# Jennifer Hartswick on Meeting Phil Lesh, Christian McBride & Why New Orleans Feels Like Its Own Planet | OITGR

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/only-in-the-green-room-5890481/jennifer-hartswick-on-meeting-phil-lesh-christian-mcbride-why-new-orleans-feels-like-its-own-planet-oitgr
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/only-in-the-green-room-5890481/jennifer-hartswick-on-meeting-phil-lesh-christian-mcbride-why-new-orleans-feels-like-its-own-planet-oitgr.md
Podcast: [Only In The Green Room](https://stenobird.com/podcast/only-in-the-green-room-5890481)
Published: 2026-06-18T17:45:10+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/0950d2ec
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/0950d2ec/896fa9dd.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/only-in-the-green-room-5890481/episodes/jennifer-hartswick-on-meeting-phil-lesh-christian-mcbride-why-new-orleans-feels-like-its-own-planet-oitgr
Duration seconds: 1318

## Resource

Trumpet player and vocalist Jennifer Hartswick sits down with us in the green room at Jazz Fest to talk about her decades-long love affair with New Orleans — a city she calls "its own planet" — and the musical relationships that have shaped her career. Jennifer recounts her first New Orleans gig at the Maple Leaf, an overnight set that ran from 3am to sunrise, and reflects on what it took to earn that kind of audience. She shares the story of meeting Christian McBride, a musician she idolized as a kid, and forming what she describes as an instant soul bond. And she tells us about the night she met Phil Lesh — he didn't know who she was, noticed her trumpet in the green room, and the conversation that followed led to years of playing together in Phil & Friends. We also talk about High Sierra Music Festival's move to a new home in Grass Valley, and why Jennifer believes this inaugural year there is going to be something special. Guest: Jennifer Hartswick Website: jenniferhartswick.com | Instagram: @jhartswick Recorded live at Jazz Fest, New Orleans #JenniferHartswick #PhilLesh #GratefulDead #ChristianMcBride #HighSierraMusicFestival #JazzFest #NewOrleans #OnlyInTheGreenRoom #MusicPodcast #MapleLeaf

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