On October 19, 2025, Anthony Claiborne Jackson died aged 73. He was musician (electric bass, contrabass, guitar), bassist, regarded as “one of the masters of the instrument”. He performed live in more than 30 countries and recorded in more than 3000 sessions on more than 500 albums, with Al Di Meola, Billy Paul, Carlos Garnett, Roberta Flack, Patti Austin, Alex Bugnon, Michel Camilo, Jorge Dalto, Mandoki Soulmates, Will Downing, Carlos Franzetti, Jun Fukamachi, Eric Gale, Terumasa Hino, Garland Jeffreys, Chaka Khan, Steve Khan, Tania Maria, Harvey Mason, Michel Petrucciani, Buddy Rich, Lee Ritenour, Mike Stern, Hiromi Uehara, Grover Washington Jr., Monty Alexander, Peter Allen, Gabriela Anders, Ashford & Simpson, Fahir Atakoglu, Anita Baker, Bob Baldwin, Gato Barbieri, Thereza Bazar, Jim Beard, Bee Gees, George Benson, Warren Bernhardt, Randy Bernsen, Rory Block, Perry Botkin Jr., Ralph Bowen, Till Brönner, Peabo Bryson, Jimmy Buffett, Dina Carroll, Dennis Chambers, Sandeep Chowta, John Clark, Norman Connors, Chick Corea, Hank Crawford, Randy Crawford, Lou Courtney, Eddie Daniels, Michael Davis, Rainy Davis, Eumir Deodato, Devonsquare, Paul Dresher, Ned Rothenberg, Gene Dunlap, Eliane Elias, Pee Wee Ellis, Jon Faddis, Donald Fagen, Joe Farrell, Rachelle Ferrell, Barry Finnerty, Sonny Fortune, Hiroshi Fukumura, Four Tops, Henry Gaffney, Carlos Garnett, Stephane Grappelli, Urbie Green, Michael Gregory, Dave Grusin, Kit Hain, Delores Hall, Lionel Hampton, Gene Harris, Takehiro Honda, Lena Horne, Miki Howard, Bobbi Humphrey, Phyllis Hyman, Masaru Imada, Freddie Jackson, Joe Jackson, Rebbie Jackson, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Ryo Kawasaki, Earl Klugh, Kahoru Kohiruimaki, Wayne Krantz, Bireli Lagrene, Yusef Lateef, Webster Lewis, Dave Liebman, Reggie Lucas, Ralph MacDonald, Teo Macero, Madonna, Teena Marie, Sleepy Matsumoto, Maureen McGovern, Sergio Mendes, Pat Metheny, Bette Midler, Barry Miles, Russell Morris, Gerry Mulligan, Milton Nascimento, David “Fathead” Newman, Maxine Nightingale, Claude Nougaro, The O’Jays, Jeffrey Osborne, Phil Perry, Peter, Paul & Mary, Esther Phillips, Simon Phillips, Noel Pointer, Jesse Rae, Ernest Ranglin, Lou Rawls, Jess Roden, Diana Ross, Ray Russell, Sam & Dave, David Sanborn, Arturo Sandoval, Alejandro Sanz, Lalo Schifrin, Helen Schneider, John Scofield, John Sebastian, Doc Severinsen, Carly Simon, Edward Simon, Paul Simon, Simon & Garfunkel, Kathy Sledge, Lonnie Liston Smith, Steve Smith, Phoebe Snow, Bert Sommer, David Spinozza, Steely Dan, Jeremy Steig, Charles Sullivan, Ximo Tebar, Nino Tempo, John Tropea, Michal Urbaniak, Dave Valentin, Luther Vandross, Harold Vick, Roch Voisine, Martha Wash, Kazumi Watanabe, Sadao Watanabe, Frank Weber, Dave Weckl, James D-Train Williams, Vanessa Williams, Nancy Wilson, Bernie Worrell and Akiko Yano. As co – leader Jackson released three albums.
Tag Archives: John Tropea
Paul Simon: Still Crazy After All These Years
On October 17, 1975, “Columbia” label released “Still Crazy After All These Years”, the fourth Paul Simon studio album. It was recorded in 1975, at “A&R Recording” in New York City, and was produced by Phil Ramone and Paul Simon.
Personnel:
- Paul Simon – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, string and horn arrangements
- Pete Carr – electric guitar
- Joe Beck – electric guitar
- Jerry Friedman – electric guitar
- Hugh McCracken – acoustic and electric guitar
- John Tropea – electric guitar
- Barry Beckett – Fender Rhodes, acoustic piano
- Bob James – woodwind arrangements, string arrangements, Fender Rhodes
- Kenneth Ascher – Fender Rhodes, organ
- Sivuca – vocal solo, accordion
- Richard Tee – acoustic piano
- Leon Pendarvis – acoustic piano
- Toots Thielemans – harmonica
- David Hood – bass
- Tony Levin – bass
- Gordon Edwards – bass
- Roger Hawkins – drums
- Steve Gadd – drums
- Grady Tate – drums
- Ralph MacDonald – percussion
- Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
- Eddie Daniels – saxophone
- David Sanborn – saxophone
- Phil Woods – alto saxophone
- David Mathews – horn arrangements
- Phoebe Snow – vocals, backing vocals
- Art Garfunkel – vocals
- Patti Austin – backing vocals
- Valerie Simpson – backing vocals
- The Jessy Dixon Singers – backing vocals
- Chicago Community Choir – backing vocals
- Phil Ramone – engineer
- Jerry Masters – engineer
- Glenn Berger – recording
- Bert Szerlip – recording
- John Berg – design
- Anthony Maggiore – design
- Edie Baskin – cover photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Paul Simon.
- Still Crazy After All These Years
- My Little Town
- I Do It for Your Love
- 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
- Night Game
- Gone at Last
- Some Folks Lives Roll Easy
- Have a Good Time
- You’re Kind
- Silent Eyes
Ronnie Foster: Sweet Revival
In December 1972, “Blue Note” label released “Sweet Revival”, the second Ronnie Foster studio album. It was recorded in December 1972, at “Generation Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Horace Ott.
Personnel:
- Ronnie Foster – organ
- David Spinozza, John Tropea – electric guitar
- Wilbur Bascomb Jr. – electric bass
- Bernard Purdie – drums
- Ernie Hayes – electric piano
- Garnett Brown – trombone
- Seldon Powell – tenor saxophone
- Horace Ott – arranger, conductor
Track listing:
All tracks by Ronnie Foster, except where noted.
- Sweet Revival – Joe Sample
- Lisa’s Love
- Back Stabbers – Leon Huff, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead
- Me and Mrs. Jones – Kenny Hamble, Cary Gilbert, Leon Huff
- Alone Again (Naturally) – Gilbert O’Sullivan
- Where Is the Love – Ralph McDonald, William Salter
- Some Neck
- It’s Just Gotta Be That Way – Wayne Henderson
- Superwoman – Stevie Wonder
- Inot
Spyro Gyro: Catching the Sun
In February 1980, “MCA” label released “Catching the Sun”, the third Spyro Gyra studio album. It was recorded in 1979, at “Secret Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Jay Beckenstein and Richard Calandra.
Personnel:
- Jay Beckenstein – soprano, alto and tenor saxophone, Fender Rhodes, percussion
- Tom Schuman – acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, synthesizers programming, effects
- Jeremy Wall – synthesizers, synthesizer programming, percussion, effects, horn arrangements, assistant producer
- Hiram Bullock – acoustic and electric guitars
- Chet Catallo – electric guitar
- John Tropea – acoustic and electric rhythm guitar
- Will Lee – bass
- Jim Kurzdorfer – bass guitar
- Eli Konikoff – drums
- Gerardo Velez – percussion, bongos
- Richard Calandra – tambourine, percussion
- Dave Samuels – marimba, vibraphone, steel drums
- Rubens Bassini – congas, percussion
- Randy Brecker – trumpet
- Barry Rogers – trombone
- Tom Malone – trombone
- Bob Malache – tenor saxophone
- Steve Nathan – clavinet, synthesizer programming
- Jeremy Wall – string arrangements, conductor
- Harry Lookofsky – concertmaster
- Charles McCracken, Jesse Levy, Alan Shulman – cello
- Peter Dimitriades, Lewis Eley, Harold Kohon, Charles Libove, Harry Lookofsky, David Nadien, Matthew Raimondim Richard Sortomme – violin
- Michael Barry – engineer
- Jack Malken – engineer
- Jason Corsaro – assistant engineer
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
- Peter Corriston – art direction, design
- David Heffernan – illustration
Track listing:
- Catching the Sun – Jay Beckenstein
- Cockatoo – Jay Beckenstein, Tom Schuman, Jeremy Wall, Chet Catallo, Jim Kurzdorfer, Eli Konikoff
- Autumn of Our Love – Jeremy Wall
- Laser Material – Tom Schuman
- Percolator – Jay Beckenstein
- Philly – Jim Kurzdorfer
- Lovin’ You/Lovin’ You (for Christine) – Chet Catallo
- Here Again – Jay Beckenstein
- Safari – Jeremy Wall
Eumir Deodato: Prelude
In January 1973, “CTI” label released “Prelude”, the eighth Eumir Deodato studio album. It was recorded in September 1972, at “Van Gelder Studios” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.
Personnel:
- Eumir Deodato – piano, electric piano, conductor, arranger
- John Tropea – electric guitar
- Jay Berliner – guitar
- Ron Carter – electric bass, bass
- Stanley Clarke – electric bass
- Billy Cobham – drums
- Airto Moreira – percussion
- Ray Barretto – congas
- Hubert Laws – flute
- John Frosk – trumpet
- Marky Markowitz – trumpet
- Joe Shepley – trumpet
- Marvin Stamm – trumpet
- Wayne Andre – trombone
- Garnett Brown – trombone
- Paul Faulise – trombone
- George Strakey – trombone
- Bill Watrous – trombone
- Jim Buffington – French horn
- Peter Gordon – French horn
- Phil Bodner – flute
- George Marge – flute
- Romeo Penque – flute
- Max Ellen – violin
- Paul Gershman – violin
- Emanuel Green – violin
- Harry Lookofsky – violin
- David Nadien – violin
- Gene Orloff – violin
- Eliot Rosoff – violin
- Emanuel Vardi – viola
- Al Brown – viola
- Harvey Shapiro – cello
- Seymore Barab – cello
- Charles McKracken – cello
- Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
- Bob Ciano = design
Track listing:
- Also Sprach Zarathustra – Richard Strauss
- Spirit of Summer – Eumir Deodato
- Carly & Carole – Eumir Deodato
- Baubles, Bangles and Beads – Robert Wright, George Forrest
- Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun – Claude Debussy
- September 13 – Emir Deodato, Billy Cobham
Ringo Starr: Ringo The 4th
On September 20, 1977, “Polydor” label released “Ringo the 4th”, the sixth Ringo Starr studio album. It was recorded February – June 1977, in Cherokee, Los Angeles, Atlantic, and New York City, and was produced by Arif Mardin.
Personnel:
- Ringo Starr– lead vocals, drums
- David Spinozza– guitar
- John Tropea– guitar
- Jeff Mironov – guitar
- Cornell Dupree– guitar
- Lon Van Eaton– guitar
- Dick Fegy – guitar
- Danny Kortchmar– guitar
- David Bromberg– guitar
- Tony Levin– bass guitar
- Chuck Rainey– bass guitar
- Hugh McDonald– bass guitar
- Don Grolnick– keyboards
- David Foster– keyboards, clavinet, piano
- Richard Tee– clavinet, piano
- Jeff Gutcheon – keyboards
- Ken Bichel– keyboards
- Steve Gadd– drums
- Michael Brecker– saxophone
- Randy Brecker– trumpet
- Don Brooks– harmonica
- Arnold McCuller – backing vocals
- Brie Howard– backing vocals
- David Lasley – backing vocals
- Debra Gray – backing vocals
- Duitch Helmer – backing vocals
- Jimmy Gilstrap – backing vocals
- Joe Bean – backing vocals
- Luther Vandross– backing vocals
- Lynn Pitney – backing vocals
- Marietta Waters – backing vocals
- Maxine Anderson – backing vocals
- Melissa Manchester– backing vocals
- Rebecca Louis – backing vocals
- Robin Clark– backing vocals
- Vini Poncia– backing vocals
- Bette Midler– backing vocals
Track listing:
- Drowning in the Sea of Love – Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
- Tango All Night – Steve Hague, Tom Seufert
- Wings – Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia
- Gave It All Up – Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia
- Out on the Streets – Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia
- Can She Do It Like She Dances – Steve Duboff, Gerry Robinson
- Sneaking Sally Through the Alley – Allen Toussaint
- It’s No Secret – Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia
- Gypsies in the Flight – Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia
- Simple Love Song – Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia
Harry Chapin: Verities & Balderdash
On August 24, 1974, “Elektra” label released “Verities & Balderdash”, the fourth Harry Chapin studio album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Connecticut Recording Studios” in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and was produced by Paul Leka. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”, and 2 x Platinum in the US by “RIAA”.
Personnel:
- Harry Chapin – vocals, guitar
- John Tropea- acoustic guitar, sitar
- Don Payne – bass
- Allan Schwartzberg- drums
- Don Grolnick- piano, electric piano, harpsichord
- Ron Bacchiocchi – synthesizer
- Irving Spice – concertmaster
- George Simms – backging vocals
- Frank Simms- backing vocals
- Dave Kondziela – backing vocals
- Zizi Roberts – female vocals
- Ron Bacchiocchi – recording
- Paul Leka – mixing
- Fred Kewley – mixing
- Glen Christensen – art direction
- Shiah Grumet – design
- Bill Hofman – illustration
- Ruth Bernal – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Harry Chapin, except where noted.
- Cat’s in the Cradle- Sandy Chapin, Harry Chapin
- I Wanna Learn a Love Song
- Shooting Star
- 000 Pounds of Bananas
- She Sings Songs Without Words
- What Made America Famous?
- Vacancy
- Halfway To Heaven
- Six String Orchestra
Eumir Deodato: Deodato 2
On July 18, 1973, “CTI” label released “Deodato 2”, the second Eumir Deodato studio album. It was recorded April – May 1973, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, and was produced by Creed Taylor.
Personnel:
- Eumir Deodato – keyboards, acoustic and electric piano
- John Tropea – guitars
- John Giulino – bass
- Stanley Clarke – bass
- Alvin Brehm, Russell Savakus – arco bass
- Billy Cobham, Rick Marotta – drums
- Gilmore Degap, Rubens Bassini – congas, percussion
- Joe Temperley – baritone sax
- George Marge, Hubert Laws, Jerry Dodgion, Romeo Penque – flute
- Tony Studd – bass trombone
- Garnett Brown, Wayne Andre – trombone
- Brooks Tillotson, Jim Buffington – French horn
- Alan Rubin, Marvin Stamm, Jon Faddis – flugelhorn, trumpet
- Burt Collins, Joe Shepley, Victor Paz – trumpet
- David Nadien, Elliot Rosoff, Emanuel Green, Gene Orloff, Harold Kohon, Harry Cykman, Harry Glickman, Harry Lookofsky, Irving Spice, Joe Malin, Max Ellen, Paul Gershman: violin
- Alfred Brown, Emanuel Vardi – viola
- Alan Shulman, Charles McCracken, George Ricci – cello
Track listing:
- Nights in White Satin – Justin Hayward
- Pavane for a Dead Princess – Maurice Ravel
- Skyscrapers – Eumir Deodato
- Super Strut – Eumir Deodato
- Rhapsody in Blue – George Gershwin, arrangement and adaptation by Eumir Deodato
Roberta Flack: Blue Lights In The Basemant
On December 13, 1977, “Atlantic” label released “Blue Lights in the Basement”, the sixth Roberta Flack studio album. It was recorded 1976 – 1977, and was produced by Rubina Flake, Joe Ferla and Gene McDaniels.
Personnel:
- Roberta Flack– vocals, keyboards, arrangements
- Reggie Lucas– guitar
- Hugh McCracken– guitar, musical arrangements
- Jeff Mironov – guitar
- David Spinozza– guitar
- John Tropea– guitar
- Paul Griffin– keyboards
- Ronnie Foster– keyboards, background vocals
- Don Grolnick– keyboards
- Rob Mounsey– keyboards
- Leon Pendarvis– keyboards, background vocals, musical arrangements
- Harry Whitaker – keyboards, musical arrangements
- Anthony Jackson– bass guitar
- Basil Fearrington – bass
- Will Lee– bass guitar
- Gary King– bass, musical arrangements
- Steve Gadd– drums
- Allan Schwartzberg– drums
- Jimmy Wong – drums
- Howard King – drums
- Idris Muhammad– drums
- Crusher Bennett – percussion
- David Carey – percussion
- Jimmy Maelen– percussion
- James Mtume– percussion, background vocals
- Michael Kamen– oboe solo, musical arrangements
- Jim Gilstrap, Lani Groves, Gwen Guthrie, Yvonne Lewis, Gene McDaniels, Zach Sanders, Brenda White, Deniece Williams– backing vocals
Track listing:
- Why Don’t You Move in with Me – Gene McDaniels
- The Closer I Get to You – Reggie Lucas, James Mtume
- Fine, Fine Day – Rachel Perry
- This Time I’ll Be Sweeter – Pat Grant, Gwen Guthrie
- 25th of Last December – Gene McDaniels
- After You – Michael Masser, Ron Miller
- I’d Like to Be Baby to You – Morgan Ames
- Soul Deep – Wayne Carson
- Love is the Healing – Gene McDaniels
- Where I’ll Find You – David McHugh
Spyro Gyra: Carnaval
On September 29, 1980, “MCA” label released “Carnaval”, the fourth Spyro Gyra album. It was recorded in 1980, at “Secret Sound Studio” in New York City, and was produced by Jay Beckenstein and Richard Calandra.
Personnel:
- Jay Beckenstein – saxophones, piano
- Tom Schuman, Jeremy Wall – keyboards
- Dave Samuels – marimba, vibraphone
- Chet Catallo, Hiram Bullock, Rick Strauss, John Tropea – guitar
- Jim Kurzdorfer – bass
- Will Lee – bass guitar
- Eli Konikoff – drums
- Steve Jordan – drums
- Gerardo Velez – percussion
- Errol “Crusher” Bennett – percussion, congas
- Steve Kroon, Richard Calandra – percussion
- Rob Mounsey – synthesizer
- Randy Brecker – trumpet
- Tom Malone – trombone, trumpet
- Michael Brecker – flute
- David Darling – cello
- Jeremy Wall – horn and string arrangements, conductor
- Tom Schuman – horn and string arrangements, conductor
- Neil Dorfsman, Jack Malken – engineer
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
Track listing:
- Cafe Amore – Chet Catallo
- Dizzy – Tom Schuman, Eli Konikoff
- Awakening – Jeremy Wall
- Cachaca – Jay Beckenstein
- Fox Trot – Jay Beckenstein
- Sweet ‘n’ Savvy – Tom Schuman
- Bittersweet – Jay Beckenstein
- Carnaval – Jeremy Wall
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