Influenced by his mentor Don Pullen, D.D. Jackson helped the ailing Pullen complete his final work, "Earth Eagle First Circle," in 1995. Jackson started on the piano when he was six and, after growing up in Canada, he earned degrees from the Manhattan School of Music (in jazz) and Indiana University (in classical music); he also had valuable lessons with Pullen and Jaki Byard. D.D. Jackson has played with David Murray, Billy Bang, Nat Adderley, Jane Bunnett, Dewey Redman, and led his own trio, recording for Justin Time before making his RCA debut with 1999's ...So Far. ~ Scott Yanow