, he was interested not only in comping behind singers and doing conventional single-line solos, but in sounds, rhythms, and textures. Then he shifted gears and began doing fusion and R&B.