Remembering PhillyCAM Member and Collaborator Homer Jackson.

We were so lucky and truly blessed to have created such amazing media with Homer Jackson, who was committed to celebrating, illuminating, supporting, promoting, and archiving Philadelphia’s Jazz performers.

When Homer Jackson walked into PhillyCAM, a wave of joy followed him. Our beautiful, nourishing partnership between the  Philadelphia Jazz Project, led by Homer, and PhillyCAM began where else but at a party. Homer came to our holiday shindig in 2012, had a blast, and the wheels started turning; how could we work together to record and promote Philly's jazz musicians? The collaboration began in 2013 by recording conversations between jazz musicians and Jazz lovers. From there, it just took off. We were inspired to do our version of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Philly style. It began with the PhillyCAM  Sessions, which assembled several dozen performers to record 30-minute sets in our studio in just two days. What followed was a partnership that lasted well over ten years with Electricity, Very Special Original  Recordings (VSOR), Sun Ra Satellites, and many performances we documented at the Free Library, Museum of the American Revolution,  Hatfield House, and other locales.

In his obituary, his wife Lynn of 37 years said, “He inspired a lot of people. He was masterful at connecting the dots!”  He brought that to PhillyCAM; it got into our DNA and forever influenced how we approach our work.

He was a multi-disciplinary artist, free-ranging thinker, and provocateur. Please read more about what he brought to Philadelphia - https://www.inquirer.com/obituaries/homer-jackson-obituary-philadelphia-artist-temple-20240717.html.

If you have memories of Homer, a memorial website (https://www.homershines.org) has been set up. His life will be celebrated in Summer 2025.

Take a moment and discover this incredible body of work with this special Homer Jackson video playlist.