About this episodePaul Jackson Jr. shares his 48-year career as the most recorded guitar player, emphasizing that success relies…AI summary
Paul Jackson Jr. shares his 48-year career as the most recorded guitar player, emphasizing that success relies on relationships, adaptability, and a 'session-ready' mindset. He details his work on iconic albums like Thriller and Random Access Memories, explaining how Quincy Jones' '10-second rule' and the philosophy of thinking like a drummer are critical for studio musicians. Jackson also discusses the modern shift to remote recording and AI, advocating for embracing technology while maintaining high musical standards.
Key takeaways 6
The '10-Second Rule': Quincy Jones taught that musicians must catch the listener's ear within the first 10 seconds of a track, as radio listeners and modern streaming audiences have short attention spans.
Guitar as a Drummer: Following Freddie Green's philosophy, guitarists should identify which drum they are (hi-hat, snare, etc.) and lock in with the drummer's specific clock and feel, rather than just playing fills.
Session Readiness: To handle cold calls, musicians must have a versatile setup including various guitars (electric, hollow-body), amps, pedals, and the ability to read music, adhering to the principle that 'if you stay ready, you ain't got to get ready.'
Remote Recording Dominance: The industry has shifted to 90-95% remote tracking due to the convenience of having pre-wired home studios with amp modeling tech (Kemper, Tone Master Pro) that ensures consistent sound across different locations.
AI as a Tool, Not a Creator: AI is useful for stem separation (e.g., Moises app) and research, but cannot replace human input; 'garbage in, garbage out' applies to AI music generation.
Mentorship Importance: Jackson emphasizes the duty to share knowledge with the next generation, citing his time teaching at USC and creating his app 'This Is How I Did It' to break down his famous parts.
Notable quotes 5AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
“You got to catch people within 10 seconds... If you don't catch people within 10 seconds back then, they change the station. Now they'll go to something else streaming.”
▶ 17:14Explaining Quincy Jones' philosophy on creating immediate 'ear candy' to retain listener attention.
“A guitar player should be a drummer that plays chords. You're a drummer. You have to figure out which drum you are.”
▶ 21:57Paul Jackson Jr. explaining the Freddie Green approach to locking in with the rhythm section.
“People don't go to hell because they do the wrong things; people go to hell because they don't have the right relationship.”
▶ 10:40Paul Jackson Jr. reflecting on how his career was built on relationships and recommendations rather than just technical skill.
“If you stay ready you ain't got to get ready.”
▶ 20:02A quote from Dr. J. Quik that Paul Jackson Jr. uses to describe his preparation for session work.
“You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear... You have to give it some type of input and the better the input the better the outcome.”
▶ 33:11Paul Jackson Jr.'s perspective on using AI in music production.
Chapters & Sections (23)▼
0:00Booking Sessions via Mom's Phonechapter1
2:38Calling Mom for Session Bookings
5:43Becoming a Session Musicianchapter2
7:47Studio Musician Career and Ray Parker Jr
9:15Relationships and Longevity in Music Sessions
10:47Quincy Jones Studio Process and Thriller Creationchapter2
12:20Paul Jackson Jr. Quincy Jones Collaboration History
14:10Quincy Jones Studio Creative Process
17:02Quincy Jones' 10-Second Rule and Session Readinesschapter1
18:53Cold Session Preparation and Musical Feel
21:50Guitar as Drummer and Amp Modeling Techchapter2
24:57Modern Guitar Amp Modeling Technology
26:24Quiet Stages and Digital Amp Consistency
28:04Remote Recording and AI in Musicchapter2
29:43Technology Evolution in Music Production
31:31AI in Music and Life
33:51Importance of Mentorship in Music Educationchapter2
36:17Mentorship and Real-World Session Preparation
38:09Critique of Music School Instructors
39:56Favorite Recordings and Solo Career Journeychapter1
42:32Iconic Guitar Solos and Solo Career Launch
44:33Solo Career and Legacy Educational Appchapter1
46:47Music Education Platform and Firearms Training
2h 36m
1h 53m
2h 11m⏭ 4
1h 7m
1h 0m
53m⏭ 1
2h 22m⏭ 1
1h 43m
1h 7m⏭ 1
2h 36m⏭ 1
2h 31m
1h 54m⏭ 1
1h 0m⏭ 1
33m
3h 59m⏭ 5
3h 54m⏭ 7
46m
54m⏭ 1
1h 13m
9h 11m
1h 26m
54m⏭ 2
6h 26m
1h 16m⏭ 2