Jackson Greenberg is a Los Angeles-based composer, producer, and performer born and raised in Philadelphia. From a young age, Jackson was a featured soloist in various Philadelphia all-city youth jazz ensembles. He was close to pursuing a career in jazz performance when, during his senior year, his high school drama teacher insisted he write the score for her two plays: Dracula and The Tempest. It was these experiences of witnessing his compositions supporting drama that led Jackson to instead pursue a career in composition.
Today, Jackson is our featured artist in “The Inside Story,” a blog series exploring the inner workings and personalities of our composers and performers. Read on to discover how he embarrassed himself in front of The Roots…
Who was your first favorite artist(s) growing up?
Bruce Springsteen
When did you realize that you wanted to be an artist?
When I got kicked out of math class for playing basketball with markers.
What was your most unusual performance, or the most embarrassing thing that happened to you during a performance?
My college rock band opened for The Roots in front of the entire school and every member of the band started our first song in a different key.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Philadelphia sports
If you could make a living at any job in the world, what would that job be?
Other than musician? Professional tennis player or rare bird watcher
If you could spend creative time anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Writing cabin at my favorite spot in Sequoia National Park. Those trees are so big they fill up your entire mental space, forcing you to forget about yourself
If you could instantly have expertise performing one instrument, what instrument would that be?
Tenor sax so I could rip solos at friends’ weddings.
What was your favorite musical moment on the album?
When you can hear just the vibraphone and stage noise at the end of First Light
What does this album mean to you personally?
Just because something doesn’t come together immediately doesn’t mean it never will. Trust the process.
Is there a specific feeling that you would like communicated to audiences in this work?
Any feeling will do. Feeling in and of itself is enough.
FIRST LIGHT by Jackson Greenberg is now available to stream or purchase through Ravello Records. Click here to explore this new album.
