Wikipedia

Jessy J

For the British pop singer, see Jessie J.
Not to be confused with Juicy J.

Jessica Arellano (born December 20, 1982) known professionally as Jessy J, is an American saxophonist.

Jessy J
Jessy J in 2009
Jessy J in 2009
Background information
Birth nameJessica Arellano
Born (1982-12-20) December 20, 1982 (age 41)
Portland, Oregon
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentSaxophone
Years active2001–present
LabelsPeak, Heads Up, Concord, Shanachie
Websitejessyj.com

Biography

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Jessy J was born Jessica Arellano on December 20, 1982, in Portland, Oregon, and raised in Hemet, California.[1][2][3] Of Mexican-American descent, her father is from Mexico and her mother is a native Texan. She began playing piano at the age of four.[4] At the age of 15, at the Béla Bartók Festival,[5] she won the Piano State Championship.[4] She also played saxophone in state honored bands, such as the Grammy Band, and played internationally in festivals like the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. After earning a scholarship from the University of Southern California,[6] she obtained a degree in jazz studies and was named the "Most Outstanding Jazz Student".

While attending USC, Jessy auditioned and was selected to join Disney as a member of the All American College Band two consecutive years in a row. As a band member she attended workshops learning critical skills, such as leadership, teamwork, and communication which gave her the confidence needed for creative song writing and organizing a band as a leader. In 2010 Jessy was inducted into Disney's Magic Music Days Hall of Fame.[7]

After graduating from USC, she worked in the studio with Michael Bublé.[8][9] She toured with The Temptations, Jessica Simpson, Michael Bolton, and Seal.[8][10] Other Artists she has performed or recorded with include Taylor Swift,[11] Chance the Rapper,[12] Robin Thicke,[13] Andra Day, [14] Maxwell,[15] Joe Sample,[16] Harvey Mason,[16] and Ray Parker, Jr.[16]

Jessy J performed on the twice Grammy nominated[17] album Elevation as a member of the Henry Mancini Jazz Orchestra.[4][8] Jessy has performed on the hit television competition shows American Idol, The Voice and Dancing With the Stars. The year Steven Tyler was a judge on Idol, he was so impressed with her performances that he invited her to play on Aerosmith's 2012 album Music From Another Dimension.[18]

Prior to being a studio musician and touring as a jazz artist, Jessy J performed in the casts of Mason Entertainment Group's Off-Broadway shows Shockwave, Cyberjam, and M.I.X. She performed not only as a saxophonist and singer but also as an actress and dancer. Touring with Mason Entertainment led her across the US, the United Kingdom, and Japan.[19]

Jessy J's recording career began after producer/guitarist Paul Brown listened to her demo and gave her a spot on his tour. She soon began making solo appearances. Her first major solo performance was at the Catalina JazzTrax Festival in 2006.[20] Soon afterward, she and Paul Brown were in the studio recording her first album, Tequila Moon.

Since beginning her career, she has toured with other jazz artists, such as Jeff Lorber,[21] Jeff Golub,[22] Euge Groove,[23] Paul Brown, and Gerald Albright.[24] In 2008/2009, she toured as a part of the Guitars & Saxes tour. In 2010 she Toured with Norman Brown[25] and Brenda Russell in the Summer Storm Jazz tour.[26]

Jessy was carefully selected along with a handful of talented young jazz artists by Selmer Saxophones to be part of a team of Master educators at schools to help advance music programs. Giving back to the community is something she had been doing while an undergraduate going to inner city schools.[27] Leadership and teamwork was second nature.

Jessy J has built up a Latin following, lending her hand in Hispanic music programs and performing with the Hispanic Musician Association Orchestra.[28] In 2006 Jessy J was hand selected by Paquito D'Rivera to perform at Carnegie Hall as part of the Latin Jazz Project featuring the "Rising Stars of Tomorrow".[4] She has also worked in Mexico with artists Gloria Trevi,[29] Armando Manzanero, Grammy Nominated singer Cristian Castro,[30] Rock of Ages star Diego Boneta, and Sheila E.[31][32]

Her song "Tequila Moon" hit the #1 spot on the Billboard chart for Jazz.[33] Her song "Tropical Rain", from her 2009 release, reached the top of the Groove Jazz Music[34] chart and also took the #1 spot on the Smooth Jazz Top 20 Countdown,[35] as well as the R&R and Billboard Jazz charts.

In 2008, Jessy J was named Radio & Records "Debut Artist of the Year". She also received the "Contemporary Jazz Song of the Year" award from R&R and Billboard for her song "Tequila Moon". Also that year, she was featured on the cover of the May issue of Jazziz Magazine.[36] In 2009, she was on the October cover of Saxophone Journal and Latina Style Magazine.[37]

In 2011, Jessy's album Hot Sauce debuted at number one on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart and was featured in People en Español and Latina magazine. The album includes performances by Jazz Legends Joe Sample, Harvey Mason, and Ray Parker Jr.[38]

 
Jessy J performing in 2013

Television performances

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Discography

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References

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  1. ^ "Jessy J, by Thomas Erdmann, Saxophone Journal Magazine Jan/Feb 2010" (PDF). Jessy J, Official Homepage, Press.
  2. ^ "Smooth jazz with Jessy J". AZStarNet.com. May 28, 2010.
  3. ^ "Jessy J | Tequila Moon". Allaboutjazz.com. April 7, 2008. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d "Jessy J". Smooth-jazz.de. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  5. ^ "Jessy J; VLOG: Growing up in Music- Bartok Piano Competition". YouTube.com. March 9, 2009. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  6. ^ "Jessy J - Concord Music Group". December 10, 2015. Archived from the original on December 10, 2015.
  7. ^ info13101 (October 22, 2010). "Disney On Stage". Jessy J. Retrieved March 1, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ a b c "Jessy J" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h "Jazz Jazz News – Saxist Jessy J Touring with Michael Bolton@". Jazzreview.com. May 9, 2007. Archived from the original on October 18, 2007. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  10. ^ "Saxist Jessy J Touring with Michael Bolton". JazzReview.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2007.
  11. ^ info13101 (February 24, 2022). "Taylor Swift performance at the VMA;s". Jessy J. Retrieved March 1, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ info13101 (February 24, 2022). "Performance with Chance the Rapper at the Clive Davis Grammy Party 2017". Jessy J. Retrieved March 1, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ info13101 (February 24, 2022). "Performance with Chance the Rapper at the Clive Davis Grammy Party 2017". Jessy J. Retrieved March 1, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ info13101 (February 24, 2022). "Performance with Andra Day". Jessy J. Retrieved March 1, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Women's March LA 2018 Maxwell & Andra Day, January 21, 2018, retrieved March 1, 2022
  16. ^ a b c "Jessy J Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  17. ^ "49th annual Grammy nominations list — part 2". Variety. December 7, 2006. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  18. ^ "Music from Another Dimension! - Aerosmith | Credits". AllMusic.
  19. ^ "Jessy J Music News & Info". Billboard.com. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  20. ^ "Jessy J Biography – ARTISTdirect Music". Artistdirect.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  21. ^ "Jeff Lorber with Guitars & Saxes: Jessy J & Jeff Golub in Sacramento". YouTube.com. February 27, 2009. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  22. ^ "Jessy J performs Sin Ti in NC". YouTube.com. September 28, 2009. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  23. ^ ""Cut The Cake" (guitars and saxes concert jam)". YouTube.com. September 20, 2009. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  24. ^ "Guitars & Saxes 2008 at the Playboy Jazz festival-Jeff Lorber". YouTube.com. June 18, 2008. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  25. ^ "Jessy J plays "Tequila Moon" w/NORMAN BROWN". YouTube.com. December 7, 2010. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  26. ^ "Jessy's bio". JessyJ.com.
  27. ^ "Jessy J Artist Select". Conn-Selmer, Inc. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  28. ^ "Latinas in the Jazz World". LatinaStyle.com. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010.
  29. ^ "Gloria Trevi "La Primera Vez" Live Valentines Day Concert". YouTube.com. February 19, 2008. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  30. ^ "Cristian Castro w/saxophonista Jessy J". YouTube.com. August 25, 2011. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  31. ^ "Jazz Monthly Reviews – Jessy J". Jazzmonthly.com. Retrieved March 13, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  32. ^ "Backbeat: Bill Cosby Helms His Last Playboy Jazz Festival | Billboard". Billboard.biz. Archived from the original on June 22, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  33. ^ "Music Charts, Most Popular Music, Music by Genre & Top Music Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  34. ^ "Groove Jazz Music". Groove Jazz Music. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  35. ^ "The Smooth Jazz Top 20 Countdown with Allen Kepler(tm)". Smoothjazztop20.com. September 8, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  36. ^ "Rising star Jessy J – featured on the cover of Jazziz Magazine World Music Issue May, 2008". JessyJ.com.
  37. ^ "Saxophonist Jessy J Lands on the Cover of Jazz Magazine". SmoothJazzNetwork.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
  38. ^ "Jessy J - Hot Sauce [Behind The Scenes". YouTube.com. August 15, 2011. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  39. ^ "American Idol Video Clips". ABC. Archived from the original on May 27, 2012.
  40. ^ "YouTube". YouTube.com. Retrieved May 3, 2015.[dead YouTube link]
  41. ^ "YouTube". YouTube.com. Retrieved May 3, 2015.[dead YouTube link]
  42. ^ "Team Cee Lo Green Flashes Back for Performance of Motown Hit 'Dancing in the Street' on 'The Voice'". Popcrush.com. April 24, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  43. ^ "YouTube". YouTube.com. Retrieved May 3, 2015.[dead YouTube link]
  44. ^ "Michael Bolton - When A Man Loves A Woman (From "Live at The Royal Albert Hall")". YouTube.com. April 14, 2010. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  45. ^ "Jessy J performs Tequila Moon on T.V." YouTube.com. November 6, 2008. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  46. ^ "Jessy J on Telemundo". YouTube.com. October 24, 2008. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  47. ^ "Jessica Simpson on Good Morning America". YouTube.com. August 11, 2004. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  48. ^ "Jessy J Albums and Discography – ARTISTdirect Music". Artistdirect.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
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