Five Questions with Jordan Elsberry

Johnny Depp played The Libertine.

Jordan Elsberry IS The Libertine. Yeah, pretty much. (See that movie!)

You know of Jordan if you live in Omaha. You’ve seen him if you’ve been to House of Loom, or Side Door, or J Coco, or the Old Market. The thing you may not know about the man-bun wearing hottie shaking your craft-cocktail is that he is one of the finest musicians/performers in the area. Jordan has been featured with a number of projects, and as a solo artist.

The native Fremont 20-something came to Omaha in the mid 2000’s, and hasn’t stopped creating since. As a DJ his work has been featured at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts. As part of the duo Shiver Shiver he has performed at The Holland Center and regionally at every live music venue from Colorado to Chicago to Cleveland and back. As a beat-maker he has been tapped to provide sounds for some of the areas hottest young MC’s. As an actor he has worked with political movers and shakers. As a jazz musician he was one of 26 musicians chosen for the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead residency program at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, and has played with every great player here in the midwest for years. As a recording artist he has released many products, his own, and as a side-man on other musician’s projects. As a friend, he is a gentle editor and advisor. He is a bon-vivant. He is a life-lover, and a life-liver.

I became aware of Jordan in the early 2000’s while at a jazz band concert in Bellevue at one of the high schools, where he took over the stage. I said, “Woah”. I discovered that he is the son of two musicians, one of whom I was aware of, the great music educator, Jim Elsberry, and singer/voice talent, Ardeth Ohm. Jordan and our son, Chase became friends and collaborators during that time frame, and have worked and played together since. At this point, I can’t remember NOT knowing the Elsberrys, they are family to us.

Both friends, Jordan and Chase, are commuter bicyclists, and Francophiles. Both have spent time in France, and want to spend more. Both have women in France they’re in love with and who love them. So, love rules.

Jordan leaves Omaha for France this week. I thought it was a good time to check in with him, and asked him FIVE QUESTIONS.

1) I hear you’re leaving town. Where’re you goin’ and why?

JE – I’m going back to Besançon, France. It’s a small city close to the Swiss border, kind of in the foothills of the Alps. I’ve lived there once before, and I’ve wanted to be in France more permanently for a long time now. This time, however, I’m going for love, and I was lucky enough to find a really good job to help make it all happen.

2) What’s your current relationship with music?

JE – I’ve been making music with Chase Thornburg for the better part of a decade, and we have a great deal of original tunes that we’ve been working on for a while now. I’m still doing electronic music as well, purely for the pleasure of doing it. And the 3 a.m. rendez vous with my piano is also a regular thing.

3) Parting words for Omaha?

JE – Omaha has been getting steadily cooler (interesting, diverse, culturally robust) over the last ten years, and I’m excited to see what it’s like the next time I’m back in town. In the meantime, I’ll send a postcard!

4) Greatest life achievement(s) so far?

JE – That sweet sweet moment where I actually nailed my Christopher Walken impression.

5) Goals – short term/long?

JE – Short term: DO NOT FORGET PASSPORT

Long term: Nail that Christopher Walken impression in my sleep, make a boat-load of music and learn how to make a turducken.

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FOLLOW JORDAN ON INSTAGRAM @euphoriajones

You can request Jordan as your Facebook friend here.

10/24/2014

xo