Working with New York's Mayor Bloomberg by day and gracing jazz club stages by night, Lolita Jackson is a blend of the right and left brain. On her fourth visit to Shanghai, Lolita chats with us about music, problem-solving and the "pulse" of this city.
What is your day job?
I am
Manhattan Director of Community Affairs for the NYC Mayor's Office, Community
Affairs Unit.
I played
instruments (clarinet, bass clarinet and tenor saxophone) from ages 9-18 and
didn't really sing at that time - it is very hard to sing when there is a
mouthpiece in your mouth. :)
When I got
to college, I joined the gospel choir because it was a very social way to meet
other black students at my school (there were no tryouts). I have a powerful voice
and ended up being one of the lead alto singers in the choir as a freshman. I
was 'discovered' by a classmate who was a member of a campus a cappella jazz
group - he encouraged me to try out for his group and I was accepted my
sophomore year. I learned to sing jazz during the three years I was in that
group.
How do you contribute to the
"good city" in what you do (both in your job and gifting as a
musician)?
In my job I
am able to help people get their problems solved - from the seemingly mundane
to large scale borough wide issues. I can make a difference at times in a
matter of one telephone call. Through my involvement in the arts I have been
able to assist art institutions in navigating city red tape - I can often see
the issue from both sides and come to resolution faster than someone else who
doesn't know the artist mind. I feel that I am able to blend both artistry and
science in both my job and jazz singing - I am always the organizer in a band
as far as getting gigs and making sure we get paid, etc., and at my job I
always try to see the problem and potential solutions from multiple angles,
which comes from my creative side. I went to school for engineering which is
why I have that blended personality.
If you could describe
Come hear Lolita belt out some tunes at a special concert at twocities this Wednesday evening. Joining her on stage will be some of the finest jazz musicians based in Shanghai.
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