Roderick Jackson (Cleveland, Ohio), began his interest in percussive music at age 10.  In 1990, his relocation to New York city propelled intensive study of the rhythms, dances, and instruments involved in multiple cultures, including those of Afro-Brazilian, West African, South African, Angolan, Korean, and Haitian origin.  Mr. Jackson is currently the music director for Batoto Yetu Children's African Dance Company.  He has collaborated with several additional dance companies, including Chet walker's Eight and Ah 1 Dance Ensemble, Omar Edwards' Jeremiah Funk Ensemble, David Pleasant's Riddim Athon Percussion Ensemble, and Young Soon Kim's white Wave Rising Dance Company.  Mr. Jackson has also recorded commercial works for The Children's Television Workshop, Sesame Street, Rabbit Ears Productions, Nickelodeon, Angelina Ballerina, The Smithsonian Institute, and the motion picture Beloved.  He understudied for the lead percussionist role of Chaka in the Broadway musical Marie Christine, starring Audra Mc Donald.  Mr. Jackson has been a faculty member at several notable dance institutions, including Jacob's Pillow, the Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions at New York University, an Earl Mosely's Institute of the Arts. He is the founder of Palms Down Percussion, a company that creates percussion-based music CD's for dance and creative movement.  Currently, Mr. Jackson is a percussionist for the Ailey Arts in Education and Community Programs, and has been on staff at the Ailey School since 1997.
palmsdown@hotmail.com