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Hello Art Lovers - and Music Lovers,   

During the stay-at-home period, I did finish my third CD of music: "Been Around - Still Singing"  - it can be heard on YouTube.com under my name, as well as Spotify, Apple Music - and others in the process. It is a diverse compilation of music:  four originals, one fun and updated old blues from 1919, the Beatles song "I'm Only Sleeping", and a Gershwin tune "They Can't Take that Away From Me".  The last one is in remembrance of someone special to me, but also  a tribute to the people we've missed and even lost since Covid 19 turned our world upside down.

To Listen go to YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLg2crLodQXeeGJ989oS3zNRR7ZRap-xq4

or Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/album/4p6uD3Pw6cJy3wWP9Fy32J?si=r54YCPQtRWmxmcDhBA6xbA

You can purchase the CDs in my Music and Art section of this website.

Of the original songs, Hungry Love - a comedic bluegrass waltz - I wrote the lyrics for after a romantic breakup in 1987.  Joyce Hitchcock, who accompanied me in some cabaret performances when I lived in NYC, came up with the great tune. "We Meet in the Music" is a waltz with a European feel.  I wrote "Been Around" 50 years ago - the first song I ever wrote. The last I wrote was this year is a country song "Still Singing".

I had put music aside, when I moved to Colorado 24 years ago, to focus on painting. But it would no longer be denied in 2012 when I had the great fortune of meeting a studio engineer and great musician, Darren Skanson of CCM Recording Studio, who helped me bring forth some songs that had long been a part of me, starting with a CD in Spanish called Notas de Amor (Love Notes). Skanson plays on most of songs - he is the great guitarist (and bass player), I am a basic guitarist. My main love has always been singing, arranging and harmonizing which I get to do with the help of over dubbing.

Besides Darren Skanson,  I have some very talented musicians on my two English CDs - Harry Grainger, playing Flute, Clarinet, saxophone, accordion, and coronet. Charlie Rosario guitar and mandolin and Peggy Mihelich on fiddle for the blue grassy comedic song.

One may question why Spanish? I studied Spanish in school - but the language captivated me when I started learning songs, and when I went to Mexico at 15 with my friend Sandra. We took the bus from Pittsburgh, PA to Saltillo, Mexico, along with our guitars, and studied there for five weeks. Then at 19, I went with a group of U. of Utah art students and stayed painting in San Miguel de Allende for a semester. In the evening I would hang out in a little restaurant/club where guitars would be passed around and we'd share songs. One I learned there is included on the Notas de Amor CD.  

My second album CD is called "A Journey of Love" and includes two songs I wrote and two written by friends, as well as other songs that have inspired me. Maybe more about that the next time - but you can hear them all on YouTube! 

You can also buy all the CD's through this website in the Music and Art category. 

Cheers to you all - I hope we all come out of this strange adventure better, brighter and kinder.

Jessica Wicken