Daily Inspiration: Meet Jackson Irvine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackson Irvine

Hi Jackson, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up near Sacramento, California, and began playing the drums in church at age 7. I really idolized the musicians on stage because I thought they were so cool, and they got to eat snacks from the kitchen in between services. I was always eager to prove myself and be the best I could be. When I started playing music in middle school band, I started playing other percussion, including the vibraphone. In high school, I played drums, vibraphone, and piano, but after losing out to another drummer during auditions, I switched primarily to vibraphone so I could stay in the top band. That’s also when I began to love writing and arranging music for big band.

Since then I’ve been incredibly blessed with opportunities to perform, write, and arrange for many ensembles, including the prestigious Thornton Jazz Orchestra at USC. I’ve picked up 8 Student DownBeat awards, traveled to New York, Ireland, and The Netherlands, and began my career as a vibraphonist in Los Angeles in 2021. I’ve had the pleasure of working with such accomplished artists as Vince Mendoza, the Yellowjackets, Bob Reynolds, Jacob Mann, Josh Nelson, and Jon Hatamiya.

During my time in Los Angeles, I also accidentally came upon a new area of the music industry I didn’t know existed: playback arranging. (I have to thank my mentor Stevo Evans for his incredible knowledge and trust in my abilities.) Since 2023 I have been programming live music arrangements for acts such as Ice Spice, Keyshia Cole, Ciara, and Kid Quill, even arranging the national anthem for Coco Jones’ performance on the NFL Season Kickoff game this year.

As I’ve adjusted to life in Los Angeles, I’ve realized that there is more to a career in music than just performing. Living here has been both humbling and enlightening; my eyes have been opened to so many incredible possibilities. In Los Angeles I feel like I can achieve anything.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Music has always been a constant in my life since I was little, but so has my struggle with mental health. I’ve experienced depression and anxiety since I was very young. A musician I’ve always felt strong — a positive part of me that could offset the negative feelings and emotions I felt towards myself. Additionally, I was very obsessed with perfection, and everything I did always had to be perfect. Of course, nothing is, and despite knowing that, it really frustrated me. I was naturally gifted at making music and did well in school, so when I moved to Los Angeles my ego took a big hit, and I didn’t know what to do. After years of therapy and living life, I’ve started to work on bettering myself. It’s still hard to accept when things aren’t perfect, but I know how to deal with it and move on. It’s a struggle everyday, but I try to make every day a triumph.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Right now I’m sort of an everything guy. I perform, I write, arrange, record, teach, transcribe — I’ll change your oil for $40. I work mostly in the Jazz genre, but I’ve done plenty of work in RnB, Hip-Hop, Electronic, Hawaiian, and Rock ‘n’ Roll music. Most of my day to day at the moment includes teaching piano to young students, scheduling gigs for corporate events, and finding time to play music with friends. I’m writing and producing a lot of music, and while most of it doesn’t see the light of day, I’m hoping to change that very soon. I’m quite the perfectionist, so it’s really hard to convince myself that my music is ready to be heard by the rest of the world, but I’m getting better about being able to “let go” of the music and move on to the next thing.

I’m probably most known as a vibraphonist and composer, something that I am very proud of. I write a lot of music for big band, and I always include my own instrument in the band even though it isn’t typical. I was honored to have performed for a tribute concert of Terry Gibbs’ music in Culver City this past October, along with my colleague Kevin van den Elzen and my mentor Josh Nelson. As a longtime fan of Duke Ellington’s music, I had the opportunity to write a few arrangements for a tribute concert of his music in October as well.

While I haven’t performed much of my own music in public yet, I’m hoping to put together an EP in 2025, something combining my love of the vibraphone with my newfound love of producing. Solo performances, ambient electronic songs, through-composed instrumentals — I want it to be eclectically and uniquely me. After that, I’d like to take the music on a tour of the west coast so I have a chance to perform for and visit all my extended family. Grant donors please contact me lol.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I’ve had so much support from friends, family, and mentors over the years, sincerely too many to count. My parents have always supported my goals of becoming a musician and continue to believe in me to this day, their help has been monumental to my success.

School was also a place I felt really supported growing up, and I had many inspiring teachers who taught me important lessons and inspired me to keep going. One time in middle school, I was sick, but not sick enough to stay home. During a jazz band rehearsal my teacher Ms. Sugano made a little joke about my being sick and I had the terrible audacity to flip her off! I was of course sent to detention and had to apologize, but she easily could have taken more disciplinary action and she didn’t. And, she still let me play in our band’s concert the following Friday. I’ll never forget her grace and forgiveness in that moment when I did something so disrespectful to her. Thankfully, we laugh about it now.

My band directors Mr. Murray, Mr. Kiesner, and Mr. Evett in high school were fantastic leaders and people in every aspect of the word. They pushed me to try harder and care about the music in a deeper way than I ever understood. Also shout out to Fig Tree Coffee in Roseville for giving me a place to play (safely) during the pandemic when we were all shut in. In college I met so many incredible people, but my mentors Vince Mendoza and Josh Nelson really helped me pave the way for my own success. Like I said, there’s too many people to name. Shout out to my girlfriend Charlotte Phillipp, you’re my biggest supporter and I love you so much.

Pricing:

• Commissions: $200/min of music
• Guest Artist: $400/show

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.irvinemusic/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackson.irvine.98/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@j.irvinemusic