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Harvey Jacobson’s daily performances at Brightview Woodburn are transforming the assisted living center’s lobby into a lively gathering place.
The 88-year-old musician plays classics by Fats Waller, Cole Porter and Scott Joplin on the lobby’s grand piano, entertaining residents, staff members and visitors with jazz standards and show tunes.
“Mostly what I play is show music,” Jacobson said. “It speaks to the consciousness, it’s uplifting.”
Vibrant Living Director Lisa Semonick said Jacobson thrives on the response from his fellow residents. She said his smile lights up after a performance when the audience shows its appreciation.
The lobby concerts continue a musical career that has taken Jacobson to venues including Carnegie Hall, Johns Hopkins University and Gloucester, England. He previously lived in Hybla Valley and taught piano lessons at Fort Belvoir.
Music had long been both Jacobson’s livelihood and his way of connecting with others. That connection was disrupted in 2020, when the COVID pandemic closed concert venues and halted his work. His living situation at the time also left him without access to a piano.
Jacobson moved into Brightview in early March and quickly returned to the keyboard. Soon after arriving, he sat down at the grand piano and began playing.
He now performs every day, rediscovering his passion while sharing decades of musical experience with his new community.