Willis "Gator" Jackson, born April 25 1932, was an American jazz tenor saxophonist most active in the 1950s and 1960s. In the latter decade, Jackson made a number of albums on which he was leader for the Prestige label.
Born in Miami, Florida, and educated at the University of Miami, Jackson joined Cootie Williams's band in 1948 as a teenager, and was part of it off-and-on until 1955.
Under his own name (Willis Jackson and His Orchestra) he recorded various rhythm-and-blues instrumentals for Atlantic Records. His most famous cut for Atlantic is "Gator's Groove" (1952), with "Estrellita" as the B-side.
DISC ONE
1 Cool Gifts 8:36
2 Come Back To Sorrento 4:33
3 Dinky’s Mood 3:58
4 Please Mr. Jackson 5:48
5 633 Knock 5:22
6 Memories Of You 6:06
7 Keep On A Blowin’
8 How Deep Is the Ocean? 4:05
9 On The Sunny Side Of The Street 3:31
10 Blue Strollin’ 7:46
11 The Man I Love 7:13
12 A Smooth One 5:24
DISC TWO
1 Blue Gator 9:16
2 Try A Little Tenderness 6:02
3 Gator’s Tail 3:43
4 This Was Nearly Mine 4:34
5 East Breeze 10:04
6 She’s Funny That Way 5:15
7 Careless Love 4:27
8 Oatmeal 4:29
9 I Remember Clifford 3:54
10 A Twist Of Blues 5:48
11 Sweet Peter Charleston 6:57
12 Again 4:09
13 He Said, She Said, I Said 3:59
14 Girl Of My Dreams 6:41
DISC THREE
1 Mellow Blues 9:00
2 Sportin’ 4:48
3 When I Fall In Love 4:02
4 Cookin’ Sherry 8:12
5 Where Are You? 5:41
6 Contrasts 5:47
7 Thunderbird 5:07
8 Oh, Lady Be Good! 5:29
9 Back And Forth 9:16
10 California Sun 3:54
11 Body And Soul 7:56
12 A Penny Serenade 7:44
DISC FOUR
1 Cachita 3:48
2 I Left My Heart In San Francisco 3:22
3 Amor 7:45
4 Mama Inez 4:54
5 What Kind Of Fool Am I 5:10
6 Shuckin’ 5:28
7 Boss St. Louis Blues 8:16
8 Que Sera, Sweetie 7:02
9 Shoutin’ 6:46
10 Nice And Easy 6:39
11 Your Wonderful Love 5:58