Jackie Washington’s music was rooted in the popular quartets and swinging big bands of the 1930s and 40s. And it was that music that he brought to new, younger audiences playing clubs and folk festivals across Canada.

From one of Canada’s swing masters comes a 22-track CD of unreleased Washington recordings spanning a twenty year period, as well as musical contributions from Colin Linden, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Mose Scarlett, Chris Whiteley, Graham Townsend, Reg Schwager and producer Ken Whiteley.
Jackie Washington received an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario (2003), was inducted into the Canadian Jazz & Blues Hall of Fame (2002), received the Estelle Klein Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals (2001), was inducted into the Gallery of Distinction, Hamilton, Ontario (1995), and received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Arts Council (1991).

DVD included: I Want to Be Happy: The Jackie Washington Story, a documentary produced and directed by Ari A. Cohen (2006) that tells the life story of astounding, then 86-year old jazz singer, guitarist, storyteller and personality, Jackie Washington, who has a musical repertoire of nearly 1,300 songs and whose legendary lifetime spans close to a century of musical and black history. Included are rare archives, numerous live performances, emotional interviews and a road trip touring across Canada. Run time: 47:51

Jackie Washington (November 12, 1919 - June 27, 2009) is a vital part of Canadian music history and this CD + DVD package is a great chance to find out why, especially as we celebrate his 100th birthday in 2019.