Jabari Greer makes a jazzy interception at WWOZ

Of course you know that Jabari Greer gets creative on the football field — any fan who has watched him pick a pass knows that.

And you may know that Greer has taken pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) for various written endeavors, like this poem from “Jabari’s Corner” on the website of his foundation, The Greer Campaign:

Now he broadens his scope with a stint behind the microphone at WWOZ-90.7 FM. On Monday, July 22, from 4 to 7 p.m., Greer will be co-hosting “Jazz from the French Market.” The Saints defense back will write before and after blogs for the station, and the show will include a segment called “From Texas to Tennessee, the Soundtrack of MMy Life,” in which he talks about songs closely connected to both his personal and professional lives.

In a story published at NewOrleansSaints.com, Greer talks about learning to love music from his father, his penchant for writing to music (he seeks verbal expressions int he rhythms and melodies), and his lifelong love of jazz.

Music has walked step by step with Greer in New Orleans, too. He tells author Courtney Foret of a trek to Frenchmen Street with a friend on the Wednesday night he signed with the Saints. “I remember the life of the music on Frenchmen Street, it was incredible. I looked to him and said, ‘is this a Wednesday?  This is a Wednesday night in which this is happening?’ …  I honestly felt like I couldn’t be in a better place.”

In the online article, WWOZ 90.7 FM program director Dwayne Breashears is quoted as saying that he hopes Greer will attract younger listeners to jazz.

It’s a first for the station: Though celebrity guests have occasionally hosted shows, this is the first time a football player has been spinning  the songs.

To read the Saints online story, click here. For more about WWOZ and today’s program, click here.