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literally at the top of the heap with musicology business – the Beatles did it right – including how to When my grandmother was suffering from Alzhei- the desire to hear music never died. Musicians and
programs. It is because of the outstanding program learn from their mistakes. They made it because there mer’s, she didn’t forget songs. those who love music just found new ways to bring
that attracted me back to Jackson and audition, were more than just the four members, it was a musi- Humans gravitate toward music; you can’t go any- it to the listener. COVID brought out technolo-
submitting writing samples, and the whole process cal machine. They had a great manager, a great pro- where in the world without experiencing some type gy, bringing music virtually to the people. It also
of becoming accepted. I was really blessed they loved ducer, a great record label behind them and a great of music. Demographics somewhat effects that, for has provided a time to write. During this massive
me and accepted me in that program, finishing my marketing team. So, studying the Beatles holistically example in West Tennessee it is culturally, political- lockdown, musicians continued to produce their
doctorate at the UM. and not just their music was a heavy influence on me. ly, socially, economically, and so forth different than music. We are going to see a great creative peri-
that of Anchorage, Alaska or that of Helsinki, Fin- od now, post COVID. I mean even after COVID,
Ultimately, Lambuth hired me back. But within three When it comes to guitar players, of course Stevie Ray land. So demographically, you have different cultural people will be provided new opportunities to view
years the school unfortunately fell on irreversible Vaughn or drummers like Matt Sorum. I love The instruments, sounds, voices, technologies, and even concerts, perhaps online virtual tickets will boom
hard times and closed. Luckily around that time UM Red Hot Chili Peppers to Pearl Jam, and more recent different influencers but still music can bring people because people may prefer to watch the concern
took over Lambuth and allowed me to stay on, since bands like Big Wreck and Thornley. Honestly, I like together locally, as well as globally. Music is universal from their less crowded living room, or some will
I was well established. I was the only musicology pro- good music. I mean it could be Michael Bublé’ some- and connective, but it is also a vehicle for change, for be anxious to catch a live show again.
fessor left, so UM not only asked me to stay but asked one like Dua Lipa, who is just the epitome of good emotions, and honestly a vehicle for our memory.
that I start a music program on Lambuth’s campus, music and solid songwriting. In the country genre, Jenna: The pandemic has offered musicians a
now called University of Memphis, Lambuth. Chris Stapleton. Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, I Jenna: Yes, while we may not all understand the chance to breath a little bit, perhaps take stock of
mean “Red Headed Stranger” by Nelson in 1975 is words, we can all understand the music. and reprioritize their life; including take the time
ZGP: Who are some of your musical influ- just awesome. to reflect on their artistic visions; to step back and
ences? ZGP: If tomorrow all the music was gone, discover what it all means. Even though the time
ZGP: How do you feel music connects peo- you two had to create it, how would you has been painful for many, hopefully, something
Jenna: I’ve always felt Jazz fit me like a glove. I mean ple and unifies humanity? start? good has emerged.
I studied classical music first in my undergrad, and Dr. Jeremy Tubbs
I feel like I could be good at it but inevitably I just Jenna: That’s a great question. It goes back to what Jenna: The first thing I think of is our voice. No matter with his amazing
didn’t feel it was a good fit for my voice. I think I qualifies as good music. I think we can appreciate it the culture, all singing comes from speech so that and talented wife,
have an old soul in that way. My maternal grandfa- if whoever is putting the music out, writing music, would be a great starting point. Experimenting with Allison.
ther sang with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the music performing music has some sort of personal offering the different sounds of our voices, that could go in so
army in the 40s. So, it’s probably in my blood to love or connection for the listener. If they are revealing a many directions.
the American Songbook. Some of my favorite musi- piece of their soul to an audience. This is valuable to
cal influences are the legendary Ella Fitzgerald and people who are consuming music and why the listen- Jeremy: If look at the history of music, of course in-
Sarah Vaughan, plus some of the newer jazz singers er continues to return to music for the connections. struments were created, but for the most part almost
like Esperanza Spalding and Cecile McLorin Sal- Why we turn it on at all is to tap into someone else’s all the music that has survived throughout history is
vant. Salvant is young like me and is really doing the insight and experience and find out we are not alone vocal music. Writing sounds, which took thousands of
straight jazz thing. She is gaining acclaim for doing and to connect to that shared human experiences. years, took a huge amount time to achieve. If we forget Check out Jackson’s Anthem
jazz well. Of course, I really love the funk and soul On the artist side of things, you can appear quite everything, and everything went away it would just produced by Dr. Tubbs
artists like Aretha Franklin, who is one of my great vulnerable. I’ve had people question what a particular start over again. It must, people will start using their
heroes. Donny Hathaway, I literally could go on and song is about and if I’m ok. Sometimes the music isn’t voice to sing, we will bang on things to create sounds,
on. as raw, but sometimes it is, and we draw inspiration and we would be curious about the natural sounds Dr. Jenna McLean
from the music we write and perform. around us. The great thing about music is everyone with Billie
Jeremy: As far as musical influences, I tell my stu- has a place in the puzzle. This means those who enjoy
dents all the time, I just don’t like music that is out Jeremy: As far as how music connects people, my making the music and those who enjoy listening to it;
of tune, for example, or songs without substance. I’m musicology brains says music is the universal lan- perhaps we need more listeners than those making it.
influenced by classical music and literally yesterday guage. Music has healing properties, such as blues But there are people who would wake up, and still be
as I was driving home, I was listening to Beethoven. music talking about the bad stuff, but talking about able to listen to sounds and know what it is exactly.
Eric Clapton was a huge influence and I love him as a it makes you feel better. Music provided therapy. We can be assured of one thing, if we experienced a Check out the
guitar player and a player of blues. Everyone probably Such as the victims in concentration camps, found time where the music actually died, it would not stay Jazz sounds of
says the Beatles, and I will as well because of the early singing was the one thing they could do together that buried long because people would quickly bring it
exposure but the Beatles did so much, that it would brought some sense of peace. So, music in a way is back. Dr. Jenna
be hard not to include them. I believe songwriting, the only thing that does that universally, for humans McLean
recording techniques, how you start a band as a – whether you are a child or an Alzheimer patient. Even with COVID, the desire to produce music and
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