There’s been a death in the family, and I’m stepping up as a GBH family member to deliver a few more words about the passing of our beloved colleague Eric Jackson. A few more words to add to the outpouring of personal remembrances and tributes for the man known as the "Dean of Boston Jazz Radio."
It’s been a little over a week since news of Eric’s death reverberated through the worldwide community of jazz lovers for whom he was an icon and among jazz artists who have long respected and admired him. And I’m still coming to terms with the fact that his voice — his smooth, melodious voice — has been silenced.
Eric always talked about making a career choice between being a musician or becoming a radio host. After a few previous stops at WBCN and WBUR, he landed behind the mic at GBH where his then-weeknight program, “Eric in the Evening,’’ became a fixture.
I was directed to his program when I moved to Boston and quickly joined his legions of loyal fans. Eric brought all of himself to his show — carefully programming the show often around themes, inserting information about the album, the specific piece he selected and the musicians who were performing. I loved it when he would point out all the connections, telling listeners that the horn player on a certain album had also performed on other pieces of music, which he could also name. He didn’t lecture, he told stories weaving the anecdotes and bits of history in and around the musical selections. Many times while listening, I would say out loud, “I didn’t know that.” Because his knowledge was broad and deep, his interviews with jazz artists were regularly revelatory. He conducted more than 3,000 interviews, relaxed and warm conversations with both jazz masters and emerging artists.
He was a fierce advocate for jazz and champion of the African American roots of the genre. And while his weekend broadcasts were the centerpiece of his work at large, in recent years, he moved into streaming on GBH’s Jazz 24/7.
He was a frequent guest on my radio show Under the Radar with Callie Crossley, where we discussed jazz trends and offered tributes to legendary performers. We also occasionally tag-teamed outside of the station doing talks together. I really enjoyed the talkback we did following a 2012 Huntington Theatre Company performance of August Wilson’s Broadway hit play “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
I’m comforted knowing that Eric was showered with communal love in 2018 during multiple celebrations of his 40th year as a radio host at GBH. Now I’m imagining him greeting his largest audience ever with the tinkling notes of his signature show opening, Tommy Flanagan’s “Peace.” You’ve earned your eternal peace, Eric. I’ll miss you.
