b'Jazz meets PizzaD.D. Jackson serves up music for kids and grownups alikeBY ADRIANNA DONATD.D. Jackson accepting an Emmy as part of the composing team for Peg + Cat. L to R: Martin Erskine, Steven Rebollido, D.D., and J. Walter HawkesY oumaynothavemethimyet,Jackson. I love the convenience to New York CityyoungestoffourchildrenofaChinese-African but you probably have heard thehere. Jackson teaches at the Harlem School of thefamily,hesoonacquiredthenicknameD.D., musicofD.D.Jackson.IfyouArts and is the coordinator of global jazz studies at have kids, youll be familiar withBrooklyn College. He also has frequent gigs in the it thanks to shows such as Peg +city, most recently on the Tonight Show accompany-Cat. Then again, if you are a jazzing its house band, The Roots, with Kristen Bell and enthusiast, you may have some ofJimmy Fallon as they sang A History of Disney Songs. his 13 albums. If youve watched the Emmy Awards,So proximity to the city is important to him. you may have seen him receive five nominations andI love the multiculturalism of this community, take home two awards. He writes music that rangeshe says. When everything seems so divided, its nice from jazz opera to childrens programming. Its notto find a progressive environment like this.hard to find his music playing somewhere as youIf you spot Jackson at Palmers, youll notice he move through the day. seems relaxed. But when you start to talk to him, you AndifyouliveinMaplewoodorSouthOr- sense an intense energy, speed and nimbleness to his ange, you may be lucky enough to run into himspeech. Its the same vitality you hear in his music.in town with his wife and two kids. I fell in loveJacksonwasborninOttawa,Canada;hisJacksons most recent album, Live at Free-with SOMA when we got here six years ago, saysparentsnamedhimRobertatbirth,butasthedom of Sound, is a solo piano album.36/ matters magazine / winter 2020'