Jackson Tracks

Jackson Tracks

     Whenever I find myself on a journey, which might encompass a multiple day drive or just a short stroll, I am accompanied by my music. A combination of my phone music library, Spotify, KEXP and KCRW radio, and what is given to me from my brothers creates a soundtrack for whatever adventure I am on. Music has always been a large piece of my life, since the days of getting rides from my older brother to school where we listened to iconic jazz musicians like Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. 

     The "Green Monster" was the nickname of my brother's Chevy Suburban which was named for it's likeliness to the historical and prodigious wall found within the confines of Fenway Park. This four wheeled green beast had only the bare necessities, a large bench seat, steering wheel and controls, and a custom sound system. Resting upon the bare floor of the cab between the driver and passenger was a single speaker fashioned into a particle board box that had the craftsmanship of a boy scout birdhouse. The speaker cables ran directly out of the side of the unfinished box into the tape player, which was attached to the bottom of the dash with a similar aesthetic quality. But what the speaker lacked in looks, it made up in sound...sort of. I remember staring at the naked speaker, which was directed straight out of the top of the box, as bounced and vibrated, blasting Duke Ellington. The sound quality was what you could have expected out of a makeshift sound system of this grade, but it didn't matter, because the speaker had made its home in a environment that catered to its style. As the colorful tones of Louis Armstrong's trumpet flowed from the speaker they filled the cab like the warm summer air that poured in through the open windows. I can almost remember every little detail of those rides to school, and most of that I attribute to the music that we often listened to. To this day when I hear one of those classic jazz songs, I find myself taken back to those memories where I sat on the end of that enveloping carpet covered bench seat next to my brother on my way to school.

   If that didn't help paint you a picture of how music has always been a trademark of my memories, then I'm not sure what will. So for those of you who are still with me, I present to you a playlist of tunes that I find myself listening to often during my time in Jackson. I hope that even if you don't understand their symbolism in context to my adventures (some are featured in my video series), that you can at least just simply enjoy some of my favorite tracks.