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Jessica Medina
Jessica Medina understands the power of the human voice. The right voice can reinforce solidarity just as the wrong one can destroy it. As someone well aware of this dichotomy, she deeply considers the vocal power that resides within us all. Such awareness has been with her since childhood. Growing up in New York with a Dominican mother and Puerto Rican father, whose voices were the soundtrack of her formative years, she absorbed a lifetime’s worth of music before she could even sing herself. She has carried those sounds over into the lives of her own children, enlivening them with a likeminded blend of tradition and the unknown.
With Spanish and English as her native tongues, and New York City as her home, she quickly developed her talents through keen interests in culture, language, and performing arts. Said interests only intensified during summer trips to her grandparents’ in the Dominican Republic, where immersion heightened her sense of self in all respects. At Hunter College, under a rather different immersion of political science and women’s rights, she auditioned her way into a jazz performance class. Suddenly a new world was open to her: a home away from home that led her to study with such greats as Sheila Jordan and placed her on stages throughout New York City. The next step was a move to Paris in 2002. There she spent more than two years gigging throughout the city with well-respected musicians and artists across a variety of genres. In May of 2007 she released her first full-length CD, Azul. Featuring songs in four languages and such talents as Brazilian jazz trumpeter Claudio Roditi, it earned her spotlight artist status for the Hennessy X.O Jazz Smooth and Mellow Tour that same year, an honor that took her to China, Malaysia, and Taiwan. Upon her return, and still high from the experience, she continued to perform locally and toured anew in South America, including stops in Buenos Aires, Rio, and Lima.
While developing her adoration for Afro-Peruvian music (and flirting with salsa) over the next four years, motherhood had a profound effect on her, at once sharpening and widening her perspective on that which truly matters. Out of a need to live mindfully and in the moment, she threw herself into community work and local activism around salient issues. All of which led her to record a second album, due out in the first quarter of 2019.
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Take Five With Jessica Medina
by AAJ Staff
Meet Jessica Medina: Known for her captivating, sultry voice and her exotic interpretation of jazz, Jessica Medina melds culture, beauty and song in stunning harmony. Fluent in three languages, she fearlessly crosses borders with a fresh, seductive flavor that creatively blends Spanish, French, American and Brazilian sounds.Born in New York City of Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage, Jessica's initial musical education came through her parents, whose own vocal and musical talents fostered her own appreciation for music. With ...
read moreSexy Samba & Sultry Standards with a New Latin Twist: Jessica Medina @ Cachaca, NYC April 3rd, 2008
Source:
All About Jazz
Known for her captivating, sultry voice and her exotic interpretation of jazz, Jessica Medina melds culture, beauty and song in stunning harmony. Fluent in three languages, she fearlessly crosses borders with a fresh, seductive flavor that mesmerizes the senses. Her broad range, rich with provocative tones and colors, conjures a world lush in culture and deep in character. Jessica creatively blends Spanish, French, American and Brazilian sounds in a vocal style infused with an international spice. Cachaa Jazz 'n' Samba ...
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Jessica Medina "Azul" CD Release Party - Part Deux in Paris-July 15,2007
Source:
All About Jazz
After it's glorious reviews in NY as well as Asia. Jessica Medina will be celebrating the release of her debut album Azul in Paris this coming month. She will be performing at the reputable Sunside Jazz Club on July 15, 2007. Joining her on the event will be top Parisian jazz musicians: Alexandre Saada - piano Chris Jennings - bass Laurent Series - drums Tickets for the concert celebration are available now online and ...
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Jessica Medina Takes On Asia: Hennessy Xo Jazz Tour - May 16-26, 2007
Source:
All About Jazz