Bio Jessica Star is a performer, singer, and songwriter previously based in the San Francisco Bay Area and now living in New York City. Whether she's performing as a solo artist or with a full band her original Rock music (influenced by Blues and Folk), moving vocals and guitar accompaniment totally fascinate and uplift her audiences. With a background in dance, which she studied for nine years including a three year full scholarship to The Oregon Ballet Theater, and musical theater, her performances are colorful and engaging. Jessica's music is woven with fresh melodies, poetic lyrics, and powerful vocal arrangements. Jessica's albums to date (of her original material) include: "Dragon's Lair" released in1999 and recorded in top studios around the San Francisco Bay Area including Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, where she worked with producer, Bob Matthews (The Grateful Dead), and the late arranger, John Kahn (bassist of The Jerry Garcia Band). The musicians on this session include Mario Cippolina on bass (Huey Lewis and The News), Donny Baldwin on drums (Jefferson Starship), Pete Sears on the keyboard (Hot Tuna, Jefferson Starship) and an orchestra of strings and horns. The sessions done at Prairie Sun in Cotati and Laughing Tiger in San Rafael feature six songs recorded with Jessica's touring band and the last three songs were recorded solo acoustic with Jessica singing, as well as playing guitar and didgeridoo. "Solo" released in 2002 and recorded solo acoustic in Graton, CA features ten songs with Jessica singing and playing guitar, didgeridoo and clay flute. Some of the venues she's played in N.Y.C. include B.B. King's, the Knitting Factory, the Bitter End, the Red Lion, CB's 313 Gallery, and the Alphabet Lounge. Some of the Northern California venues include The Maritime Hall in San Francisco, The Health and Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa, The Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa, and The Mystic Theater in Petaluma. When asked why she plays music and what inspires her she says," I love singing and making music. I love the energy, spontaneity, adventure, and magic that has come into my life by following my musical path. I'm inspired by the happiness that my music seems to bring." Jessica has been compared to Joni Mitchell, Sheryl Crow and Ani Difranco while her style is most influenced by early Cat Stevens and Janis Joplin. Quotes and Reviews; Folk Legend, Ramblin' Jack Elliot; "She's the Marilyn Monroe of folk music" Long Island Blues Society; "Jessica Star- a female powerhouse" Annmaria Mazzini, dancer with The Paul Taylor Company, NYC "If Janis Joplin lived and quit the Southern Comfort, she'd be Jessica Star." California Song Magazine; "Solo" With a style inspired by Cat Stevens, and a voice reminiscent of a more melodious Janis Joplin, Star has managed to craft an eclectic yet cohesive album. While all the songs on "Solo" are original, they manage to speak to the listener as if they were timeless. The songs are lyrically driven which makes sense when you have a voice like Star's. Her poetic lyrics and strong song-writing style have garnered her a devout following in Northern California. EVAN GINZBURG DJ- WBAI-FM's LIGHT SHOW 99.5 NYC Singer/songwriter Jessica Star is a unique new voice as evidenced on her compelling new CD, Dragon's Lair. Sensitive yet hard-hitting, hers is a talent deserving far wider recognition. Mark "Dr.Blues" Gresser of The Long Island Blues Society; "Dragon's Lair" The Golden gate bard is now creating in the shadow of Brooklyn's wire tracery. Jessica Star brings her Celtic folk, Blues rocking, visual imagery and brilliant vocals to a new coast. She weaves webs of illusion and lover's sighs amidst a righteous rock or folk backdrop or to the sparseness of solo artist and guitar. The influences of Fairport Convention and traditional English themes are co-conspirators with the Delta /Chicago and progrock which lends itself to a palpable fantasyland of rich and obscure lyrics as they weave epic traceries. Metaphoric dragons caress unconscious desire and a blues belter with fine boogie piano blasts "Better Left Unsaid" with good advise. The rawness of emotion, life's tribulations and the pounding rhythms of primal energy is integral in "Watch America." "Cupid's Arrow" is suggestive and as warm as lover's breath, just as "Firewalk" is redolent of passion's lair and earthy rites of passage. "Stay Together" opens with a heavy Judas Priest hammer. Star writes from a diverse palette. She can rock full-bore with a Ani DiFranco hysteria or a metallic sheen. Jessica is also a druidic priestess casting spells. Her music will capture you just as a magnet draws iron. Mike Perazzetti~ The Fevered Brain of Radio Mike; "Dragon's Lair" Jessica Star is a Modern-Age Mystical Alt-Folk-Rock Goddess and she's got the Music and the Voice to prove it. The Lyrics just reinforce that Idea. We really need to see her Live to Get the Full Effect of This Mystique. She plays out constantly so you'll have Plenty of Opportunity. The Trick is to Just Fix our Schedules and Get out there to see what she and the Band can do. Santa Rosa, California Press Democrat; "Dragon's Lair" From venomous rants and blues romps to acoustic folk and a driving rock anthem like "Stay Together" this 12-song collection covers a lot of ground. Star is blessed with a warm, operatic tone. ...There's something resonating and magical about the exquisitely arranged "Rainbow Bridge," recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. Contact: jessica@jessicastar.com www.jessicastar.com