His playing is characterized by the frequent use of double horns, wielding two saxophones at the same time, a style he emulates fromRahsaan Roland Kirk (whose style and technique influenced Jackson).[3] He also plays flutes and whistles. In theNME, reviewer Jonathan Barnett called David Jackson "the Van Gogh of the saxophone – a renegade impressionist, dispensing distorted visions of the world outside from his private asylum window".[4]
Jackson was a member of the English progressive rock bandVan der Graaf Generator for most of the 1970s and for their 2005 reunion tour. His speciality was then electric saxophones, usingoctave devices,wah-wah and powerful amplification.
Jackson has collaborated with other musicians, frequently with other members of Van der Graaf Generator, as onThe Long Hello project. He collaborated on a number of projects with VdGG co-founderJudge Smith, and performed withPeter Gabriel at theReading Festival in 1979. Jackson works often with Italian rock musicians, most particularlyAlex Carpani Band from Bologna andOsanna from Naples. In 2012 and 2013 he toured the European and American continents with the Alex Carpani Band.[citation needed]
Jackson attended theUniversity of St Andrews, reading psychology,[5] andUniversity of Surrey, Roehampton, studying teaching. He has worked as a mathematics teacher for primary school children in the UK.[6]
He has also worked with physically and mentally disabled people, enabling them to make music through the use of a technology known asSoundbeam.[7][8] He is also a Soundbeam trainer, system designer and builder.[9] A documentary about his work with autistic children was broadcast onBBC Radio 4 in 1998.
Tonewall is the name for his idea. Apart from Soundbeams this also features Echo-Mirrors and Jellybean Eye. Jackson works together with groups of people of all levels of ability and even profound disability to create music together on stage, accompanied by musicians from diverse styles, such asorchestral andjazz musicians,Caribbean music, and much more.[9]
A characteristic hallmark is Jackson's black leathernewsboy cap with its visor that clings to his forehead decorated with several pins, which he has worn on stage for more than 50 years.[11]
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