Harpist Ashley Jackson Performs Live
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Harpist Ashley Jackson joins host Alison Stewart on WNYC's All of It to perform live from Studio 5, showcasing her latest EP, Cover Girl, which reimagines iconic songs by women like Nina Simone, Whitney Houston, and The Cranberries through the lens of the harp. Jackson shares her journey from childhood piano lessons to embracing the harp, inspired by her teacher’s suggestion and her family’s musical legacy. She discusses the spiritual and storytelling roots of the harp, its African origins, and her mission to expand the instrument’s expressive range beyond classical traditions. Her performance blends personal narrative, historical insight, and artistic reinvention, emphasizing emotional authenticity and the power of individual voice in music. Jackson also reflects on her academic training at Juilliard and Yale, her role as a teacher at Hunter College, and the importance of grounding music in personal values and lived experience.
Reinterpreting vocal music on the harp allows instrumentalists to embody the emotional depth and nuance of lyrics.
The harp’s glissando and soulful tone offer unique expressive possibilities not found in other instruments.
Music education should center on human stories and personal values to maintain authenticity and connection.
Representation matters—seeing pioneers like Ann Hobson Pilot as a young Black harpist inspired Jackson’s path.
Artistic evolution is ongoing; even finished works can be recontextualized and reimagined in live performance.
Introduction to Ashley Jackson and the Cover Girl EP
“I'm going to kick things off with my arrangement of Nina Simone's Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood.”
Reimagining Nina Simone and the Creative Process
“It's kind of like, I don't know, you get into something and then it plants a seed that hasn't quite fully grown yet.”
The Harp as a Voice of Storytelling and Spirituality
“The harp is one of the oldest instruments in the world with roots in Africa. And it has always been associated with storytelling and spirituality.”
The Journey from Piano to Harp and Instrument Choice
Jackson recounts her early musical training on piano, her transition to the harp at age seven, and her meticulous search for the perfect instrument—the Salvi Minerva—based on sound and soul.
Performance and Interpretation: From Whitney Houston to The Cranberries
Jackson performs 'Dreaming My Dreams' by The Cranberries and reflects on the emotional resonance of the song, its connection to her sister, and the challenge of translating vocal expression to harp.
“The harp is one of the oldest instruments in the world with roots in Africa. And it has always been associated with storytelling and spirituality.”
“Honestly, Allison, I was mostly inspired by vocal music growing up. And that's where CoverGirl came from.”
“It's kind of like, I don't know, you get into something and then it plants a seed that hasn't quite fully grown yet.”
Host
Guest
Ashley Jackson
person
Alison Stewart
person
Nina Simone
person
Cover Girl
media
Take Me to the Water
media
Juilliard School
organization
The Cranberries
other
Salvi Minerva
other
Whitney Houston
person
Brooklyn Academy of Music
other
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