It seems that Jackson Browne has always been on the music scene, starting in the 1970s when he was turning out hits including “Doctors My Eyes” and “Take It Easy.” Although he is a household name, he seems to have shifted the focus in recent years from himself to other younger rockers. Consider just his most recent collaborations that include writing with Jeff Beck bassist Tal Wilkenfeld and playing with the rock group Dawes.
“Beyond music, call it whatever you want — spirit, emotion, a combination of that,” said Grammy Award-winning musician Ben Harper, something of a household name himself, who first met Browne when he was 9. “I don’t want to take away from his music, but it’s more than that. What Jackson does is very special for a reason.”
| Onstage |
| Jackson Browne |
| When: 7 p.m. Sunday |
| Where: Warner Theatre, 1299 Pennsylvania Ave. NW |
| Info: $49.50 to $89.50; ticketmaster.com; 202-397-SEAT |
That reason is a thoughtful approach to using his music to convey deeply rooted social, cultural and political beliefs. Unlike other artists, though, he has taken an almost understated approach to this process.
Because he rarely gives interviews, his music has given fans reasons to believe they know him quite intimately and they often analyze his music for even subtle messages. Perhaps that’s one reason he uses his musical cachet to shift some of the focus to other musicians who presumably embody the spirit of his musical approach.
If Jackson Browne gave interviews to tour press, he might say that many younger artists’ sounds and viewpoints give more to him than he gives to them. They, he might say, are the conduits through which music will continue to spark social change. That’s presumably why he’s not just a collaborator but also a promoter of new music.
Consider that when Harper was first cutting his musical teeth, he discovered Browne went to a Los Angeles-area Tower Records, bought 50 copies of Harper’s album, and handed them out so buzz would start.
Before his death, Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band spoke to The Washington Examiner and noted why he tapped Browne to join him in recording the song “You’re a Friend of Mine.”
“It was my album and I wanted to play something different, personal,” Clemons said. “Since this [song] was a really personal thing for me, our friendship made the song.”
Jackson Browne just inspires that type of connection among friends and fans alike.
