With inspiration from Chopin to Chick Corea, Oscar Peterson to Pastorius, Errol Garner, Ravel, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Bob Marley and, of course, Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder, Lawson developed his own artistic voice expressed through his singing and piano virtuosity. Lawson has shared stages with the likes of Bilal, Average White Band, Angelique Kidjo and Ronnie Laws. He has performed with Portland sensations like Farnell Newton, SoulMates and international star Liv Warfield who refers to Jarrod Lawson as “The Truth.” Maybe best of all for Jarrod, so far, was performing at Stevie Wonder’s birthday party.

Whether he sings and plays funk, folk, R&B, rock or jazz—as has been said many times—“everything he touches turns to soul.” What began as a child’s interest in sound and rhythm has become a man’s expression of his own character. He sings from his integrity and spirituality, passion and compassion, empathy and sympathy…in other words, his own soul.