(*12. Januar1940 in Fort Worth, Texas; † 19. Oktober2013 ebenda[1]) war ein US-amerikanischer Jazzmusiker mit innovativem Schlagzeugspiel. Er war zunächst vom freien Schlagzeugspiel eines Milford Graves und eines Sunny Murray beeinflusst, entwickelte es aber in einer polyrhythmischen Komplexität weiter, wobei er funkige Grooves besonders betonte. Mit diesem Stil konnte er ein größeres Publikum erreichen.
Shannon Jackson nahm als Teenager an regelmäßigen Sessions von Begleitmusikern vonRay Charles teil. In Texas, Missouri und Connecticut studierte er Geschichte und Soziologie. Mitte der 1960er kam er aufgrund eines Musikstipendiums nach New York City und war dort an Albert Aylers legendären Free-Jazz-Aufnahmen beteiligt. Ferner spielte er mit Charles Mingus, Betty Carter, Jackie McLean, Joe Henderson, Kenny Dorham, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ray Bryant, Bennie Maupin und Stanley Turrentine. Mitte der 1970er gehörte er zu den Musikern, die mitOrnette Coleman im harmolodischen System ein rockgebundenes freies Spiel entwickelten.Diesen Jazzpunkentwickelte er in der Gruppe des Coleman-Gitarristen James Blood Ulmer weiter. Ende der 1970er spielte er auch mit Cecil Taylor und mit Albert Mangelsdorff. Dann gründete er 1980 seine z.T. großformatige Gruppe Decoding Societygründete, in der das Konzept zur Reife gebracht wurde. Mit ihr trat er mehrfach erfolgreich in Europa (zunächst beim Moers Festival) auf. Allerdings schliff sich „die innovative Wut“ seinerDecoding Society, so meint Wolf Kampmann, „trotz exzellenter Mitspieler wie Vernon Reid, Steve Salas, Reggie Washington oder Eric Person schnell ab und wich gegen Ende der 80er uninspirierter Groove-Routine.“Während seine Drum-&-Poetry-Versuche nicht anerkannt waren, konnte er mit dem von Bill Laswell produzierten Album Red Warrior „wieder an die Anfangszeit seiner Band“ anschließen. 1986 und später war er erfolgreich mit Bill Laswell, Peter Brötzmann und Sonny Sharrock als Last Exitunterwegs, in den frühen 1990ern dann mit dem BassistenMelvin Gibbs und dem Gitarristen Bill Frisell als Power Tools.Eine Nervenerkrankung zwang ihn in den 1990er Jahren, sein Spiel einzustellen. Er verlegte sich zeitweise aufs Komponieren. Ab 2005 konnte er wieder auftreten.] Zuletzt war er in Europa mit Wadada Leo Smith, Vijay Iyer und John Lindberg bzw. mit Melvin Gibbs, Joseph Bowie, Vernon Reid und James Blood Ulmer unterwegs. Im Oktober 2013 erlag er im Alter von 73 Jahren einer Leukämieerkrankung.Der Rolling Stone listete ihn 2016 auf Rang 83 der 100 besten Schlagzeuger aller Zeiten.
Pål Thowsen has won the Norwegian Grammy twice, in 1977 and 79, he has also been nominated five times for the same price.
In 1985 he was voted in as number 5 on the list of Europe’s best drummers in the German magazine “Jazz Forum.” In 2000 he received The Norwegian lifelong State income guarantee for artists.
He has made eight records in his own name and appeared on approx. ninety records with different artist and toured, played on tv and radio productions both with his own band and other groups. Since his career started in 1973, he has been playing his drums on Jazz festivals in Norway and Europe.
For the past three years he has been playing in the band Dag Arnesen Trio and he is teaching at the Norwegian Musical College. And he plays in the band Metropolitan.
His professional career started at the age of seventeen, playing the drums in Arild Andersen Quartet. And from 1974- 1978 he did four albums with the quartet: “Clouds in my head.” ECM. “Shimry.” ECM. “Green shading into blue.” ECM and “Jazz Jamboree vol.1” Warzava Rec. They toured all over Europe and in Norway playing on festivals and doing concerts. At the same time he also played in the jazz rock group Moose Loose. In 1973 he started his lifelong collaboration with Jon Eberson.
From 1974 to 1990 he made approximately 10 records with Ketil Bjørnstad, and he was the musical adviser for the record “Leve Pantagonia.” Polygram. This also led to several recordings with Ole Paus.
He played on the classic, “Nøkkelen ligger under matta.” (1974) with Finn Kalvik. In 1976 he entered the studio and did a remarkable record with his famous colleague Jon Christensen. For this record, “No time for time”, they received the Norwegian Grammy.
From 1977 to -79 he was a member of the Radka Toneff Quintet, besides touring they did the significant album, “It don’t come easy.” in 1979. And in 1979 he also won the Norwegian grammy for his own record, “Surprise.”
He played with Terje Rypdal Band from 1981- 84 and with the legendary Jazzpunk ensemble from 1982 to 1997.
In 1983 he also toured all over Scandinavia with “The Scandinavian Today Tour,” led by Palle Mikkelborg. At this time he also worked a lot with Janne Schaffer and Bjôrn J:son Lindh.
With Jon Eberson he has played since the start of his carreer from smaller bands like the Net, and the quartet Halle Eberson Kjellemyr Thowsen, to the Jazzpunkensemble. And since 1998 he has also played concerts and recorded with “The Metropolitan feat. Beate Slettevold Lech.”
He is also playing in a trio with Sinnika Langeland and Bjørn Kjellemyr and for the record “Runoja.” Sinnika received the Edvard price in 2003.
The trio with Dag Arnesen, Thowsen, Gewelt, released the record “Time Enough.” in 2005, They started working together in 2004, and they and their next record will be relased in January 2007. They have toured Norway and played on a Molde Jazzfestival and Bergens Mai Jazz
In the 80´s he released solo albums in the west coast music style and also had a project with the singer Tor Endresen.
