Symphony No. 1 is the eleventh studio album by English musician Joe Jackson, released in 1999. It departed from the pop and jazz fusion of his previous works and veered more into pure jazz, thereby marking a significant shift in Jackson's musical style and direction.
The album's title, "Symphony No. 1," suggests a classical composition, however, it is a fusion of jazz, electronic, and symphonic music. The four movements of this composition don't follow a specific narrative, rather they are woven together by recurring musical and lyrical themes which the artist has described as Love, Death, Work, and Faith.
This album not only showcased Jackson’s versatility and innovation as a musician but also won him greatly deserved appreciation. In the same year of its release, it was honored with a Grammy award for Best Pop Instrumental Album.
Guest musicians on this album include renowned artists such as trumpeter Terence Blanchard, percussionist Sue Hadjopoulos, bassist Graham Maby, drummer Dan Hickey, and violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg.
One of the notable features of Symphony No. 1 is that it's the first album Joe Jackson recorded entirely in quadraphonic surround sound with the entire process done on the digital workstation, making this work an impressive blend of arts and technology.
