Joe Jackson’s On ‘Fast Forward’

The new album is called Fast Forward but Jackson’s camp is describing it as a “Tale Of Four Cities” because the LP consists of sessions recorded in New York, Amsterdam, Berlin and New Orleans.

Jackson chose to work with different musicians in each city. The New York recording sessions included guitarist Bill Frisell, drummer Brian Blade, longtime bassist Graham Maby and jazz violinist Regina Carter, resulting in three original compositions and a rendition of Television’s “See No Evil.”

Frequent collaborators Stefan Kruger and Stefan Schmidt from Zuco 103 joined Jackson in the Amsterdam studio along with the Concertgebouw orchestra and the album’s only guest vocalist –  14-year-old Mitchell Sink from Broadway’s “Matilda.”

Calling Berlin his “second home,” Jackson welcomed bassist Greg Cohen (Tom Waits, Ornette Coleman, Bob Dylan) and Tinder sticks drummer Earl Harvin to the studio.  Jackson and his guests recorded original works along with a cover of 1930s German Kabarett song “Good Bye Jonny.”

Jackson’s New Orleans sessions included appearances by Galactic members Stanton Moore on drums, bassist Robert Mercurio and guitarist Jeff Raines plus a horn section led by saxophonist Donald Harrison.

Fast Forward arrives Oct. 2.  Check out the new track “A Little Smile.”

The fall tour will feature Jackson appearing as his own opening act with the maestro doing a short solo set on piano before being joined by his band.  Here are the dates:

Sept. 29 – Seattle, Wash., The Neptune
Oct. 1 – Portland, Ore., Revolution Hall
Oct. 4 – Los Angeles, Calif., Broadway Palace Theatre
Oct. 8 – Denver, Colo., Paramount Theatre
Oct. 10 – Dallas, Texas, Majestic Theatre
Oct. 11 – Houston, Texas, Cullen Performance Hall
Oct. 12 – Austin, Texas, Paramount Theatre
Oct. 14 – New Orleans, La., Joy Theater
Oct. 15 – Atlanta, Ga., Center Stage Theater
Oct. 17 – Glenside, Pa., Keswick Theatre
Oct. 20 – New York, N.Y., Town Hall
Oct. 21 – New York, N.Y., Town Hall
Oct. 22 – Boston, Mass., The Wilbur
Oct. 23 – Washington, D.C., Lincoln Theatre
Oct. 25 – Munhall, Pa., Carnegie Library Music Hall Of Homestead
Oct. 26 – Albany, N.Y., Hart Theatre @ The Egg
Oct. 29 – Northampton, Mass., Academy Of Music Theatre
Oct. 30 – Toronto, Ontario, The Danforth Music Hall
Nov. 2 – Chicago, Ill., Thalia Hall
Nov. 3 – Chicago, Ill., Thalia Hall
Nov. 4 – Saint Paul, Minn., Fitzgerald Theater 

Presales begin this week with general onsales starting July 17.  Check out JoeJackson.com for more information.