Leigh Jackson

Leigh Jackson was born ‘within the sound of Bow Bells’ in Marylebone, London  and has been playing the Guitar since an early age. His first influence was through his uncle in London who was a recognised player in the gypsy and flamenco style. Leigh moved to New Zealand in his teens and has been playing professionally for 30 years and is fortunate to have shared the stage with many international and local artists as a Jazz, Rock and Fusion guitarist. Visit his website to see the extensive list of great musicians he has played with.

Leigh became the first person in NZ to complete a Masters degree in jazz performance which he was awarded with distinction in 2002. Leigh was the founder and Head of the Jazz Guitar department of Wellington’s Massey University (New Zealand School of Music) and lecturer in Jazz Piano, Jazz Guitar Jazz Theory, Composition and Improv. After 18 years of teaching Leigh was amongst a group that left the department in 2004. Leigh has taught postgrad level Jazz at Canterbury University and on the Academy at Victoria University and has several undergraduate and postgrad students that visit him regularly. He also teaches degree students at Whitirea Polytech.

Has worked as a producer for New Zealand jazz labels Rata-Records, Yatra Records and his own company Lydian Records. Recent recordings produced by Leigh include “Parallax“, The Rite of Swing” and “Fragments of the Blues“, also Double Play by virtuoso bass player Ben Shepherd.

Leigh is running three programmes which are designed to run together but can be taken separately too. The first part of the programme is a jazz theory course (which will run for a term) which then leads onto part 2, improvisation and part 3, playing with others in a combo and coached by Leigh.

Learn more about Leigh at http://www.leighjackson.com/