The ever-restless songwriter Joe Jackson travelled the world to record Fast Forward, his fi rst collection of original songs in seven years.Originally conceived to be released as a series of EPs, the album was produced and arranged by Jackson, and features four sets of four songs recorded in four differentcities New York, New Orleans, Berlin and Amsterdam each with a different set of fi rst-call supporting musicians. The results rank among the richest and most rewardingmusic of his storied career.NEW YORKJackson has called New York home for many years. He recorded these tracks with Bill Frisell on guitar, Brian Blade on drums, his long-time bassist Graham Maby, andjazz violin star Regina Carter. Along with three originals including the albums title track, these sessions feature a scorching take on a New York classic, Televisions SeeNo Evil.AMSTERDAMDistinguished by the most diverse instrumentation of the four sessions, Jackson is joined on these songs by frequent collaborators Stefan Kruger and Stefan Schmidfrom the band Zuco 103, the Concertgebouw orchestra, and the projects only guest vocalist, 14-year-old Mitchell Sink.BERLINBerlin is Jacksons second home, and he recorded here with two expatriate American musicians: acoustic bass master Greg Cohen (Tom Waits, Ornette Coleman, BobDylan) and Tindersticks drummer Earl Harvin. These sessions produced the albums second cover, Jacksons modern English take on the 1930s German Kabarettsong Good Bye Jonny.NEW ORLEANSJackson travelled to one of his favourite cities, New Orleans, to record with an all-local cast including three members of the funk band Galactic - drummer Stanton Moore,bassist Robert Mercurio, and guitarist Jeff Raines and a horn section led by saxophonist Donald Harrison.