Jazz Enthusiast Jesse Fischer: Deeper Than What’s on the Surface

Jesse Fischer / photo by Lauren Desberg / courtesy of Lydia Liebman Promotions

Brooklyn Roads is happy to introduce Brooklyn-based composer, producer, and pianist Jesse Fischer. Making music with a strong jazz presence, this musical artist gets inspiration from classical, West African music, African American beats, and his own heritage of Jewish sound. Fischer explains that he likes to incorporate the essence of catchy rhythms and melodic sounds to create an emotional impact in his music. His most recent album, entitled Resilience, released in August 2020, embodies these traits. Fischer created this album in response to the difficult state of the world while trying to maintain a sense of optimism in the music.

Jesse Fischer- In Performance/ photo by Dennis Manuel

Resilience is a recent representation of Fischer’s own sound and music composition, but the musician has come a long way since the beginning of his musical journey. Fischer began recording and writing his own music back in middle school. He tells us that finding the original musical samples from African American hip hop music back in the day is what drew him to jazz.

“From a very early age, I saw the recording studio as its own unique instrument with its own possibilities and universe to explore, just as much as I did the piano.”

Fischer’s goals when moving to Brooklyn in 2005 was to become a jazz pianist, but a lot more has been exposed to him being part of the Brooklyn community, as the borough is such a diverse place with so many different people. He calls it a “melting pot.” Music wise, there is a lot of diversity as well. This musical multiformity has created a lot of inspiration in artists like Jesse Fischer. He mentions how he has not only experienced a strong jazz scene here, but also has encountered indie rock, electronic music, and merengue as well.

Jesse Fischer with Synth / photo by Lauren Desberg / courtesy of Lydia Liebman Promotions

“Brooklyn is like a microcosm of the whole planet. We have so many different people from so many different walks of life here, and the creative energy is just amazing,” he says.

Considering pre-pandemic days, we ask Fischer about his favorite Brooklyn music venue to perform music in and learn that this musician really appreciates making improvised music with others. His experiences performing at C’mon Everybody in Bed-Stuy involved this unplanned musical style. Additionally, he expresses that he would love to one day work with musician Derrick Hodge, whom also has an interesting approach to making improvised music.

Jesse Fischer graciously includes experience and emotion into his music. He conveys open mindedness and creative expression which he weaves into his musical style. Brooklyn Roads is excited to see what else this composer has in store next.