Jessica Medina

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Jessica Medina
Birth nameJessica Medina
GenresJazz, Salsa, World music
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
InstrumentVocals
Years active2000–present
LabelsIndependent
Websitehttp://www.jessicamedina.com/

Jessica Medina is an American singer-songwriter of Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage, who performs mainly in the genres of jazz and Latin music.[1] She has been reviewed by NPR as a "super talented vocalist that effortlessly bridges jazz, soul and even bits of afro caribbean music."[2] She has released two albums: the first of jazz, the second with a little more fusion between jazz and Latin rhythms with more acoustic instrumentation.[3]

She has been selected for Hennessy XO Jazz Tour Asia 2007.[4] Her music is usually focused on social issues and female empowerment.[5] She has collaborated with artists such as Jorge Glem,[6] Luisito Quintero, Mireya Ramos (Flor de Toloache),[7] Dkano and the producer Janina Rosado.[8]

Musical career

She grew up in New York City with a Dominican mother and a Puerto Rican father, both of whom sang at home.[9]

With Spanish and English as her native languages in New York City, she had a keen interest in culture, language, and the performing arts. She made summer trips to her grandparents' house in the Dominican Republic.[10] At Hunter College she auditioned for a jazz performance class. She moved to Paris in 2002, and spent more than two years performing in the city with musicians and artists from a variety of genres.[11]

In May 2007, she released her first full-length CD titled "Azul",[12] featuring songs in four languages and talents such as Brazilian jazz trumpeter Claudio Roditi.[13] She received featured artist status for the Hennessy X.O Jazz Smooth and Mellow Tour that same year,[14] and toured China, Malaysia, and Taiwan.[14] Upon her return, she continued to perform locally and made a new tour of South America, including stops in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Lima.[15]

As she developed her immersion in Afro-Peruvian music and salsa, for the next four years, her motherhood had a profound effect on her.[16] She took up community work and local activism, which led her to record a second album titled "Black" and released in 2019, combining a World Music vibe with Afro-Peruvian and Caribbean influences.[17] Her intention with the lyrics and music is to express pride in her Latino origins.[18][19] The project led her to write original songs for the first time.[20] Having grown up speaking Spanish, she channels her emotions into that language.[21][20]

In 2020, Medina Medina was part of various events in New York, such as the "Jefas" concert with Renee Goust and Mai Elka at Joe's Pub,[22] which was an event with all tickets sold, for the celebration of International Women's Day.[23] Also, presented a composition with a tropical rhythm titled "Sueño, Te Extraño",[24] that accompanies a message dedicated to mothers who have been forced to work from home due to quarantine while helping their children with virtual classes and trying to maintain mental health in their homes.[25] She also covered the Juan Luis Guerra song "Si tu te vas" in a bilingual version, together with the Venezuelan musician Jorge Glem.[21] In 2021, Medina paid tribute to Tex-Mex singer Selena Quintanilla, with a single that covers three of Selena's greatest hits,[26] “Como la flor / Amor prohibido / Bidi bidi bom bom”.[27]

Personal life

Jessica is a graduate of Political Science (Human Rights) and Jazz Performance from Hunter College University in New York City.[28] She has 2 children and currently lives in NY.[29]

Discography

  • 2007: Azul
  • 2019: Black

References

  1. ^ "Jessica Medina, la estrella del jazz que fusiona lo clásico con lo afrolatino" [Jessica Medina, the jazz star who fuses classical with Afro-Latin]. El Nuevo Diario (República Dominicana) (in Spanish). 2021-01-13. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  2. ^ "Tomar Vuelo 'Con Altura': Our Favorite Latin Songs This Week". NPR. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  3. ^ Redacción (2020-05-29). "Jessica Medina es nuestra Artista De La Semana" [Jessica Medina is our new Artist of the Week]. Revolución Sonora (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  4. ^ "Cognac maker keeps jazz alive here". Taiwan News. 2007-05-30. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  5. ^ "'Black', el nuevo trabajo musical de Jessica Medina que habla de justicia y del empoderamiento de la mujer" ['Black', Jessica Medina's new musical work that speaks of justice and women's empowerment]. Univision (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  6. ^ Burroughs, Dena (2021-04-19). "Jessica Medina presents bilingual version of Juan Luis Guerra's 'Si Tu Te Vas'". VidaSalsera.com. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  7. ^ URosarioRadio. "Jessica Medina y amigas presentan tributo a Selena" [Jessica Medina and friends present tribute to Selena]. www.urosarioradio.co (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  8. ^ Jam, Oliver (2021-02-22). "Jessica Medina estrena 'Hope Esperanza (Remix)'" [Jessica Medina premiere 'Hope Esperanza (Remix)']. weird (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  9. ^ ""La música como luz para escapar de la oscuridad"- Jessica Medina" [Music as a light to escape from darkness]. Google Podcasts (in Spanish). La Sala Talks the Podcast. Archived from the original on 2021-09-14. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  10. ^ Nova, José (2019-10-31). "Jessica Medina: jazz con aroma de mujer" [Jessica Medina: jazz with the scent of a woman]. Periódico El Caribe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  11. ^ Rodriguez de Mondesert, Fernando. "Mujeres en el Jazz … en dominicana! - Llevando su dominicanidad al mundo - Gabrielle Garo y Jessica Medina" [Women in Jazz… in the Dominican Republic! - Bringing their Dominican identity to the world - Gabrielle Garo and Jessica Medina] (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  12. ^ Azul - Jessica Medina at AllMusic. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  13. ^ "Jazz news: Jessica Medina - Azul CD Release with Special Guest Claudio Roditi". All About Jazz. 26 April 2007. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  14. ^ a b Chan, Debbie. "Sultry songstress set to sizzle". The Star. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  15. ^ "Port Washington Singer Hopes To Inspire Unity Through World Music". Port Washington, NY Patch. 2019-08-01. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  16. ^ "Jessica Medina inspirada en raíces" [Jessica Medina inspired by roots]. listindiario.com (in Spanish). 2019-12-04. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  17. ^ ""Sueño, te extraño", lo nuevo de la cantante Jessica Medina" ["Sueño, te extraño", the new song by singer Jessica Medina] (in Spanish). Diario Social RD. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  18. ^ "La música de Jessica Medina". Telemundo 52 (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  19. ^ "Jessica Medina con sus orígenes dominicanos incursiona en Colombia" [Jessica Medina with her Dominican origins ventures into Colombia]. Caracol Radio (in Spanish). 2019-09-24. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  20. ^ a b "La música llena de esperanza de Jessica Medina" [Jessica Medina's hopeful music]. www.milenio.com (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  21. ^ a b "Jessica Medina: "Si tú te vas"". espacinsular.org (in Spanish). Espacinsular. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  22. ^ "¡JEFAS!: A Celebration of Latina Songwriters & Women in Music". publictheater.org. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  23. ^ Rabinowitz, Chloe. "Latinx Artists to Shine on the Stage at Joe's Pub". Broadway World. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  24. ^ "Sueño, te extraño, una de realidad de las madres, Jessica Medina" [Sueño, te extraño, one of the realities of mothers, Jessica Medina]. Caracol Radio (in Spanish). 2020-06-24. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  25. ^ "Estos son los nuevos temas musicales que podrás cantarle a mamá en su día" [These are the new musical themes that you can sing to mom on her special day]. Los Angeles Times en Español (in Spanish). 2020-05-10. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  26. ^ "Neoyorquina Jessica Medina estrena medley Tributo a Selena" [New Yorker Jessica Medina releases Selena Tribute medley]. ContraRéplica (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  27. ^ Castillo, Karina (2021-07-05). "Jessica Medina estrena tributo a Selena" [Jessica Medine releases tribute to Selena]. Revista Marvin (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  28. ^ "Jessica Medina rompe barreras con "Si tú te vas"" [Jessica Medina breaks barriers with "Si tú te vas"]. DiarioHispaniola (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-09-14.
  29. ^ "Jessica Medina y los sacrificios de la maternidad en "Sueño, te extraño"" [Jessica Medina and the sacrifices of motherhood in "Sueño, te extraño"]. www.cronica.com.mx/ (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-09-14.
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