By Rosine Alleva – Rock At Night EU Editor
For this Yecla Jazz Festival new edition, Rock At Night was again present at this beautiful venue, the Concha Segura theater.
This year, the first interview and concert was a fantastic discovery with Gisele Jackson. What a Lady, what a ray of sunshine, and above all what a Soul diva!
Raised with soul music, Gisele started her career while still a student, performing with her first soul band. She later toured as a “Raylette” with Ray Charles, but also accompanying Donna Summer, James Brown or opening acts for Bette Midler, the Commodores and many more artists. Additionally to this amazing career she performed at the Inauguration of U.S. President William H. Clinton!
A soul diva but not only. With her worldwide smash hit “Love Commandments” reaching No. 3 on the Billboard dance and house music chart, the single propelled Gisele in the world of house music! She also played the lead role in several musicals including ‘The Life and Death of Bessie Smith’.
Gisele Jackson was accompanied on stage by her band, The Shu Shu’s, with David Wilkinson on guitar, Abel Boquera on the Hammond organ and Caspar St. Charles on drums. Such an excellent voice and a charismatic presence! She performed a medley of soul classics “Baby I love you”, “Son of a preacher man”, “Get up” and her own songs, “Cornbread, Chicken and Collared greens” absolutely brilliant! Between her songs she invited a young man and a young woman on stage to do a few dance steps with her, great moment!
The interview took place before the concert.
RAN– It’s a real privilege meeting you! I don’t understand why I haven’t heard about you!
GJ– It’s ok! Well, you know that’s just the way the business is. You know what I mean? I’ve seen that all the time.There are so many great talents out there in the industry. Because the industry didn’t set a standard. So, you know, it was all about image and creating all these things, but less about talent. So, I’ve got used to it.
RAN– First of all, I’m quite curious… my colleague, who’s Portuguese (José Oliveira) saw James Brown five times. And he used to be – well, he still is, a music journalist from 1976 onwards. So I asked him which years he’d seen James Brown in France. Perhaps you were already in the backing choir with him back then?
Gisele Jackson– I’m not really sure… My time with him was in Switzerland and Germany.
RAN– Germany and Switzerland are very close to Alsace, Colmar and Strasbourg, where he saw him a few times. José was a huge James Brown
GJ– He was the man! Sure, sure, sure! So, I mean, there were times when I actually went on tour with him, when I was his support act, and then there were other times when I sang backing vocals. Most of the backing vocals I did with him were in New York City. But I went on tour with him loads of times.
RAN– How did you meet the Shu Shu’s?
GJ– Well, it’s an interesting story. The drummer rang me because I’d lived in Spain for three years, in Castelldefels. And he asked me if I’d be interested in working with them on the project. So we met up for lunch. And whilst we were in the restaurant, the owner of Luz de Gas was there. And they’re good friends. So they started chatting about this, said the others and then we got our first gig! So, when I left, I came to visit. And they were in the studio. And they said, “let’s make a couple of videos. We put them online. Let’s see. Who knows.” So we did a couple of our favourite songs. They put them on a video. And then Peppi Fernández rang us from Madrid and put us on his roster. And that’s how we started touring with them.
RAN– How did that name Shu Shu’s come from? It sounds really cool!
GJ– Right, so that’s what happened. The drummer’s son was trying to say something and ‘Shushu’s just came out. So, they stuck with it. So the drummer’s son had something to do with it. Lots of folks like it, it’s very catchy.
RAN– How would you describe the connection you’ve got with the musicians?
GJ– I know Caspar, the drummer, for a long time, since 2012, 2013. But I met Abel a bit later, then the guitarist a bit later. We’ve got a lot in common. So we’ve changed our set list a few times now because we simply have so much music. So, yeah, we like a lot of the same music. So it’s easy! It’s fun!
RAN– You grew up surrounded by soul music. What’s your view of this genre today?
GJ– Well, nowadays they’ve really mixed too many genres together. There’s really nothing that’s pure in terms of genre. And whilst I’m teaching, I try to explain – I try to get my students to understand the difference between genres and why. Instrumentation, history, lyrics, life stories – and these days, music is often more concerned with drama, with sounding pretty, with being polished, and all that sort of thing. But soul music was never like that. It was raw. It was life. It was life’s hard knocks. It was joy. It was the beauty of freedom… It was freedom. And those things are missing. That’s why you can’t really talk about soul music these days. So, it’s not really soul. It’s just overproduced and has less to do with music.
RAN– Yes, quite superficial. It’s focused on what’s on the surface, on visuals rather than on emotions.
GJ– Yes, exactly, exactly, Right on!
RAN– So, your connection you had with Ray Charles, and James Brown as well…How would you put it now, today, if you had a guest, who would it be and who would you love to work with today? From the Soul era or in general.
GJ– Today? Now, that’s a good question. Right. I’d really love to have a go with Aretha Franklin.
RAN– Yes, of course Aretha Franklin – who wouldn’t? But she’s no longer with us, unfortunately.
GJ– Right, now, today? Right now, I like Robert Craig and Keb’ Mo’. Blues, yes! Oh, they’re so good! Keb’ Mo’ is so good!
RAN– And if you had to only choose one style of music to sing today, which would you choose? I know you’re into loads of things – house music as well…
GJ– So that’s another good question. Classic Soul is what I love, without a doubt. But I also love disco. I sing a lot of disco.
RAN– It’s very interesting you sing house music as well as it’s a different vocal approach, it can’t be compared to other styles.
GJ- For me, with house music or dance music or techno, it’s because it’s on the beat two and four. Sometimes it becomes… That’s why you only have shouted choruses, because it doesn’t really lend itself to jazz standards. It doesn’t give the vocals a chance to really flow. No, that’s it. It’s very steady. And that’s what makes it different. That’s what makes it house. You know, because I’ve worked with lots of producers, and as I’m a “singer singer” and when I was making house music they’d say to me: ‘No, Giselle, ‘Stay there, just stick to that, right there, in the groove.’“I’m fine, fine, fine!”, because I want, you know, to do something more. I was like, ‘OK, that’s fine.’ Haha!
RAN– I read somewhere that you wanted to highlight women in the blues who haven’t really received the recognition they deserve. And you said that you wanted to devote yourself to that kind of project. How’s that coming along?
GJ– There was a time… It’s still there. Wow, you really did something ….because when I was just starting out, when I graduated from university, I had a programme that was entirely about Bessie Smith. All about Bessie Smith. And unfortunately, you know, it got a bit lost between disco and classic soul, you know. It hasn’t disappeared, it’s not gone I just need to give it a fresh twist. I’ve had the chance to sing lots of those songs by Ma’ Rainey and Big Maybelle, but with the Mojo Blues Band from Vienna, Austria. So I’ve had the chance to sing those songs with them.But as for developing my own solo show, not yet. But thanks for bringing it up!
RAN– Well, I think it’s a very interesting topic, and a lot of people would be ready and would find it amazing…yes.
You sang for Bill Clinton, unbelievable!
GJ– That was quite interesting. It was quite a night, it was quite a night! And at the time, you know, he’s a saxophonist. Oh, yes! He plays the tenor saxophone. And there I was with an all-female big band, and the bandleader played the saxophone too. So we had two stages, and at the other end was Clarence Clemons. So, when President Clinton came down, we sort of knew because Hillary was very committed to having women be part of the inauguration. She was a champion for women. And so, when he came down, we just knew he was going to play the saxophone. We were hoping he’d play the saxophone with us. But he played with Clarence Clemons on the other side. Hahaha! We were like…oh nooo! But it was okay. He was still there. He waved. So, yeah, quite a night!
RAN– And do you sometimes lend your voice to recording sessions for certain artists?
GJ: Well, not yet. I haven’t done that yet. I haven’t been asked to do that kind of thing, but if I were to… Yes, I’d love to collaborate.
RAN: You did the Johnny Walker campaign, right?
GJ: Yes, yes, exactly. Yes, but those things… The industry has changed a lot. And unfortunately, the music industry didn’t maintain a standard. Instead, they went with whatever made money. So, really… It’s really unfortunate that for artists now it’s less about their art and more about management and more about, you know… And it’s very unfortunate that the music industry simply didn’t set the standard or the precedent. And maybe they can. Maybe it’ll come back at some point, but yeah, it’s hard to say right now.
RAN: I was thinking about artists you probably know, like Judith Hill. Have you heard of her? We saw her last year at San Javier.
GJ– Judith Hill, yeah! ooh! Wow! She does a version of ‘Walk This Way’. Oh my god! What a talent! Wow, I love that woman!
RAN: And I’m sure you do know Mother’s Finest. They’re good friends.
GJ– That’s right, that’s right – you’re talking about my school! That’s something I grew up with, Mother’s Finest. Yes, you’re kidding me! That one, that one! You write down my road! “🎶love will make you oh so happy🎶”. Yeah, that’s my jam!
RAN– Amazing! That’s why we’re here tonight! Thank you so much Gisele!
GJ– Thank you, thank you, it’s a pleasure, awesome!
Gisele Jackson WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
The Shu Shu’s WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
Photos ©Tomas Martinez
PHOTO GALLERY
From Belgian and Italian parents, I grew up with music, dance and big fun! I love singing since I'm a little girl, I still am, haha. When I was 14, I saw my first concert: T-Rex. Later it was FrankZappa, Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Fela, Canned Heat, Little Feat, Bonnie Raitt, Earth, Wind and Fire ....
I dreamed to have a chat with each of them 😀 Before interviewing bands, I used to sing (and still do) and met lots of great musicians. I had the chance to be the support band to Joe Cocker in 2007. I love to communicate and meet people (Italian blood).
Working for magazine, a few years ago, l met José Oliveira! We were working at the same festival in Colmar. 2 people from the South with the same passion just recognized each other...and we stayed in contact since then. Here I am! Enjoying concerts, covering interviews and articles with José for Rock at Night!!
